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Pecan Pie Balls

Pecan Pie Balls: A Bite-Sized Southern Classic

These Pecan Pie Balls are bite-sized, buttery cookies packed with finely chopped pecans and coated in powdered sugar. They offer all the flavors of a classic pecan pie in a fun, easy-to-make form that’s perfect for sharing during holidays or enjoying with family.

  • Total Time: 33 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. It’s important to have a non-stick surface, so your cookies don’t stick.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. The fluffy texture is key to achieving the melt-in-your-mouth quality.
  3. Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
  4. Gradually mix in the flour and salt, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
  5. Fold in the finely chopped pecans gently. You want the pecans evenly distributed throughout the dough.
  6. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them towards the end to avoid overbaking.
  8. After removing them from the oven, let them cool for about 5 minutes. While they’re still warm, roll each ball in powdered sugar until they’re fully coated.
  9. Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, give them a second coat of powdered sugar for extra sweetness.

Notes

  • Chill the dough: If the dough seems too soft to handle, refrigerate it for 20-30 minutes before rolling into balls. This helps the cookies hold their shape better during baking.
  • Double-coating in powdered sugar: Rolling the cookies in powdered sugar twice gives them an extra sweet coating that complements the pecans beautifully.
  • Experiment with flavors: For a fun twist, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough. This brings a warm, spiced flavor that’s perfect for the holiday season.
  • Freezing: You can freeze the cookie dough balls before baking. When ready to bake, simply pop them in the oven straight from the freezer, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
  • Author: Elina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ball
  • Calories: 160 kcal
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 50mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 12g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: Pecan cookie balls, Easy pecan dessert, Bite-sized pecan treats, Holiday pecan recipes