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I am beginning to think that I misnamed this blog. After looking at all the recipes I've posted I am thinking perhaps it should have been Cookie Coo. Thoughts?
Well, that's a joke of course (or, maybe not) but, I have been just a little obsessed with cookies recently. I have only posted a small portion of the cookies I've made...so please hold onto those pants with the elastic waist a little longer, you know the ones. I'm not quite finished with my cookie gluttony.
These shortbread cookies have been a favorite of mine for years now. They are super simple and super tasty. Plus they have real vanilla bean beat into the dough. Anything that uses a real life vanilla bean gets an A+ from me. I love the depth of flavor it adds to baked goods and I also love how purdy the black specks look in the dough. See?
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I make this shortbread every year to give away for goodies around the holidays; and I always make extra for myself. These freeze very well and I usually make enough to last me several months past Christmas. And the best (or worst?) part? They taste even better straight out of the freezer so need to unthaw. Just snatch and snarf!
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Jazz these babies up with a little colored sugar and you've got some festive shortbread you can take out on the town.
PRINT THIS RECIPE!!
Pecan Vanilla Shortbread
Adapted from Food and Wine
Makes Approx 30 cookies
3/4 cup (75 grams) pecans, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 sticks (10 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (55 grams) powdered sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cups (210 grams) all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar in the raw or other coarse sugar
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 350F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5-7 minutes or until nuts are lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, vanilla extract and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add the flour in three batches until incorporated. Remove the vanilla bean from the bowl and stir in the pecans.
Transfer dough to plastic wrap and use wrap to help guide and roll the dough into a 1 1/2 inch thick log. Wrap the log in the plastic and refrigerator the dough for 1 hour and up to 3 days.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside near your work area. Spread raw sugar on a cutting board. Brush the chilled dough log with the egg yolk and roll in the sugar, using your fingers to coat the log entirely with the sugar. Slice dough into 1/2 inch rounds and place on prepared baking sheets, approximately 1 inch apart.
Bake the cookies in the 350F oven for 20 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking if baking two sheets at a time.
Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool and then...
Eat it!!!
Hot stuff! I've got multiple pairs of those elastic pants so keep the DELICIOUS cookies coming :) YUM
ReplyDeleteCookie coo would be cute. But I like your original name. These look so good and festive. I adore that you used vanilla bean. I had such trouble finding them until recently. They now sell them at costco. How cool is that?
ReplyDeleteThese look delicious and remarkably similar to a cookie I just made! It looks stunning and - like you - I like real vanilla in a recipe!
ReplyDeleteThese just look so good!
ReplyDeleteSimple love these especially that green color on top. Over here, vanilla beans are so difficult to come by so I have to resort to vanilla essence most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI am scared of it because I don't bake, but it looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteOoh, black specks. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog ... sorry it was sort of a downer of a post ... at least the cookies are good! :)
oh, these look so yummy! Thanks for visiting & joining as a follower. Glad to follow you :)
ReplyDeleteThese look irresistible. Love how you did the sugar on the cookie edges. All those pictures are so tempting-even the picture of the batter with all those tasty flecks of vanilla. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love cookies, so I am in full support of Cookie Coo :) These sound so yummy. I love the pretty sprinkles on the outside!
ReplyDelete"Snatch and snarf" is a wonderful way to go. WE are big fans of frozen cookies and these look delicious. Shortbread cookies are always a holiday favorite around here, along with abut a dozen other kinds, and we look forward to trying these this holiday. And again in January... right out of the freezer.
ReplyDeleteCookies - great excuse to use a lovely pecan. I know how you love them. I love the green pimped up cookies.
ReplyDeleteMaggie...shortbread is my absolute favorite type of cookie...especially with those perfect little specks of vanilla bean! These look just beautiful. So cookie coo....keep them coming...and I'll go put on my 'cookie pants'!
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Yum, yum! Lover shortbread--will have to try this recipe for sure!
ReplyDeleteShortbread is definately my favorite and vanilla pecan sounds even better! Yum! These look delicious!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I really love the green colored sugar on the outside!!!
ReplyDeleteAny recipe that uses real vanilla bean is A-okay with me! I'm sure these shortbreads are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI love shortbread and with real vanilla beans? Even better! Love the festive green sugar!
ReplyDeleteThis probably the most festive shortbread that I have seen this year. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI am also addicted in making cookies, specially this coming holiday this is the best time to try variety of recipe about cookies
ReplyDeletePecans are my favorite nut to add to baked goods. I am loving how festive the shortbread is with the colored sugar. I could easily eat way too many of these treats!
ReplyDeleteThese look so cute! And I agree, real vanilla bean makes all the difference!
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh, I need to add these to my holiday repertoire! They look DELISH!!! Merry Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing so many cookies too! These look just lovely. I could use one with my cup of tea right now. Thank you for sharing, sweet woman!
ReplyDeleteI love to make baked goodies to give away at the holidays too! I mean, who doesn't love freshly-baked cookies? Especially when they look as good as those Pecan Vanilla Shortbread cookies of yours :)
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