Christmas Pecan Cookies

I love making these with the kids at Christmas and we wrap them up in cellophane bags to gift to all the relatives on Christmas Day! I made them recently for the school Christmas fair and they sold out quickly.

This year they have been very popular in my virtual cookery demos as a Cook-along - great to see so many families in the kitchen!

Makes approx. 40 cookies Prep time :30 mins

Ingredients:
125 g pecan nuts
225g butter
125g icing sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
250g plain flour
Icing sugar to dust afterwards

Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C.

1. Toast the nuts in the oven for approx 8 mins, until crunchy and lightly toasted.
   
2. Beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy.
   
3. Chop the toasted nuts in a food processor until finely chopped.
   
4. Mix nuts into butter mixture.
   
5. Gently mix the flour into the butter and nut mixture.
   
6. Roll into balls, approx. 1.5cm diameter and place onto non-stick baking sheet.
   
7. Bake for 12-15 mins, until lightly golden.
8. Toss in icing sugar when cold and serve up or wrap as gifts.

TIP: After step 6 if you place the balls in the fridge for 30 mins and then straight into the oven the cookies will hold their shape better!