When it comes to fall desserts, pecan pie takes the cake (and pie). Pecan pie is delicious anytime of the year, but there is something special about enjoying a slice around Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the spirit of the holidays, I wanted to come up with a way to enjoy this favorite pie in a different way. Enter the most delicious pecan pie cookies.

Pecan Pie Cookies

Bite-sized food is always one of my favorites. Whether it is appetizers or desserts, bite-sized versions of recipes are easier to eat and perfect for a crowd. It also allows you to try a little bit of everything! As I mentioned, pecan pie is one of my favorite desserts: the warm pecan filling and flaky crust come together to create the ultimate fall dessert. And since it is such a favorite, I wanted to come up with a new way to serve this holiday pie. I’ve made pecan tarts before and although they are very good, I feel like it has been done a hundred times. That’s when I decided on a pecan pie cookie.

Shortbread Cookies & Coconut Pecan Frosting

There is no substitute for the flaky crust of a pecan pie, but a shortbread cookie is a close second. I knew I needed a substantial base to hold the weight of the “filling” and pecans. Knowing shortbread’s sturdy texture, I thought this cookie would be a good match. And since I wanted to keep the cookies looking like mini pies, I used a circle cookie cutter before baking the shortbread dough. I was a little concerned that a cookie cutter wouldn’t work with this dough (as opposed to sugar cookie dough). But thankfully the thicker dough stood up to the cookie cutter.

The next task was to mimic the pecan pie filling. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy because pecan pie has a distinct texture. After trying out a few ideas, the consistency just wasn’t right. I ran to the grocery store and bought coconut pecan frosting that is used for German chocolate cakes. I was so happy to discover the texture was so similar to the filling of a traditional pecan pie! And the coconut wasn’t overwhelming and worked well the basic shortbread recipe. Nothing too complicated, but super delicious. And I loved the time saving step of buying the store bought frosting!

Are you a fan of pecan pie? What is your favorite dessert during the holiday season? Check out this yummy pecan pie cookie recipe below!

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Pecan Pie Cookies

A bite-sized version of a holiday classic, these Pecan Pie Cookies will be a hit!

Course

Dessert

Cuisine

Dessert

Servings

cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 cups flour
• 1 can Coconut and Pecan Frosting
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Course Dessert Cuisine Dessert Servings cookies Ingredients 2 cups butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 cups flour 1 can Coconut and Pecan Frosting 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour slowly, mixing well after each addition. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface and cut into circles with a cookie cutter. I used a 3-inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, depending on the size of your circles, until the edges are just golden brown. Allow to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a cooling rack. Let the cookies cool completely. Place about 1 tablespoon, depending on the size of your cookie, of the frosting on top of the cookie and sprinkle with the chopped pecans. Serve and enjoy!

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