Joy of Cooking Pecan Puffs Recipe for Nutty Treats

Pecan puffs from Joy of Cooking emerge as delicate clouds of pure culinary bliss.

These gossamer-light morsels shimmer with buttery elegance and whisper sweet comfort.

Nutty undertones dance gracefully through each bite, creating a symphony of flavor that captivates the senses.

Delicate and sophisticated, these tiny treats transform humble ingredients into extraordinary moments of joy.

Crisp edges give way to meltingly tender centers that seduce even the most discerning palate.

Generations of bakers have treasured this recipe, passing down its magical essence from kitchen to kitchen.

You’ll fall in love with these irresistible bites that promise to elevate any gathering from ordinary to extraordinary.

Serving Up These Powdery Puffs

• Pair with Hot Beverages: Serve these delicate pecan cookies alongside a steaming cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for a comforting winter treat.
• Create a Dessert Platter: Arrange cookies on a beautiful serving plate with other bite-sized sweets like chocolate truffles or fruit tarts for an elegant presentation.
• Gift-Worthy Packaging: Pack cooled cookies in decorative tins or clear gift bags tied with ribbon, making them a perfect homemade present for friends and family during holidays.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Enjoy these powdered sugar-coated cookies during a leisurely afternoon tea, complementing light sandwiches and scones with their delicate texture and sweet flavor.

Storage That Keeps Puffs from Wilting

• Preserve Freshness: Store cooled pecan cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping them crisp and delectable.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cookies maintain quality for 3 months, perfect for unexpected guests or sweet cravings.
• Prevent Moisture Buildup: Insert a piece of bread or parchment paper between cookie layers to absorb excess moisture and prevent sticking.
• Revive Softened Cookies: Quickly crisp up stored cookies by placing them in a preheated 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes before serving, restoring their original texture and warmth.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 24

Pecan Puffs Ingredient List from Joy of Cooking

• Butter: Choose high-quality unsalted butter for rich, smooth texture and clean flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Select fine, pure white sugar for smooth blending and consistent sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Opt for pure vanilla extract to enhance deep, complex flavor profile.

• All-Purpose Flour: Pick unbleached flour for better texture and natural wheat taste.
• Salt: Use fine sea salt to balance and elevate cookie's overall flavor.
• Pecans: Select fresh, crisp pecans with golden-brown color and nutty aroma.

• Powdered Sugar: Choose finely ground, pure white powdered sugar for silky coating and elegant appearance.

Equipment to Bake Light Pecan Puffs

• Mixing Bowl: Large, sturdy bowl for combining ingredients smoothly.
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy perfection.
• Paddle Attachment: Helps mix ingredients evenly and efficiently.
• Tablespoon Cookie Scoop: Creates uniform, perfectly sized cookie dough balls.
• Baking Sheets: Two sheets lined with parchment paper for even baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy cookie removal.
• Plastic Bag or Wide Bowl: Used for rolling and coating cookies in powdered sugar.
• Wire Rack: Allows cookies to cool and set completely.
• Spatula: Helps scrape down bowl sides and mix ingredients thoroughly.

Making These Airy, Nutty Bites

• Prepare Baking Space

Warm up the oven to a cozy 300°F. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper, smoothing out any wrinkles for perfect cookie placement.

• Create Creamy Base

Grab your mixer and whip butter and sugar into a fluffy cloud-like mixture. Splash in vanilla for an extra burst of flavor, making sure everything blends smoothly.

• Combine Dry Elements

Slowly mix in flour, salt, and chopped pecans. Stir gently until everything looks perfectly balanced and evenly distributed.

• Shape Delightful Drops

Scoop out uniform dough balls using a tablespoon. Roll each one between your palms, creating smooth little spheres. Spread them out on the baking sheets with just enough breathing room.

• Bake and Transform

Pop the cookies into the oven for about 45 minutes. Watch for golden edges and tops that start to look delicately crackled – that’s when you know magic is happening.

• Cool and Coat

Let cookies rest briefly on the sheet, then roll them in powdered sugar. Give them a gentle tumble to create a sweet, snowy coating. Let them sit for an hour, then dust with another layer of sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.

Tips for Texture and Toasting Nuts

Swap pecans with almonds, walnuts, or pistachios for unique flavor profiles and textures. Each nut brings its own delightful character to these melt-in-your-mouth cookies.

Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother creaming. Cold butter creates lumpy dough, while overly soft butter leads to flat, greasy cookies.

Use a consistent cookie scoop for uniform baking. Smaller scoops create crispy treats, while larger ones result in softer, more substantial cookies.

Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer preservation, freeze uncoated cookies for up to 3 months and dust with powdered sugar after thawing.

Buttery Joy Of Cooking Pecan Puffs Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Pecan puffs create delightful morsels of Southern charm that melt instantly on palates. Light, buttery cookies dusted with powdered sugar promise sweet comfort for anyone craving homemade goodness.

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (toasted and cooled)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• Confectioner’s sugar (as needed for rolling, approx. ¼-½ cup)

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Instructions

1. Preparation Setup: Configure oven to 300°F and arrange parchment-lined baking sheets, creating an optimal baking environment for delicate cookies.
2. Dough Creation: Utilize electric mixer to blend butter and sugar into a fluffy, ethereal mixture, integrating vanilla extract for enhanced flavor complexity, ensuring ingredients are thoroughly combined and smoothly incorporated.
3. Ingredient Integration: Methodically fold flour, salt, and chopped pecans into the creamed mixture, developing a uniform dough that evenly distributes nutty elements throughout the base.
4. Shaping Process: Craft uniform spherical portions using a cookie scoop, rolling each into perfect 1-inch rounds and positioning them strategically across prepared baking surfaces with precise spacing.
5. Baking Technique: Slide trays into preheated oven, monitoring cookies for golden-brown edges and delicate surface crackling, indicating optimal transformation from raw dough to delectable treats.
6. Cooling and Sugar Coating: Briefly stabilize freshly baked cookies on sheets, then meticulously transfer them through powdered sugar, ensuring complete and elegant sugar coverage that mimics a soft, wintery dusting.
7. Final Refinement: Allow cookies to rest, permitting initial sugar layer to settle, then execute a secondary powdered sugar application for an impeccably finished, classic snowball-like presentation.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smooth, even creaming that creates a light, airy texture in the dough.
• Precise Pecan Chopping: Finely chop pecans to ensure even distribution and prevent large chunks that might disrupt the cookie’s delicate structure.
• Low and Slow Baking: Maintain the low 300°F temperature to prevent burning and allow gradual, even cooking that develops rich flavors.
• Sugar Coating Technique: Gently roll warm cookies in powdered sugar to create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth exterior that gives these puffs their signature snowball look.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 120 mg
• Fat: 21 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg