Georgia O’Keeffe’s Dreamy Pecan Butterballs Recipe

Delicate georgia okeeffes pecan butterballs dance on the edge of culinary nostalgia, promising a sweet journey through traditional baking.

Soft and melt-in-your-mouth, these delightful treats carry whispers of southern comfort.

Nuts bring a rich, earthy crunch that complements the delicate texture perfectly.

Each bite tells a story of careful crafting and cherished memories.

Humble ingredients transform into something magical under gentle hands and patient technique.

Powdered sugar becomes a delicate blanket, softly coating these tender morsels.

This recipe invites you to create a moment of pure, simple joy in your kitchen.

Drinks & Snacks That Match Pecan Butterballs

• Warm, spiced tea complements the nutty pecan flavor, creating a cozy dessert experience that balances the cookie's sweetness.
• Cold, rich vanilla ice cream provides a delightful contrast to the warm, crumbly texture of the butterballs.
• Robust coffee cuts through the cookie's sweetness, enhancing the deep pecan and butter notes with its bold, intense profile.
• Smooth, rich caramel liqueur adds a luxurious adult twist, elevating the cookie's buttery and nutty characteristics.

Spicing Up Georgia O’Keeffe’s Pecan Butterballs

• Gluten-Free Pecan Delight: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free baking mix for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the rich, buttery texture.
• Vegan Nut Celebration: Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, use maple syrup instead of honey, and ensure pecans are raw and unsalted for a plant-based alternative.
• Low-Sugar Nutty Treat: Substitute powdered sugar with monk fruit sweetener or erythritol during coating, reducing overall sugar content while keeping the classic cookie experience.
• Keto-Friendly Nutty Bite: Use coconut flour, replace honey with stevia extract, and roll in powdered erythritol to create a low-carb, ketogenic-friendly version of the classic pecan butterballs.

What’s Great About Georgia O’Keeffe’s Pecan Butterballs

• A simple yet elegant cookie that brings warmth to any festive gathering with minimal kitchen skills required.
• Whip up these buttery treats in under an hour, making them perfect for spontaneous baking sessions or last-minute dessert needs.
• These pecan butterballs work wonderfully as gifts, party treats, or a comforting snack that appeals to both kids and adults with their melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet powdered sugar coating.
• Cookies can be prepared in advance and stored for several days, reducing stress during busy holiday seasons and allowing for stress-free entertaining.

Pecan Butterballs Ingredient List

• All-Purpose Flour: Base ingredient for the cookie's structure, provides necessary texture and stability.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter: Creates rich, tender texture and carries flavor, best when softened at room temperature.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that adds moisture and depth of flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm, classic flavor that complements pecans.

• Pecans, Powdered Sugar: Pecans add nutty crunch and texture, while powdered sugar creates signature snowy coating.

How to Make Georgia O’Keeffe’s Pecan Butterballs

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Preheat the oven to 300F (150C). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease the surface.

Step 2: Create the Dough Base

• Flour
• Salt

• Softened butter
• Honey
• Vanilla extract

Sift flour and salt together in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, whip butter, honey, and vanilla until silky smooth.

Slowly blend flour mixture into butter mixture, mixing until just combined.

Gently fold in chopped pecans.

Step 3: Craft the Cookies

Shape dough into small 1-inch balls.

Arrange balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place in preheated oven.

Bake 40-45 minutes until edges turn slightly golden.

Step 5: Sugar Coating Magic

Wait 5 minutes for cookies to cool slightly.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar until completely covered.

Step 6: Final Touch

Let cookies cool completely.

Optional: Roll again in powdered sugar for an extra snowy appearance.

Helpful Notes for Pecan Butterball Perfection

• Choose Quality Pecans: Select fresh, crisp pecans and toast them lightly before chopping to enhance their rich, nutty flavor and add depth to the butterballs.
• Control Butter Temperature: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect dough consistency, creating a tender and delicate cookie texture.
• Handle Dough Gently: Use light hands when mixing and shaping to prevent overworking the dough, which can make the butterballs tough instead of melt-in-your-mouth.
• Master Sugar Coating: Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar first, then again when completely cool for a beautiful, thick sugar layer that looks like fresh snow.
• Store Smartly: Keep butterballs in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain their delicate texture.

Saving and Serving Pecan Butterballs Later

• Store butterballs in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper, for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, place in freezer-safe container, and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Warm cookies gently in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore their delicate texture. Dust with fresh powdered sugar after reheating for extra sweetness.
• If cookies become slightly hard, place a slice of bread in the container overnight to help soften them back to their original tender consistency.

Georgia Okeeffes Pecan Butterballs Recipe

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4.9 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Sweet Georgia O’Keeffe’s pecan butterballs dance with delicate Southern charm, melting on tongues like whispered memories. Delightful crescent-shaped cookies roll through powdered sugar, inviting you to savor each tender, nutty bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

Sweeteners and Flavoring:

• ¼ cup honey
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

Seasoning:

• ½ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by setting the temperature to 300F (150C) and arranging a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light grease coating.
2. Sift flour and salt together in a medium mixing vessel to ensure smooth incorporation.
3. Create a creamy foundation by vigorously blending softened butter, honey, and vanilla extract until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
4. Gradually introduce the flour mixture into the butter base, gently mixing until the ingredients are just combined, avoiding over-manipulation of the dough.
5. Incorporate chopped pecans into the mixture, folding them evenly throughout the dough to distribute nutty flavor and texture.
6. Craft delicate spheres approximately 1 inch in diameter, carefully positioning them on the prepared baking sheet with sufficient spacing between each cookie.
7. Place the cookie-laden sheet into the preheated oven, allowing the treats to bake for 40-45 minutes until the edges develop a subtle golden hue.
8. After removing from the oven, permit the cookies to rest for approximately 5 minutes, reaching a warm but not hot temperature.
9. Gently enrobe each cookie in a generous coating of powdered sugar, ensuring complete coverage for a delightful, snow-like appearance.
10. Allow the cookies to cool completely, offering an optional second dusting of powdered sugar for an enhanced wintery aesthetic before serving.

Notes

• Customize Texture: Use room temperature butter for smoother, more consistent dough that blends easily with other ingredients.
• Control Sweetness: Adjust honey quantity based on preference, knowing less honey creates crumblier, less sweet cookies.
• Pecan Preparation: Toast pecans briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add deeper complexity to the butterballs.
• Storage Hack: These cookies maintain best texture when stored in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper, keeping them fresh for up to a week.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 40 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg