Learn how to make Pecan Finger Cookies! This classic Christmas cookie recipe is easy to make, buttery, loaded with nuts, and so delicious. The perfect holiday treat!
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Ginnie's Take
I usually go a little crazy baking Christmas cookies at this time of year. One of my happiest holiday traditions is making a ton of cookies to share with co-workers, friends, and family! I typically bake a mix of tried-and-true family recipes (like Poppy Seed Kiss Cookies or Mini Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcakes), along with a few new cookies. One cookie I always bake though? My grandmother Nona's Pecan Finger Cookies! I have fond memories of visiting Nona's home during the holidays, and there was always a plate of these delicious, nutty Pecan Cookies. No matter the other options, I always went for these cookies first (and still do).
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious Flavor - These old fashioned Christmas cookies have a rich, buttery, nutty flavor and a tender, shortbread like texture that's impossible to resist!
- Easy to Make - You need just a few basic ingredients for this recipe, and the cookies are simple to prepare.
- Festive - These powdered sugar-covered treats are super festive for the holiday season! Don't save this recipe just for Christmas though, because they're so tasty you'll want to enjoy them year round!
Jump to:
Ingredients
You need just a few ingredients to make these classic Christmas cookies:
- Nuts - You'll need some pecans, of course! I typically use pecan halves, but since you're grinding up the nuts anyway, pecan pieces would also work.
- Flour - Get out your all-purpose flour for the dough.
- Sugar - You'll use powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar) in the dough, and you'll also roll the cookies in powdered sugar once they're done baking.
- Butter - This recipe uses salted butter.
- Vanilla - The cookies are flavored with vanilla extract.
- Salt - You'll also need some salt (I recommend using Kosher salt).
You'll Also Need
You'll need a food processor or a nut grinder to chop the pecans, a stand mixer to prepare the dough, and a couple baking sheets to cook the cookies.
How to Make Pecan Fingers
My grandmother's delicious Pecan Cookies feature a rich, buttery dough filled with ground pecans. You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's a quick overview of the steps:
- Chop the nuts. You'll start by finely chopped the nuts in a food processor or nut grinder.
- Make dough. Next, you'll prepare the dough, then chill it for at least one hour. Tip: You must chill the dough, otherwise the cookies won't hold their shape when baked.
- Shape the cookies. After the dough has chilled, you'll shape it into logs / fingers.
- Bake the cookies. Next, you'll bake the cookies just until they're lightly colored on the bottom.
- Roll in powdered sugar. Let the cookies cool slightly, then roll them in powdered sugar to coat.
Okay, time to enjoy your homemade Pecan Finger Cookies! I hope you'll try this recipe this holiday season. It's sure to become a Christmas favorite for your family, too. I need to warn you though: it's impossible to stop at just one!
Storage
Store leftover Pecan Fingers in an airtight container at room temperature. The cookies will stay fresh for about one week. You can also freeze the cookies for up to one month, then defrost before eating. Tip: I have one of these pie storage containers, and it's perfect for storing cookies!
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to try my Almond Crescent Cookies and Snowball Cookies next! They're based on this recipe. And you'll love these other Christmas Cookies, too:
- Black Bottoms Cupcakes
- Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
- Poppy Seed Kiss Cookies
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Cookies
- Curry Shortbread Cookies
- Honey Cookies
- Ginger Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
P.S. Check out all of my Christmas recipes, crafts, and decor ideas!
Pecan Finger Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup powdered sugar, plus additional for rolling cookies
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups ground pecans
Instructions
- Cream butter using a mixer. Add ¼ cup powdered sugar, vanilla, and water; mix well.
- Add flour, salt, and pecans, and mix until blended.
- Cover and chill dough for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
- Form dough into rolls about 1 ½ to 2 inches long and place on baking sheet.
- Bake for one hour. Remove from oven and cool slightly.
- While the cookies are still warm, roll in powdered sugar to coat.
- Let cookies cool, then serve immediately or store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
My cookies were real crumbly and I followed recipe. many crumbled or broke apart so I had to eat them. Trying to figure out what i did wrong. I was close. thanks
Hi Rick! It is a drier dough, but the cookies shouldn't crumble apart. Two thoughts: first, did you add the 1 tablespoon water? Second, how did you measure your flour? The standard way to measure flour (and the one I recommend) is to spoon the flour into your measuring cups, then level the excess off with a straight edge (such as a knife). If you scoop your measuring cup into the flour, the flour gets packed and compressed (leading to excess flour and a drier dough). In the future, you can always add a touch more water (a teaspoon or… Read more »
Can almonds be used instead of pecans?
Hi Helen! Yes, you can use almonds, and I'm actually planning to share a recipe soon for almond crescent cookies that's based on this recipe. If you have it, I'd recommend adding 2 teaspoons almond extract (in addition to the vanilla) to enhance the almond flavor. Hope you enjoy the cookies! 🙂
Oh these look fabulous and I would love them. Thanks for the recipe and Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Thanks so much, Marty! They are truly delicious:)
These are everyone's favorite cookies, been making them since 1970 when I was first married and found the recipe in a magazine!!! Expensive to make but, oh so worth it!!!
I have been eating these cookies for as long as I can remember - it doesn't quite seem like Christmas without them:) Thanks for stopping by, Cleo!
What is temperature to bake the cookies and who long, thank you
Hi Aurora! You should bake the cookies at 250 degrees for one hour. Make sure to chill the dough first though. You can find all this info in the recipe card. Hope you enjoy the cookies! 🙂