Pecan Sand Tarts

Three Delicious Ways to Make Pecan Sand Tarts {Pecan Shortbread Cookies}

Oh, lawdy. I have eaten way to many of these little cookies just while sitting here writing this post. They are just so... eatable.

These buttery little shortbread cookies are small - 2 or 3 bites - so, you know, practically no calories at all. Or so I tell myself as I reach for just. one. more.

Part of their addictiveness is that they are not too sweet. Also, the melt-in-your-mouth buttery part doesn't hurt.

The pecans are ground into very small pieces, like sand, so that the nuts contribute flavor without messing up that lovely fine texture of really great shortbread.

This is My Grandma's Sand Tart Recipe

My Grandma was the cookie making queen of our family and an amazing cook. She was one of those people who showed you she loved you by caring for you.

From the day I was born, she cooked for me, sewed stuff for me, watched over me, attended every single birthday party, school event, and performance I was apart of, sent cards and gifts for every occasion, and hosted countless parties, dinners and other gatherings. For her, love was an action, and she loved us well.

One year for Christmas, her and my Grandpa painstakingly typed and printed out a huge binder full of her most prized recipes. Every recipe has a little blurb reminicing about when she made it and who loved it.

That recipe book is seriously one of the few things I'd grab if we had to run from the house with only what we could carry. It's priceless.

This Sand Tart Recipes is included in that recipe book. In her introduction to the recipe she writes that for many years she made Spritz Cookies at Christmas. (I remember.)

Then, she made these sand tarts and decided that they were just as good but so much easier, so they became her new Christmas shortbread cookie staple.

Three Ways to Make Sand Tarts

Along with the original recipe, my grandma suggests topping the sand tars with a chocolate kiss or adding mini chocolate chips for variety.

In this recipe, I include instructions for all three versions, because I seriously can't decide which I like the best.

Plain Sand Tarts are such a satisfying two-bite treat. But, adding chocolate is also delicious because, well... chocolate + butter + pecans = Yum. 

I feel strongly that the best case scenario is to make a few Sand Tarts of each variety  - keep some plain, stir in some mini-chocolate chips to others, and top a few with a chocolate kiss.

Life requires a lot of sacrifices. Which kind of Sand Tart you make (and eat) should not be one of them.

Making sand tarts is one of those times when you should have it all.

More Popular Cookie Recipes

For all of you pecan lovers, add this recipe for pecan sugar cookies flavored with molasses, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and this recipe for giant extra-gooey chocolate chip pecan cookies to your must-bake list asap along with a few of these favorites...

If you give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it #ofbatteranddough on Instagram.

Happy baking!