With so many great, modern-day cookbooks and online recipe sites for butter pecan cookies available these days, I often find it difficult to decide which one to refer to for inspiration. I find solace from the age of abundant information in quiet, comforting places. One place is my Mother’s recipe box containing bits of yellowing paper with fading yet elegant cursive writing on them.

Opening the lid of this box, blissful memories are released of days gone by. Of times, from a child’s perspective, when life seemed much simpler and slower. When the mind was allowed room to enjoy being in the moment, without the distraction of technology.

This is one of those recipes. Enjoy!

Vintage Butter Pecan Cookies

Makes approximately 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2/3 cups sugar or sugar substitute
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

• In an electric mixer, beat the butter for about a minute, until creamy and light yellow in color.
• Add sugar and beat until light in consistency and fully combined, about 1 minute.
• Pour in vanilla and add salt, then whip butter mixture together for 30 seconds
• Add flour to mixture, 1/2 cup at a time (scraping down sides with a spatula)
• After adding the first cup of flour, switch to the dough kneading attachment, then continue adding the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time.
• When mixture starts to come together as a dough, blend in pecans, on low speed.
• By hand, roll dough into balls. (A small ice cream scoop can be used to ensure that all cookies are of a consistent size)
• Place dough balls 3 inches apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

• Flatten dough balls (A large spatula or the bottom of a glass tumbler can be used)
• Place each tray in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking.
• Bake for around 15 minutes (time may vary, depending on the heating element in your oven.
• Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Fill a pretty, glass cookie jar with these fresh confections and savor the memories with a few with a hot cup of tea!