Pecan Shortbread

I love the weather.  Seriously, I love it.  I think it's delicious, I want to eat it.  But that's weird.  So instead with the weather perfectly warm and sunny I will celebrate by sitting on the balcony with a glass of warm tea and some nice crumbly, buttery, sugary cookies.  While I have never been a huge shortbread cookie fan they are a favorite of my mom and sometimes when I miss her living near by I make some and call her and pretend she is still someone I can visit for an afternoon tea!

I wanted to make some shortbread but needed it to have a little more flavor than the typical butter and sugar which can quickly bore me.  So taking some inspiration from Pecan Sandies - a childhood cookie I loved to share with my mom - I added some pecans and some brown sugar among other things.  

These cookies are great but you need to refrigerate the dough before baking so you can slice it.  Be sure to keep in mind this extra step in your prep time so you aren't left impatiently waiting for your cookies to chill (though let's be honest... any time you're waiting for cookies you're impatient... even if you knew you would have to wait... maybe lick the mixer!).

Ingredients

yields about 2 dozen cookies

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 t. vanilla extract

1 egg 

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 t. salt

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 cup crushed pecans

Directions

1) In a bowl mix together the butter and sugar until just combined.  Add the vanilla extract and egg and mix.

2) Add the flour, salt, and baking powder and mix on a low speed until the dough comes together.    Fold in the pecans.  Turn the dough out on a floured surface and shape into a long log.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes but up to 5 days.

3) Remove dough from refrigerator and pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

4) Slice the dough into 1/2 inch slices.  And place on a baking sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges have just begun to brown.  Allow cookies to cool and serve with some nice warm tea then call your mom and tell her hi.  She probably misses you ;)