Two of my favorite Christmas cookies are Pecan Sandies and Pfeffernussen. I have been eating and loving Pecan Sandies as long as I can remember. They melt into a pool of buttery sweetness on your tongue. It is utterly impossible to eat just one. They are truly addicting. They are easy to make and don’t require any fancy ingredients. They so come with a warning: don’t inhale through your mouth when you are just about to take a bite. You will get a breath full of sugar!
My second favorite is Pfeffernussen. A soft, spicy cookie that is reminiscent of a gingerbread. It wouldn’t be Christmas for me without either of these cookies.
Pecan Sandies
(by Reeni’s Mom’s Friend)
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 and ¼ cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts
1. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl until fluffy. Add flour and salt. Mix well.
The dough may be too thick to use a mixer at this point. Use a spoon. Add nuts and continue mixing until incorporated throughout.
2. Chill dough for ½ hour.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
5. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes until set but not brown.
6. While still hot roll in confectioners’ sugar. Cool. Then roll again in confectioners’ sugar.
What’s your favorite Christmas Cookie?
