Caramel Pecan Cookies

Caramel Pecan Cookies are both sweet and nutty in flavor. They are a perfect fall and winter treat. The creamy caramel frosting slightly hardens over the top of the cookie providing a smooth and even coating to each bite. These cookies are a staple!

Pecan Cookies topped with Caramel Icing and a pecan.

These cookies are rich in nutty flavor and balanced with a sweet caramel frosting. They bring a perfect balance of texture and flavor to each bite.

Some tips for getting softer cookies

  • Don’t over bake. It is always better to under bake than over bake. Cookies continue to cook on pan during their 10 minute cool down.
  • Don’t over mix. Over mixing over works the gluten and can produce tough cookies.
  • Don’t add too much flour. Sometimes first instinct is to add more flour if cookie dough seems to soft. Be careful. Adding more flour than a recipe calls for can produce dense cookies that don’t spread the way they are supposed to while baking. Often cookies turn out taller than anticipated.

Arial view of Pecan Cookies topped with Caramel Icing and a pecan.

Cookie Ingredients

  • Butter – make sure it is softened to room temperature.
  • Brown sugar – majority of sugar is brown to produce a deep flavor and add to the richness of these cookies.
  • White sugar – for sweetness.
  • Egg – best if added when at room temperature.
  • Vanilla – I use a vanilla a friend brought me from Mexico. The quality and flavor of your vanilla is SO important. It can enhance a cookie dramatically.
  • Flour – I use all purpose flour for this recipe. Always make sure to sift through flour first and don’t pack it. It should be airy when measured and leveled off.
  • Baking soda – the leavening agent. Helps cookies to rise.
  • Salt – added for flavor and acts as the counterpart to the sweet elements.
  • Pecans– The star component of the cookie. Creates texture and a nutty flavor.

Four Pecan Cookies topped with Caramel Icing and a pecan.

Caramel Pecan Cookies

Caramel Pecan Cookies are both sweet and nutty in flavor. They are a perfect fall and winter treat. The creamy caramel frosting slightly hardens over the top of the cookie providing a smooth and even coating to each bite. These cookies are a staple!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 36 cookies
Calories 172kcal

Equipment

  • 1 cookie sheet
  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 stand or electric mixer
  • 1 medium sauce pan

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Frosting

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup half and half plus an additional 2 Tablespoons
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 36 whole pecans for garnish one per cookie

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar on high until creamy.
  • Add egg and vanilla and beat again.
  • Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined.
  • Stir in pecans.
  • Make balls about 1 Tablespoon in diameter and place on cookie sheet. (About 2 inches apart.)
  • Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Do not overbake. Center may not feel set, but it will set as it cools.
  • Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.
  • While cookies are cooling make frosting.

Frosting

  • In medium pan, bring brown sugar, half and half, and butter to a boil while stirring constantly. Cook for about 3 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar. Allow to mostly cool before frosting cookies.
  • Garnish tops of frosted cookies with pecan halves.

Nutrition

Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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Enjoy!

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Close up shot of a Caramel Pecan Cookie cut in half.

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #chefintraining and/or #chefintrainingblog. I would love to see how these recipes take shape in your kitchens.

Filed under: cookies, dessert

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Comments

  1. April

    OOOOH These look amazing! Must put these on my to bake list! Thank you for sharing

  2. Carm Archangel

    How many cookies will this make?

  3. Katie

    I don't see a recipe for the frosting... also the recipe for the cookies doesn't say how much pecans to add.

    1. Chef in Training

      sorry for the trouble! It is there now. I hope you found it. I forgot to come back and reply when I had updated it!

  4. Isabelle

    Hello! How much powdered sugar do I add in the frosting. I don’t see this listed on the recipe. I can’t wait to make this!! 😊

    1. Chef in Training

      so sorry about that! I just updated it. Don't know how I forgot that. It is 1 1/2 cups!

    2. I. C.

      Thank you! 😊