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Easy Pecan Shortbread

Stacey Littleby Updated: Feb 9, 2024

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This Easy Pecan Shortbread is a quick, easy, shortcut way to make buttery, delicious shortbread cookie bars!

This Easy Pecan Shortbread is seriously the easiest shortbread you'll make. #shortbread #pecan #easy #recipe #ideas #christmas #cookie

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Shortbread cookies. They’re one of my most favorite things. There’s something magical about the perfect blend of flour, butter, and sugar. But truth be told, they can be a little fussy.

Some recipes call for you to use cold butter and cut it into the flour. Other recipes call for you to roll the dough out and prick it with a fork.  Some even call for you to use cookie cutters.

And while none of these tasks are especially difficult, it’s the holidays! Ain’t nobody got time for all that. Enter my EASY Pecan Shortbread…

Easy Pecan Shortbread is seriously the easiest shortbread you'll make. #shortbread #pecan #easy #recipe #ideas #christmas #cookie

Easy Pecan Shortbread – Easy as Pie!  

Seriously, this is the easiest shortbread I’ve ever made. And does it taste as good as the other stuff? Heck yeah it does.

Now, there’ll be naysayers out there (they always show up) claiming this isn’t “true” shortbread. But I say, “Whatever.”  It looks like it and tastes like it, but it’s a whole lot easier! And I like easy. And I know you do, too!

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5 from 2 votes

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Easy Pecan Shortbread

Author Stacey Little
Course Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 20
Calories 170kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted butter, room temperature ((2 sticks) )
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325°F. With a mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix well. Add the vanilla. Gradually add the flour and mix until combined. Add the pecans and mix briefly to combine.
  • Press the dough evenly into the bottom of a ungreased 13X9-inch baking dish. If the mixture it too sticky, cover with wax paper and use the wax paper to press flat.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and use a pizza cutter to cut into squares. Allow too cool in the pan before removing. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Be sure to measure your flour by spooning it into a dry measure measuring cup and leveling off. Do not scoop into the flour container with the measuring scoop. Measuring the flour incorrectly will greatly affect this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg


* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.

Did you make my Easy Pecan Shortbread?I'd love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. There’s just something special about having the people I love gathered around the table, sharing good food and even better company. So go ahead and pull up a chair. You’re always welcome here.

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5 from 2 votes

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Comments

  1. Eddie

    LOL! I started making these and my wife said “No, Please make GA Cornbread. They look yummy I will try themnext time.

    Reply

  2. Lisa

    I felt in the mood to bake so had all the ingredients for this shortbread and loved how easy and it was in bar form. But, I only had almonds so instead of vanilla I used almond extract and chopped almonds. Very good!

    Reply

  4. Sandy

    Hi Stacey! Thank you for this easy recipe; it’s just what I’ve been looking for! I’m wondering if as a variation you’ve ever tried baking this in “cookie” form? I’m thinking of dropping spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and keeping a close eye on them as they bake so that I figure out the baking time!
    Thank you for all the wonderful recipes you’ve shared and our southern family has thoroughly enjoyed! 😀

    Reply

    • Stacey LittleStacey

      Hey, Sandy! I worry a bit about them spreading too much, but can’t say for sure, as I’ve not tried it that way. If you do, please come back and let me know how they turned out!

      Reply

  5. Sue

    Bless you, Stacey, for trying to teach others how to correctly measure flour. Many times I see television cooks scooping into the canister and sometimes even using liquid measuring cups. It makes a world of difference in the finished product. Let’s keep trying to get the word out. From an old home economics teacher

    Reply

  6. Debbie

    5 stars
    Delicious! And if its got butter, powdered sugar and flour, tell the naysayers to take a hike because IT IS SHORTBREAD! This came together so much easier than some shortbread. The flavor, the crumb..it is so good!

    Reply

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