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This Pecan Shortbread Cookies recipe is easy to make, freezer-friendly, and great for gifts! The cookies are made with toasted pecans for the best nutty flavor and texture. Everyone will love these tender, buttery shortbread cookies – they’re irresistible.
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BEST Pecan Shortbread Cookie Bars
Shortbread cookies are a classic, especially during the holiday season. The best part is that they’re not hard to make, and there are so many variations! The base cookie is soft and buttery – almost like a blank canvas that you can change with different mix-ins.
One of my favorites is pecan shortbread bars. Toasted pecans are mixed into the dough, and they add the most wonderful flavor and texture. They’re better than Walker’s shortbread recipe – I can promise you that! Each bite practically melts in your mouth!
Shortbread can be shaped in all different ways – sometimes, you see them as round slices or cut into various shapes with cookie cutters. I think the easiest way to make them is in a baking dish, so they’re easy to slice into bars.
I’ve already mentioned the flavor but repeating it – if you love melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookies, you have to try these. When I’ve made them for friends and family, they’ve told me it’s the best shortbread cookie recipe in the world! I’ve made them so many times, and they always get rave reviews.
Ingredients in Pecan Shortbread
You might be surprised to see a short ingredient list. That’s the magic in these pecan shortbread bars – they’re incredibly simple, but they don’t taste simple. I bet if you check, you already have most of the ingredients on hand.
- Chopped Pecans: The main flavor secret is toasting the nuts. When you toast nuts, the natural oils are released, and they take on a nuttier flavor. Those oils get into the cookie dough, flavoring it even more. Untoasted nuts just don’t do that. So, yes, it adds a step, but it’s worth it. Learn how to toast nuts easily.
- Butter: Start with softened unsalted butter for easy mixing.
- Sugar: This recipe uses granulated sugar. I know some shortbread recipes call for powdered sugar but we’re using cornstarch as well, so that would be too much.
- Vanilla Extract: For flavor
- Salt: Needed for flavor since we’re using unsalted butter. If using salted butter reduce salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Cornstarch: This is a cornstarch shortbread recipe. Not all recipes call for this, but I like it because cornstarch gives the cookies a nice, soft texture.
- All-purpose Flour: Typical in shortbread.
How to Make Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies
- The first thing to do is toast the pecans. Place them in a small skillet and warm them over medium-low heat. Stir them often and, once they are fragrant and toasted, take them off the heat. It’s crucial to keep an eye on them – don’t leave them alone because they can burn quickly. It will take less than five minutes to toast them. Set the toasted nuts aside to cool while you make the cookie dough.
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. You can do this with a hand mixer or with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Add the vanilla, salt, and cornstarch and mix to combine. Slowly add the flour while mixing and then stir in the toasted pecans.
- Press the dough into a 9×13″ baking pan lined with foil coated with cooking spray. Use your hands to press the dough into an even layer, but do so lightly, so you don’t compact the dough.
- Bake the bars for 25 to 30 minutes at 350°F. I like soft pecan shortbread bars, but if you prefer yours crunchy, bake them for up to 35 minutes.
- Cool them completely before slicing and storing them.
Crunchy vs Soft Shortbread
I love a soft shortbread cookie recipe, but if you prefer a crunchy pecan shortbread cookie recipe, all you have to do is bake them a little longer. I’ve included the baking times for both in the recipe card.
FAQ
No, any nut will work. Walnuts, almonds, even chopped peanuts will work if you want to change them up. But no matter which kind you use, definitely toast them first for the best flavor.
Pecan shortbread cookies keep great at room temperature. Shortbread will keep for up to four days at room temperature. Wait for the cookies to completely cool, and then store them in an airtight container. If you are gifting them, I always think it’s good to separate the layers with wax paper or parchment.
Yes, homemade shortbread freezes great! Once the bars are thoroughly cooled, layer them with paper towels in an airtight container. The towels will keep the layers from freezing together and absorb excess moisture when you thaw the cookies. Properly stored, they will keep for up to three months in the freezer!
No, a regular 9×13″ baking pan works great.
If your dough is crumbly, it is most often one of three things:
1. Too much flour was added – for the best results, use the spoon and level method to measure your flour. Or, even better, use a kitchen scale to weigh it. I’ve included both weighted and cups measurements in the recipe.
2. Not enough butter was added – butter is what pulls the dough together in this recipe, so double-check you have the right amount.
3. Not mixed long enough – when you add the flour, add it slowly, so it easily absorbs into the wet ingredients. Keep mixing until the dough comes together. It should hold together when you lightly squeeze some in your hand. If it’s crumbly, mix a little longer.
More Shortbread Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Easy Chocolate Dipped Shortbread
- Classic Shortbread Cookies Recipe
- Macadamia Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
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Pecan Shortbread Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (180g) chopped pecans
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (134g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place pecans in a small frying pan and heat over medium low heat, stirring often, until toasted, about 3-5 minutes. Don’t walk away or they’ll burn – as soon as you smell them they’re done. Remove from pan to a plate to cool completely.
- Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Mix in vanilla, salt, then cornstarch. Slowly mix in flour until combined, then stir in toasted pecans.
- Press dough into a thin layer in prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes for soft-baked or up to 35 minutes for crunchy.
- Cool completely before slicing into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
Easy Pecan Shortbread Cookie Bars are made with toasted pecans – they’re soft and rich and the PERFECT shortbread cookies recipe!
Last Updated on September 8, 2022
Excellent recipe for nutty melt-in-your mouth shortbread that is very easy to make. My Mom & I made several kinds of Christmas cookies, then last minute decided to try these with our extra ingredients. This was the big hit, and the favourite. Absolutely try it! Thanks for sharing.
I was wondering what the best way to defrost these was, thanks
Just on the counter in an airtight container – they’ll htaw just fine.
Hi Dorothy! I’m excited to try this for my Xmas trays. I do have a question, though.
Is it better to chop the nuts before or after toasting, or does it matter?
Thanks, from a cool 32°F Alberta, Canada morning!
It doesn’t matter – I find it easier to toast whole nuts though (less small bits to accidentally burn).
It’s better to toast whole nuts and then chop afterward. The natural oils of the nuts will come out and thst is wear all the flavor comes from. It will blend with the other ingredients and pump up thst toasted pecan flavor!This works for any kind of nuts. Going to make these soon and dip one side into milk chocolate!
Love these pecan bars this recipe is a keeper!
OMG I made these today and just wanted to say thank you for recipe. Absolutely delicious I could have eaten the whole pan (I didn’t though).
These are my new favorite!
I toasted the nuts whole, then copped them after they had cooled.
I had the dough in a roll, cut cookies about 0,7cm thick after a half hour in the freezer.
20 minutes at 170⁰C in a convection oven with the fan on was enough, next time I’ll even lower the temperature for less browning.
The colkies are buttery and crumbly with a wonderful nut flavor.
Thank you for this recipe!
Could I use half brown sugar and half white?
Yes
Loved these! Check your bars at 20 minutes though as all ovens are not temperature consistent and they can overbake.
one million percent agree with checking! Ovens are so crazy – my old one was way different than the new one. Glad you liked these!
Do you have to toast pecans and l have a container of walnuts and pecans mixed together l figure pretty much same thing. It’s time making this recipe l hope they are rich also
You can use any kind of nuts
Can I substitute APF for GF flour?
I haven’t tried GF flour so I am not sure
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