Every Christmas I intend on baking a variety of cookies for gifts and every year holiday busyness ensues, the season comes and goes, and I don’t make cookies. It’s probably just as well that I don’t make them because of my well-documented lack of self control when cookies are within my reach. Did I mention that these cookies are completely addictive? I mustered the energy this year to make a batch of these cookies. However, they didn’t go out as gifts and aforementioned self control issue took charge!
Jim’s sister, Ellie, pulls off a cookie bake every year with some of the best treats I’ve ever eaten. I’m so envious of her commitment year after year. I love everything she makes, but I have to say that her wedding cookies are my favorite.
The origin of these holiday cookies remains a mystery. Many call them Mexican wedding cookies, or polvorones, but they’re also referred to as Russian tea cakes in some parts of the world. Regardless of the origin, they all share the same basic ingredients of butter, powdered sugar, flour, vanilla, and pecans. In my humble opinion, these buttery and crunchy confections make the perfect cookie for the Christmas holiday.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup pecan halves, finely chopped
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until well combined. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine.
2. Whisk salt and flour together and add to butter mixture in batches, mixing well. Add pecans, mixing until well incorporated.
3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
5. Roll dough into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls and place them on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Press on each ball to slightly flatten them. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Let cookies cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Roll each cookie in confectioner's sugar and cool completely on a cooling rack.
https://southernboydishes.com/2013/12/10/wedding-cookies/
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This was one of my favorite cookies, growing up in SE Alabama. They were called “Sand Tarts,” to include yet another name for them. I have a friend who is addicted to them, so I make them periodically. My recipe doesn’t use the refrigerator step and I shape them in crescent shapes. Speaking of crescents, Craig Claiborne published a similar recipe in the original “New York Times Cookbook,” called Viennese Crescents. I haven’t made these in a while, but they are also delicious. In fact, I have sometimes infused the powdered sugar I roll the Sand Tarts in with pulverized vanilla bean. I prefer the flavor and texture of chopped pecans to the ground walnuts that the Viennese Crescent recipe calls for.
Such lovely wedding cookies – wedding cookies are some of my favorite cookies round Christmas time – I have printed out your recipe to try – thanks so much Bill
Thank you, Shashi! Happy holidays to you and your family!
Wow, these sound heavenly and perfect for a celebration
Thank you, Sowmya. I appreciate you dropping by.
Gorgeous! And I bet equally as yummy.
Thank you, Julianne! I appreciate the compliment!
Every year, I sing the same tune. Bake cookies as gifts. I bake a few, and my family (and I) enjoy them. You managed to photograph a cookie that isn’t very photogenic into being quite “angelic”. All that white… well, these look beautiful. These are one of my favorite cookies. I baked these, last year. I never gave them away, either. See what I mean?
Thank you, Debby! I struggled with how to photograph this one! Glad I’m not the only one who has a cookie addition! ๐
These are such great cookies! I totally love them. And you’re right, they’re incredibly addictive. Good recipe – thanks.
Thanks, John!
I agree with Renee, I couldn’t stop eating these cookie. Love the buttery, sugary cookies, looks really nice. Have fun.
Thank you, Ash!
It has been so, so long since I’ve had one of these cookies. They are, however, probably my favorite! I’m so glad you posted them. And I even have all the ingredients on hand. Hooray! ๐
I hadn’t made them in a long while either. They’re actually very easy to make. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy!
I wouldn’t have any self-control over these cookies either. They are one of my favorites and also ones I have yet to bake. I need to remedy that real soon before the holiday season passes by.
I’m not giving up yet. Maybe I’ll do better this year! Thanks for dropping by, Renee! I hope you all have great holidays.