Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies

by Dorothy Reinhold on December 7, 2021


Print This Post Print This Post Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies stacked on a white plate with a holiday tea towel underneath

Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies are addictively delicious, with butterscotch chips, toasted pecans, brown sugar and LOTS of butter. They’re wonderful on a cookie plate, and especially at holiday time.

I’m your enabler today.

These addictive Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies are basically a butter-and-sugar delivery system.

But oh, what a way to go.

How to make Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients for Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies on a white countertop on ShockinglyDelicious.com
First, assemble your ingredients. This simple cookie uses:

  • Butter (I used Kerrygold, but use your favorite or what you have on hand.)
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Vanilla extract (my favorite is Heilala Vanilla from New Zealand, which you can get in a better grocery store, or through LoveFromNewZealand)
  • Flour, salt
  • Butterscotch chips
  • Toasted pecans

Basically, you beat the ingredients together, stir in the butterscotch chips and pecans so they don’t disintegrate among the beaters, and bake it for a bit less than an hour.

Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies stacked on a white plate with a Christmas towel underneathI took these to a Food Bloggers Los Angeles holiday cookie exchange party, and they were right at home along with the many other delectables on the table. Scroll down below the recipe to see some of what we shared at our party.

This was the first time I had made these, which is a Gail Simmons recipe I cut out from People Magazine. I couldn’t resist assertively tweaking it, though — adding pecans, greatly increasing the butterscotch chips, decreasing the salt, getting rid of the chocolate dipping.

You will have to smack your own hand to keep from reaching for these over and over. Just remind yourself it’s Christmas time, and it’s proper to share.

Bring a big plate of Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies to your work party and get a nice big high-five from your colleagues. Wait, make that a fist-bump.

Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Yield: 42 cookies

Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Butterscotch chips, toasted pecans, brown sugar and LOTS of butter make these Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies addictively delicious.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Kerrygold Unsalted Butter)
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used Heilala Vanilla Extract)
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 300F degrees.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light colored in fluffy, about 3 minutes. Use the butter wrapper to grease the inside of a 9-inch square baking dish. (I have used a 9-inch square Spring form pan, but you can also use a regular 9-inch square pan.)
  3. Add vanilla, reduce speed to low, and slowly add flour and salt, beating until just combined. Scrape down the paddle, and mix in butterscotch chips and pecans by hand (so they don't disintegrate).
  4. Scrape dough into the prepared dish, and using an offset spatula, spread the dough evenly.
  5. Bake for 50 minutes, until firm and slightly golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and, using a sharp-edged metal spatula, immediately cut through the cookies to make 42 squares; do not remove cookies from pan. Allow cookies to cool completely in pan, for about 1 hour. (If you don't cut them immediately after baking, they won't cut evenly but are more likely to crumble.)
  6. Remove cookies from pan and store in an airtight container on the counter. They can also be frozen, airtight.
  7. Makes 42 cookies.

Notes

Recipe source: Adapted from Gail Simmons' recipe for Chocolate Butterscotch Shortbread published in People magazine, Dec. 14, 2015.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/butterscotch-pecan-shortbread-cookies/

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Butterscotch Pecan Shortbread Cookies stacked on a white plate with a Christmas tea towel in the background

Check out the Food Bloggers Los Angeles Cookie Exchange Party

Trays of cookies at Food Bloggers L.A. Cookie Exchange Dec. 2015 on ShockinglyDelicious.com

Trays of cookies and sweets at Food Bloggers L.A. Cookie Exchange Dec. 2015 on ShockinglyDelicious.com 2

Trays of cookies and sweets at Food Bloggers L.A. Cookie Exchange Dec. 2015 on ShockinglyDelicious.com 3

Want another butterscotch flavored sweet?

4-Ingredient Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Sweets | www.ShockinglyDelicious.com4-ingredient Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Sweets. OMG these are good.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and Happiest Holidays!

The post was originally published Dec. 10, 2015, and has been refreshed and republished today.

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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life December 12, 2015 at 4:02 am

These sound really good! I love the combo of butterscotch and pecans together. And what fun that you went to a food blogger cookie exchange!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:43 am

Michelle,
I highly recommend it, if you can get a group of food bloggers in your area together!

Reply

Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze December 11, 2015 at 9:29 pm

Oh man these look so good. I’m a sucker for bars and these sound perfect with my nighty coffee. 😉

Reply

Nagi@RecipeTinEats December 11, 2015 at 7:48 pm

I just wanted to go and dive into that table of cookies! You can never go wrong at butterscotch cookies in parties. Everyone will love you for bringing a platter!

Reply

Susan | LunaCafe December 11, 2015 at 7:46 pm

These look so moist and chewy. Definitely irresistible! 🙂

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Patricia @ Grab a Plate December 11, 2015 at 5:55 pm

Your cookies exchange sounds so fun! And these cookies — What a way to go, is what I say! So many goodies included, especially the pecans!

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Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert December 11, 2015 at 5:48 pm

These look so moist and delicious! My kids would love these!

Reply

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts December 11, 2015 at 3:29 pm

Looks like there were a LOT of yummy treats at the cookie exchange! I love the butterscotch in these cookies, yum!

Reply

Serene @ House of Yumm December 11, 2015 at 1:23 pm

Love butterscotch and anything pecan. These are right up my alley!

Reply

Medeja December 11, 2015 at 11:14 am

What a nice teatime treat that would be!

Reply

Alisa Fleming December 11, 2015 at 8:20 am

Oh my goodness Dorothy, these look just heavenly! They remind me of Tollhouse butterscotch cookies of my childhood so much.

Reply

Renee - Kudos Kitchen December 11, 2015 at 6:41 am

I’m all about shortbread and you’ve made it even tastier by adding pecans. Thanks!!! I’ll be making these this year!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:45 am

Renee,
Let me know what you think!

Reply

Marye Audet-White December 11, 2015 at 4:59 am

Oh wow, these look perfect!

Reply

Lauren @ Hall Nesting December 11, 2015 at 4:40 am

I think your recipe sounds a ton better than Gail’s 😉 wish I could have been at that event

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:46 am

Lauren,
Awwww…blushing. I didn’t mean to imply that Gail’s recipe was bad, just that I had to tweak it because I personally wanted more of some things (butterscotch, and some crunch from pecans), and less of other things (salt). Hope you try it!

Reply

Joanie @ Zagleft December 11, 2015 at 2:51 am

I love butterscotch desserts and these cookies look so good! I know I wouldn’t be able to resist eating several of them.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:47 am

Joanie,
That’s the problem with them…resistance is futile.

Reply

Nancy Eisman December 10, 2015 at 9:47 pm

I’m smacking myself for not eating more of these when I had the chance. They are perfection!

Reply

Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought December 10, 2015 at 4:24 pm

These were fabulous! Thanks for sharing them with us at FBLA cookie exchange.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:48 am

Thanks Cathy! Your dulce de leche balls were TO DIE FOR!

Reply

Amy Stafford December 10, 2015 at 4:11 pm

So glad you increased the butterscotch, you can never have too much butterscotch

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:48 am

Amy,
Ain’t that right!

Reply

sippitysup December 10, 2015 at 3:35 pm

I’m open for delivery… GREG

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 12, 2015 at 6:49 am

Greg,
GREAT! I really had better get these out of my house before I eat them all.

Reply

Liz December 10, 2015 at 3:15 pm

These sound so good. Thank you.

Reply

Heather | Heather Likes Food December 10, 2015 at 2:46 pm

These look amazing! I am excited to try these!

Reply

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