When it comes to classic holiday treats that bring back fond memories of grandma's kitchen, nothing beats Aunt Katie's legendary pecan balls. These bite-sized morsels of sweetness, with their irresistible combination of crunchy pecans, creamy filling, and a decadent chocolate coating, have been a beloved family tradition for generations. Whether you're looking for a festive dessert to serve at your next holiday gathering or a delightful homemade gift that's sure to impress, this recipe will guide you through the steps of creating these iconic treats that are guaranteed to transport you back in time and leave your taste buds craving more.
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GRANDMA'S PECAN BALLS (FROM AUNT KATIE)
I always thought the origin of these cookies was Germany, and my paternal Grandmother set me straight when I asked for the recipe today - it came from Aunt Katie (who isn't really my Aunt, she's my godmother). In any case, here are my most favourite cookies that Grandma makes - I'll have to post the rest of the authentic German recipes she gave me years ago as well... she's been making these since I was kneehigh to a grasshopper!
Provided by Katzen
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 30 Cookies, 30 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cream butter with sugar.
- Add flour and pecans, mix well.
- Roll into balls, about the size of a large gumball, and place on a cookie sheet (I prefer to line mine with parchment, but I'm sure cooking spray would do.).
- Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until very lightly browned.
- While still warm, roll in superfine sugar - this is important because the dough does not have much sugar.
GRANDMA'S PECAN BALLS
Yield 2 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, blend together butter and sugar; stir in vanilla and flour. Fold in pecans. Roll dough into walnut-size balls and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes. While still warm, sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar; sprinkle again before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Nutritional Facts Serves
GRANDMA'S PECAN TASSIES
My grandma used to make these every Christmas. She passed the torch to me, and now my family asks me to make these every Christmas. They are delectable.
Provided by Brandi Rose
Categories Desserts Nut Dessert Recipes Pecan Dessert Recipes
Time 2h15m
Yield 48
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine 1 cup butter and cream cheese in a bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add flour gradually, beating at low speed. Shape mixture into 48 balls and place on a baking sheet. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease the cups of a mini-muffin pan. Press 1 chilled dough ball into each cup and shape into a tart shell.
- Whisk brown sugar, eggs, 2 tablespoons butter, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl. Stir in 1 1/4 cups pecans. Spoon mixture into tart shells. Top with the remaining pecans.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookie shell are delicately brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Gently remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114 calories, Carbohydrate 9 g, Cholesterol 23.1 mg, Fat 8.3 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 51.5 mg, Sugar 4.6 g
PECAN BUTTER BALLS
This is my Tanté Enna's recipe. She made them every year when we would visit. So worth the trip. I was glad to be able to get this recipe and a couple others that I had enjoyed so much as a child.
Provided by CabinKat
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 4 Dozen, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- If you prefer, you can substitute the pecans with walnuts, almonds, or filberts. I prefer the pecans to give this cookie a bit of sweetness.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit; high elevation use convection if you can; or bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sift flour (very important to do this for lighter cookies), sugar, and salt in medium to large bowl.
- Cut up butter into workable pieces, add to flour, and add vanilla.
- Mix as if you were making a pie crust; should look like beads or pea size. Use hand or sturdy spoon to mix well enough to form dough ball.
- Add and work in 2 cups of the nuts.
- Shape into 1-inch balls. You can refrigerate dough for about an hour if you think it will be easier to work with; I have not needed to.
- Roll balls in the remaining 1 cup nuts.
- Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for about 25 minutes; may take 5 extra minutes, depending on the elevation.
- You can remove them right away to a wire rack to cool.
- You can use this same recipe for Wedding Cookies, just omit the 1 cup nuts for rolling and roll in powdered sugar instead. Bake the same amount of time.
GRANDMA'S PECAN COOKIE BALLS
Powdered sugar-covered pecan cookie balls. My favorite cookies that my Grandmother would make every holiday.
Provided by gklein
Categories Pecan Desserts
Time 40m
Yield 60
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
- Cream shortening in a bowl with an electric mixer. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar gradually; cream thoroughly. Add flour, pecans, and vanilla extract and blend.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet, baking in batches if needed.
- Bake in the preheated oven on one of the top racks until lightly golden, about 15 minutes, watching to be sure the bottoms do not burn.
- Remove from the oven and roll in some of the remaining powdered sugar while still hot. Let cool, 10 to 20 minutes. Roll again in powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 65 calories, Carbohydrate 5.9 g, Fat 4.4 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.6 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 0.1 mg, Sugar 2.1 g
Tips:
- Softened Butter: Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature before creaming it with the sugar. This will ensure a smooth and creamy batter.
- Chopped Pecans: Use fresh, chopped pecans for the best flavor. You can also use a food processor to finely chop the pecans if you prefer a more uniform texture.
- Rolling the Balls: When rolling the pecan balls, use slightly damp hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to your fingers. You can also use a small cookie scoop to portion out the dough more evenly.
- Chilling the Balls: Before baking, chill the pecan balls for at least 30 minutes. This will help them hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much in the oven.
- Baking the Balls: Bake the pecan balls in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until they are just set. Do not overbake, as this will make them dry and crumbly.
Conclusion:
Aunt Katie's Grandma's Pecan Balls are a delicious and easy-to-make holiday treat. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create these delightful little balls of sweet, nutty goodness. Whether you are baking them for a Christmas cookie exchange or simply enjoying them as a snack, these pecan balls are sure to be a hit. So grab a bowl and a spoon, and get ready to make some memories with this classic recipe.
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