Description
Delicate pecan puffs from Joy of Cooking whisper sweet Southern comfort with powdered sugar-dusted cookies that melt instantly on your tongue. Buttery, nutty, and elegantly simple, these treats invite you to savor a moment of pure, delightful indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted and cooled
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Seasoning:
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Confectioner’s sugar (as needed for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring even coverage.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes airy and pale, periodically scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure uniform blending. Incorporate vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
- Gradually fold in all-purpose flour, salt, and chopped pecans at a low speed, creating a cohesive dough that evenly distributes the nuts.
- Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out the dough and gently roll into 1-inch (2.5 cm) spheres, spacing them approximately 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, watching for golden-brown bottoms and slightly crackling tops that indicate perfect doneness.
- Once removed from the oven, allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly.
- Prepare a large plastic bag or wide bowl filled with powdered sugar. Carefully transfer two cookies at a time, gently coating them in the sugar, then place on a wire rack to continue cooling.
- After the initial coating, let the cookies sit for an hour or overnight, then perform a second dusting of powdered sugar to achieve a classic snowball-like appearance.
Notes
- Gentle Flour Distribution: Carefully shake chicken thighs in seasoned flour, allowing a light, even coating that creates a delicate crispy exterior without clumping.
- Precise Browning Technique: Carefully position thighs in hot Dutch oven, developing a golden-brown crust that seals in juicy flavors and creates irresistible texture.
- Temperature Control Magic: Monitor heat to prevent burning, ensuring each thigh browns evenly and develops a rich, appetizing color without becoming greasy.
- Skin Crispiness Secret: Pat chicken skin dry before flouring to guarantee maximum crunchiness and help seasonings adhere perfectly to the meat.
- Oil Selection Wisdom: Choose a high-smoke-point oil like vegetable or canola to prevent burning and maintain consistent cooking temperature throughout the process.
- Seasoning Balance Trick: Mix flour with salt, pepper, and optional herbs to create a flavor-packed coating that enhances the chicken’s natural taste.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow browned chicken to rest briefly before final cooking, helping juices redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1.2 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg