Description
Delicate Mexican wedding cookies crumble with buttery richness, dusted in powdered sugar like fresh snowfall. Nutty pecan crumbs melt on your palate, creating a delightful whisper of sweetness from traditional Latin American baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Pecans:
- 1 heaping cup pecans (240 ml)
Flour and Sugar:
- 1¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1¼ cups (150 g) powdered sugar, divided
Butter and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (227 g or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Gently toast pecans in a medium skillet over low heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until fragrant. Transfer toasted nuts to a food processor and pulse into a coarse, textured meal.
- Measure and reserve 3/4 cup (90 grams) powdered sugar in a medium bowl for coating the finished cookies.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour and ground cinnamon until thoroughly combined.
- Using a stand mixer, cream butter, remaining 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Incorporate almond and vanilla extracts, mixing thoroughly. Gradually blend in the flour mixture, then fold in the ground pecans until a uniform dough forms.
- If the dough feels too sticky, refrigerate for 15-20 minutes. Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to portion the dough, then roll into smooth balls and arrange on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 13-16 minutes, or until edges turn a delicate golden color. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 15 minutes, then gently roll each warm cookie in the reserved powdered sugar.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely, allowing the powdered sugar coating to set.
Notes
- Toasting transforms pecans into a nutty, aromatic delight that elevates the cookie’s overall flavor profile.
- Pulsing pecans creates rustic, textured crumbles that add delightful crunch and depth to each sweet bite.
- Blending flour and cinnamon separately ensures spices disperse evenly, preventing clumping and guaranteeing consistent taste throughout the batch.
- Room temperature butter softens quickly and creams more smoothly, allowing better integration with other ingredients.
- Chilling dough helps cookies maintain shape and intensifies flavor development during baking.
- Allowing cookies to cool completely prevents breaking and lets flavors meld together beautifully.
- Using parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Measuring ingredients precisely impacts texture and taste, so use proper measuring tools.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for several days.
- Freezing dough extends baking flexibility, letting you enjoy fresh cookies anytime.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 1038 kcal
- Sugar: 51 g
- Sodium: 132 mg
- Fat: 82 g
- Saturated Fat: 40 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 38 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 90 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg