Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 6 Tbsp powdered sugar + extra for finishing
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Cream together the butter, shortening, and vanilla. Stir in the flour, nuts, and powdered sugar and mix well. Shape the dough into balls—my grandma always said, “smaller than a walnut, bigger than a cherry!” Place the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookies become light golden brown. Be sure to watch them carefully, as these can burn quite easily.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let cool slightly, just until the cookies can be handled. Roll them in the extra powdered sugar while they’re still warm.
My grandma made these cookies every Christmas and I’ve had similar cookies over the years…sometimes they’re called wedding cookies or tea cakes. But, my grandma mixed powdered sugar into the dough and it really sets these cookies apart. There’s that initial crispness when you take a bite, but then they just seem to melt in your mouth!