These maple pecan sandies cookies are easy to make and they literally melt in your mouth. Pecan sandies with a dust of autumn flavor? Yes please!
Pecan Sandies are a beloved cookie in Texas… almost to the point of worship but not quite. The recipe is known as Mexican Wedding Cakes, Russian Tea Cakes, Wedding Cookies, and a host of other monikers.
They may be round, flat, or crescents but they all have that same buttery, crumbly texture and sweet pecan goodness. These do not contain eggs, which is part of the reason for their crumbly texture. The amount of butter is the other reason they are so rich. Cake flour adds to the delicacy — the pecans are just thrown in there because this is Texas and we can do what we want.
Don’t try to ship Maple Pecan Sandies or send them in a lunch box because they will crumble into a million pieces. Save them for a quiet moment in the afternoon with a cup of Earl Grey and a good book. If you’ve only ever had the kind that you get at the store you are going to be amazed at how addictive these are. They literally melt in your mouth. Don’t try to freeze them, either. For one, they pick up freezer flavor really easily because of the butter — and they crumble.
I have made the pecan sandies recipe with pistachios, walnuts, and macadamias, too. They are OK but I like the pecan ones the best. It might take a couple of tries to get the hang of shaping them because they crumble so easily. Keep trying! You’ll get it.
Every time I make them I get a different yield but this recipe will make between 18 and 24 cookies. If you don’t have cake flour don’t stress – use all purpose. It won’t make that much difference — you’ll lose a little delicacy but they will still be awesome.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoons maple flavoring
- 1 cups cake flour
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans , toasted
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ , white sugar, or sugar and cinnamon
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Chop pecans.
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Oil a heavy baking sheet.
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Bake at 400F for 5-10 minutes, turning the nuts over with a spatula halfway through.
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Check often.
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Do not let them burn.
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In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.
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Stir in maple.
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Add the flour and pecans.
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Mix until well blended.
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Cover and chill for 1 hour.
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
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Shape dough into crescents. Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
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Remove from pan to cool on wire racks.
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When cookies are cool, roll in the sugar you prefer or leave them plain or dip in white chocolate
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Store in an airtight container.
If you like Maple Pecan Sandies Cookies you may also like…
Spiced Rum Snickerdoodles Restless Chipotle
White Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Restless Chipotle
Pecan Sandies Truffles Tastes of Lizzy T’s
Pumpkin Pecan Sandies Sandwich Cookies Bakeaholic Mama
These cookies look great!
Thanks Megan!
I love these cookies! I’ve always called them Russian tea cakes, but by any name they are so good. I love your maple/cinnamon/sugar treatment.
Yep. I have recipes for Russian Tea cakes, too. Mine is a little different than this. Thanks Kristin!
Pecan sandies are one of my favorite cookies and the addition of maple makes them even better. I also have only seen them in circles not crescents. What a nice twist! These are going to be on my list for my Christmas cookie exchange.
They are beautiful on a cookie plate. 🙂
Maple pecan ANYTHING is always good with me! These cookies look delightful!
Thank you Trish!
These cookies remind me of my childhood – in NJ, not Texas:) My mom always used to buy them and while they were just store-bought, they did melt in your mouth. Now I can bring back the memories and have much better cookies too.
🙂 Let me know what you think of them.
Dear Marye, I can almost TASTE these….buttery and crumbly…..SO GOOD! This New England girl loves all things maple. Can’t wait to try!
Let me know what you think Allie!
Oh man! I use to love devouring these at my grandma’s house when I was little and now I can enjoy them every day!
🙂 Isn’t it fun how food brings back memories?
Sounds yummy! Is there a specific reason they need to be shaped like a crescent or can you make them round if you wanted?
I guess you could make them round if you like. I’ve never seen them that way. 🙂
I love these kind of cookies as a special treat!
Yep, me too! I love that melt in your mouth kind of texture
One of my favorite kinds of cookies! Must try to make them gluten free–and splurge on organic sugar (I do that now and then).
I bet almond flour would work.
I need to try these!