“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 Christmas cookie recipe every year They’re the perfect cookie – delicately delicious without being too sweet. They sure don’t last long around my house!
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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.
They can be made 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
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees farenheit.
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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.
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Add flour;process until evenly mixed and dough forms.
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With floured hands, shape dough by rounded teaspoon full into small balls.
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Place 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
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Bake 16 - 18 minutes, or until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are light golden.
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Transfer cookies to wire rack. Cool for 3 minutes, then roll cookies in remaining confectioners' sugar and place back on wire rack to cool.
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When cookies are completely cool, roll in sugar once again.
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Repeat with remaining dough and sugar.
Recipe Notes
Completed cookies may be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. (If cookies are stored in the freezer, you may need to roll them in confectioners' sugar again before serving.)
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!
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Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?
Paula@SweetPea says
December 10, 2013 at 7:16 AMOh, 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:25 AMIt’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
December 10, 2013 at 8:27 AMWe 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:28 AMOooh – 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
December 10, 2013 at 9:35 AMI 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:29 AM*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
December 10, 2013 at 10:01 AMStopping by from the Cookie Exchange! These look delicious! And love how simple the recipe is. Pinning to try later 🙂
Suzy says
December 19, 2013 at 8:30 AMHope you love them as much as I do, Elizabeth!
Beverly says
December 10, 2013 at 10:06 AMYum, 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:33 AMI 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
December 11, 2013 at 3:28 AMThose look delicious & easy… my type of cookie 🙂
Suzy says
December 19, 2013 at 8:33 AMMe too, Maryann. Easy and yummy is the way I roll. 😀
Jeanette says
December 11, 2013 at 10:57 AMOhhhh! 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:36 AMSnowballs! 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!
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
December 11, 2013 at 4:35 PMThis 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:37 AMI 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
December 12, 2013 at 8:30 AMThese look delicious! It’s been a pleasure to be a part of this cookie exchange with you! Merry Christmas!
Leslie
Suzy says
December 19, 2013 at 8:37 AMIt was fun ‘partying’ with you too, Leslie. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says
December 12, 2013 at 8:42 PMSuzy, 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:38 AMThis 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
December 13, 2013 at 6:58 AMSuzy, 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:40 AMI 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
December 13, 2013 at 9:05 AMThis 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:41 AMMerry Christmas to you too, Christy. I had no idea that so many people had these at Christmas when they were growing up!
Christina says
December 13, 2013 at 9:11 AMOh these look so yummy- I love the look of white snowy cookies during the holidays-
This tour has been such fun!
Suzy says
December 19, 2013 at 8:43 AMI 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
December 16, 2013 at 12:02 AMI 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:46 AMI 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
December 18, 2013 at 8:16 AMThank 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
December 19, 2013 at 8:47 AMHi 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
November 16, 2014 at 5:39 PMJust finished making these and YUM!!!
Suzy says
November 17, 2014 at 6:30 AMThat’s great to hear! I’m so glad that you like them. Thanks for letting me know!
Mary says
December 19, 2016 at 9:37 PMI tried this recipe and they came out really crumbly, I don’t know what I did wrong 🙁
Suzy says
December 19, 2016 at 10:15 PMI’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
December 20, 2017 at 10:18 PMMe too. I used butter. I thought I measured the flour correctly. The flavor was amazing though.
Stefani L says
December 20, 2016 at 11:00 AMI was wondering can I make the dough a day before and refrigerate it until I’m ready to use it?
Carmen Moreno says
December 20, 2016 at 3:30 PMI’m wondering the same thing..can I make dough and refrigerate??
Suzy says
December 21, 2016 at 8:00 AMHi Carmen. That’s a great question, but I’ve never tried it with this recipe, so I don’t know.
Shelley says
December 12, 2017 at 9:25 PMYes u can just bring to room temp b-4 rounding
Suzy says
December 21, 2016 at 7:58 AMHi Stefani. To be honest, I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know. I’ve never tried it.
Stefani L says
December 21, 2016 at 1:58 PMHello Suzy, if I try it, I’ll let you know the results!
C Kiser says
February 28, 2017 at 9:48 AMThese look yummy!
Carol says
August 23, 2017 at 12:23 AMI don’t have a food processor……can u give me instructions without one
Suzy says
August 24, 2017 at 12:23 PMHi 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
December 8, 2017 at 1:59 PMDoes anyone know how many pecan balls this recipe will make? I need to make 3 dozen of these
Suzy says
December 9, 2017 at 9:21 AMHi 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
December 21, 2017 at 6:25 PMHi my cookies lost there shape they spread out and flattened. Any one else have this problem? My oven is at 325F any suggestions