Also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes and Russian Teacakes, these Pecan Butter Balls are also spelled Pecan Butterballs. Whatever the spelling, Pecan Butter Ball cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Christmas Cookie Exchange Cookies
Even though Pecan Butter Balls are very tender, they will stand up to crowded Christmas cookie platter. The striking snow-white Pecan Butterballs will pop out amid the otherwise brown landscape of the rest of the Christmas cookies on the tray. Cookie exchanges are a great place to showcase these beautiful cookies. Bring extra, they're sure to disappear fast!
Pecan Butter Balls Cookie Recipe
- 1 pound (2 cups) butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups toasted pecans, chopped very fine or ground in a food processor
- 2 cups confectioners' (powdered) sugar for dusting and rolling
Directions: How To Make Pecan Butter Balls
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- For the best flavor, toast the pecans first. Place whole or halved pecans on an ungreased sheet pan and toast in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, stirring a few times until light brown and fragrant. Let cool and set aside. Grind in a food processor when cool.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with vegetable shortening spray.
- Using a stand mixer or heavy duty hand mixer with the beater attachment, beat butter on medium to high speed about 2 minutes or until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and beat again, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add vanilla extract and salt and beat again.
- Turn the mixer to low. Add flour and ground pecans to the mixing bowl 1 cup at a time, scraping the bowl a few times. At this point, the mixer will slow down. Mix only until dry ingredients are blended.
- Using a cookie scoop, ice cream scoop or Tablespoon, measure cookie batter in 1 inch balls and place on prepared pans leaving a little room between cookies to allow for spreading.
- Bake in 350 degree over for 14 minutes or until cookies are almost firm and the edges are lightly browned. Let cool just enough to handle.
- Meanwhile, measure 2 cups of confectioners' sugar into a large bowl. Sift the sugar if necessary to remove all lumps.
- Working with about 6 warm cookies at a time, roll them in the bowl of confectioners' sugar until they're completely coated. Place on a clean parchment covered cookie sheet.
- When the cookies are all coated, start over again, and roll them in powdered sugar a second time. Shake off excess and place on cookies sheets.
- Let cool completely and layer between waxed or parchment paper before storing them in an airtight container.
- Makes 60 melt-in-your-mouth pecan butter balls!
More Christmas Cookies:
Soft Sugar Cookie Cookies - Soft & buttery, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie recipe made with cream of tartar and rolled in red & green sugar.
Classic Shortbread Cookies - Tastes just like the famous Scottish Walkers Shortbread Cookies. These are classic Christmas cookies at their finest!
Cherry Kisses Cookies - Pink and pretty with a Hershey's Kiss on top! Perfect for Christmas cookie platters!
Snickerdoodles Cookies - Old-fashioned, made-from-scratch cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Jam - With their bright red raspberry jam center, these festive Thumbprint cookies will liven up every Christmas cookie platter.
Donna Diegel - Donna Diegel is an experienced baker and published author with more than 25 years of experience in the food industry.
