This Christmas you must try my pecan meltaway balls recipe for a delicious cookie!
“Sometimes me thinks, ‘What is a friend?’ And then me say ‘Friend is someone to share the last cookie with.'” – The Cookie Monster
That Cookie Monster is one smart fella, I say. 😀
My family begs for this incredible Christmas cookie recipe every year These pecan meltaway balls are the perfect cookie – delicately delicious without being too sweet. They sure don’t last long around my house!
And I don’t mind making a batch or two either. These tasty morsels require only 5 ingredients. They’re easy to make and even easier to eat!
No making a mess by rolling out cookie dough and dragging out your cookie cutters. These are simply shaped in your hand and then rolled in powdered sugar.
Make these tasty cookies ahead and stored at room temperature or in the freezer. Be sure to read the notes at the bottom of the recipe. They’re perfect for taking to a Christmas cookie exchange too – everyone loves these cookies!
Meltaway Pecan Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup butter - no substitutions
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees farenheit.
- In a food processor with knife blade attached, pulse pecans with 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar until nuts are very finely ground. Add butter and vanilla, and process until smooth, occasionally stopping processor and scraping the side with a rubber spatula.
- Add flour;process until evenly mixed and dough forms.
- With floured hands, shape dough by rounded teaspoon full into small balls.
- Place 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 16 - 18 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are light golden.
- Transfer cookies to wire rack. Cool for 3 minutes, then roll cookies in remaining confectioners' sugar and place back on wire rack to cool.
- When cookies are completely cool, roll in sugar once again.
- Repeat with remaining dough and sugar.
Notes
I love nothing better than to pair them with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee. Yum.
No need to wait until Christmas – your family and friends will love you if you make a batch right now!
PIN IT FOR LATER
Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?
Paula@SweetPea says
Oh, yum! I know these have to melt in your mouth. I love a recipe that’s delicious and requires few ingredients. These wouldn’t last long at my house!
Suzy says
It’s my kind of recipe, Paula – fast and easy! Trust me, they were gone in a flash at my house.
Debra @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
We used to call these ‘butter balls’ when I was little. I think my mom used walnuts. I made them for my boys when they were growing up and did the same thing that my mom did..instead of rolling them in confectioner sugar, at Christmas time they were rolled in red and green sprinkles 🙂 Next to sugar cookies, these mean Christmas cookie to me like no other ! 🙂
Suzy says
Oooh – I bet they would be delicious with walnuts! And I love the idea of rolling them in red and green sprinkles for Christmas. Thanks for the idea!
Atta Girl Amy says
I think a friend is someone who brings a plate of these cookies to an ornament exchange party. That would be a really good friend!
My mom used to make these, and we loved them. They’re “Christmas” to me.
Suzy says
*sigh* Someone would have brought them to the ornament exchange party if a certain person living in this house hadn’t eaten them all. lol Had a lovely time at your party, my sweet friend!
Elizabeth @ Southern Color says
Stopping by from the Cookie Exchange! These look delicious! And love how simple the recipe is. Pinning to try later 🙂
Suzy says
Hope you love them as much as I do, Elizabeth!
Beverly says
Yum, Suzy. I have loved this cookies since I was a little girl. My mother always baked them, and they were my favorite.
Day two of my holiday home tour is now posted. I hope you will come by for a visit.♥ Yesterday was the front of our home and the porch. Today is the foyer, stairway and landing.
Suzy says
I never realized how many people had these cookies when they were growing up. I must have lived with my head under a rock. lol I think they’re the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee. 😀 I’ll be sure to go check out your home all decked out in its Christmas finery!
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
Those look delicious & easy… my type of cookie 🙂
Suzy says
Me too, Maryann. Easy and yummy is the way I roll. 😀
Jeanette says
Ohhhh! I love these. Call these snowballs at Christmas, Mexican Wedding Cookies at events, and yummy when we make them just for us. Thank you! Pinning and sharing~ Jeanette
Suzy says
Snowballs! That’s a perfect name for these little morsels. My mom never made them, but we used to buy wedding cookies at the grocery store all the time. They were my fave. It never even occurred to me that these are pretty much the same thing. Doh!
nancy says
my mom made them with a half pecan in the middle, no chopped nuts. she called them Pecan Dreams. they were a favorite in our family and have become a very special holiday treat❤️
Suzy says
That’s a great idea! These are definitely one of our favorites!
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
This is a new to me recipe Suzy and one I’ll definitely be giving a try this week. I love baking in the weeks before Christmas and the cookie exchange has provided some great recipes already.
