How to make…Sandies
Pecan sandie cookies are Sandy’s favourite, and not just because of their name. These easy, buttery shortbread cookies are crumbly pillows of pecan heaven. You may know them by one of their other names: Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cakes or snowball cookies. But a pecan sandie, by any other name, would taste as sweet — as Shakespeare might have said.
Sandy’s Mom discovered the recipe and started making it regularly in the late 90’s. Pecans were one of the few nuts that her Mom (who was deathly allergic to most nuts) could actually eat.
Ingredients
| 1 | cup | Butter | Softened |
| 2 ¼ | cup | Flour | |
| 1/3 | cup | Granulated sugar | |
| 1 | Tbsp | Water | |
| 1 | tsp | Vanilla | |
| 1 | cup | Pecans | Chopped |
| 1 | cup | Powered sugar | Sifted. Also called icing, or confectioners’ sugar |
Preparation
- Prep your ingredients as needed. Soften the butter by beating with an electric hand mixer in a mixing bowl and chop the pecans.
- Into your softened butter, add the sugar, water and vanilla, along with about half the flour. Beat until thoroughly combined, scrapping the sides of the bowl regularly.
- Stir in the remaining flour, then the chopped pecans.
- You must refrigerate the dough for at least a half hour before shaping it into balls, otherwise the baked cookies will crumble on the sheet, rather than holding their shape.
- When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 160C / 325F. Prep your cookie sheet and cooling station. (We use a brown paper bag cut to lay flat.)
- Shape the cookies into balls, approximately 1″ in diameter and place on the ungreased cookie sheets. The chilled dough will not rise or spread, so they can be placed fairly close together, if you want.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- When cooled, gently roll the cookies in the powdered icing sugar.
Watch us make it
Check out our YouTube video by clicking the image below to see how I make pecan sandies, and don’t forget to like, and subscribe to our channel while you’re there.
What about you?
We’d love to hear if you make these cookies for your family this holiday season. Share it with us using #cookies and tagging @parkerlings on your social media. If you have any questions, just ask, using the form below.
Download the free printable below to add it to your family’s recipe file today.
