Enter Christmas…

Probably every family has a holiday “must” list. Does your Christmas stocking have a orange in its toe? Is there Mistletoe strategically hung by the front door? Are special homemade cookies or candy eagerly awaited?

At our home, it ain’t the season unless we have my mother Marian’s pecan balls in the cookie tin. She made them every year and no wonder! They’re easy and delicious. With only a few ingredients, it’s easy to make a double batch in a jiffy. Like many simple recipes, the quality of ingredients is mission critical. Choose top quality nuts, butter and vanilla. (Never use artificially-favored vanilla.) Bake, roll in confectioner’s sugar and top with a pecan half. Be sure to toast your pecans! Makes a big taste difference!

Marian’s Holiday Pecan Balls

Makes 16-18. Easily doubles

Equipment

Food processor fitted with steel blade

Sheet pan lined with parchment or silicone mat

Ingredients

1 C. pecan pieces - toasted plus 18 toasted halves for garnish.

6 T. Confectioner’s sugar plus small bowl full for rolling.

1 C. Sifted flour

1/2 t. Salt

1 t. Pure vanilla extract

4 oz. Unsalted butter (I like Kate’s or Cabot)

Method

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.

1. Grind pecans fine in food processor.

2. Add all other ingredients and mix till blended.

3. Roll dough in pieces the size of walnuts.

4. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

5. Roll baked cookies in sifted confectioner’s sugar and top with pecan half.