Suzy says
I hope you love them as much as I do, Kerryanne! I think they’re perfect with a cup of coffee.
Leslie @ House on the Way says
These look delicious! It’s been a pleasure to be a part of this cookie exchange with you! Merry Christmas!
Leslie
Suzy says
It was fun ‘partying’ with you too, Leslie. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
Suzy, would you believe that I’ve never made these? Thanks so much for sharing your recipe at the Cookie Exchange because I can’t wait to make them this year!
Suzy says
This was my first time making them too, Jane. I was amazed at how easy they were. Hope you and Leo love them as much as we do!
Mary says
Suzy, I pinned to make! I have a friend who gives us a tray of cookies every year and her wedding cookies that are similar are the first to be gobbled up! Love your beautiful bokeh too 🙂
Suzy says
I hope you find these as easy to make and as yummy as I do, Mary! Gotta love the bokeh that you get with 50mm lens. lol
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
This is my favorite cookies! My mom has been making them for me since I was a kid. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Merry Christmas! ~Christy
Suzy says
Merry Christmas to you too, Christy. I had no idea that so many people had these at Christmas when they were growing up!
Christina says
Oh these look so yummy- I love the look of white snowy cookies during the holidays-
This tour has been such fun!
Suzy says
I can personally attest to their yumminess, Christina! 😀 You’re so right – this tour had been so much fun and I’ve added some great recipes to my collection.
Laura from Inspiration for Moms says
I am going to give these a try because my whole family loves pecans. So honored to be in the exchange with you! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Suzy says
I hope you love them, Laura. This was my first time making them,. This recipe has definitely been added to my annual Christmas cookie list!
Lauren @ The Endearing Home says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe, I just printed it and will be making tomorrow with my girls after school. My grandmother used to make these every year for Christmas, but she shaped them into little crescents. They were my absolute favorite cookie growing up and can’t wait to make them, so worth every calorie!
Suzy says
Hi Lauren. I forgot all about it, but I’ve seen these shaped into crescents! Hope you have fun making them with your girls. I think it’s a perfect recipe to share with kiddos. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Pumpkin Flamingo says
Just finished making these and YUM!!!
Suzy says
That’s great to hear! I’m so glad that you like them. Thanks for letting me know!
Mary says
I tried this recipe and they came out really crumbly, I don’t know what I did wrong 🙁
Suzy says
I’m so sorry, Mary! I haven’t had that problem with this recipe, so I don’t know what to suggest. Did you use real butter, not margarine? Could there possibly have been a bit too much flour? Wish I could help!
Joy says
Me too. I used butter. I thought I measured the flour correctly. The flavor was amazing though.
Stefani L says
I was wondering can I make the dough a day before and refrigerate it until I’m ready to use it?
Carmen Moreno says
I’m wondering the same thing..can I make dough and refrigerate??
Suzy says
Hi Carmen. That’s a great question, but I’ve never tried it with this recipe, so I don’t know.
Shelley says
Yes u can just bring to room temp b-4 rounding
Suzy says
Hi Stefani. To be honest, I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.
Stefani L says
Hello Suzy, if I try it, I’ll let you know the results!
C Kiser says
These look yummy!
Carol says
I don’t have a food processor……can u give me instructions without one
Suzy says
Hi Carol. If you’ll Google “what to use instead of a food processor”, you’ll get lots of tips for what to do when you don’t have one. 😀
Erika says
Does anyone know how many pecan balls this recipe will make? I need to make 3 dozen of these
Suzy says
Hi Erika. It’s hard for me to say exactly, but I estimate that one recipe will yield 24’ish cookies, maybe more. It’s been a while since I’ve made them so I don’t remember exactly.
Loraine says
Hi my cookies lost there shape they spread out and flattened. Any one else have this problem? My oven is at 325F any suggestions
Joy says
If i remove dates do I need to add anything more?
Suzy says
Are you possibly thinking of something else? This recipe doesn’t call for any dates. 😀
Mindie says
Hi do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Suzy says
My apologies for not replying sooner! I’m having a technical difficulty that’s been preventing from being notified of new comments. I use salted butter.
Marion Mockridge says
This recipe didn’t work for me although I followed the recipe precisely; the cookies crumbled when I transferred them to the wire rack. What a waste of ingredients!
Suzy says
I’m so sorry this didn’t work for you! You’re the only one who has told me that. I’ve made it many times over the years with no problems, so I’m not sure what might have happened.