What happens when you combine your soft buttery pecan cake mix with crunchy pecans? Make this Easy Pecan Cookies Recipe and you’ll find out what you’ve been missing! Just 5 ingredients and your new favorite treat is done!
I know you’ll also love these outrageously decadent Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Pecan Cookies Recipe
Every party deserves that one magnificent cookie that keeps guests coming back for more, and this is THE one!
This easy Pecan Thumbprint Cookies Recipe takes your favorite buttery pecan cake mix and combines it with the perfect crunch of fresh pecans for the ultimate bite-sized treat!
Dana writes: "These were very easy to make and turned out delicious!"
Plus… they get bonus points for being ridiculously EASY to make!
Just 5 ingredients and you’ve got the most tantalizing Pecan Cookies that everyone will be obsessed with!
They’ll make an irresistible little addition to your party dessert table.
Who knew a Cake Mix Cookie could taste SO sublime? So surprise your guests or your family this weekend with this delicious dessert.
Don’t worry… it will be our little secret just how easy these gloriously nutty thumbprint cookies were to make!
So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to get baking?
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious Pecan Thumbprint Cookies…
Related: 101 Christmas Dessert Recipes – Best Easy Recipe List!
Pecan Cookie Ingredients
It takes just 5 simple ingredients to make the BEST Pecan Thumbprints!
- Butter Pecan Cake Mix – Vanilla cake mix can be substituted.
- Pecans
- Butter – Salted butter will bring out the best flavor, but unsalted butter can be substituted.
- Eggs
- Maple Extract
That’s it! The cake mix shortcut will save you so much time!
How To Make Pecan Cookies
You won’t believe how EASY it is to make the best Pecan Thumbprint Cookies!
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Mix up your pecan cookie dough and chill in the refrigerator.
2. After dough has chilled, roll your dough into small balls, and place on cookie sheet.
3. Bake in oven, then place a Pecan halve in the center of each cookie as soon as they come out of the oven.
4. Allow to cool, then enjoy & DEVOUR!
See… I told you this was going to be EASY!!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Make Ahead Cookie Baking Tips
These cake mix cookies are SO easy to prep ahead of time!
Your pecan cookie dough can be made today, then stored covered in your refrigerator for up to 2 days prior to baking the cookies.
How to Store Cake Mix Cookies
After your thumbprint cookies have baked, they can be stored at room temperature, covered in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
Pecan Cookie Reviews
Here’s what your frugal friends are saying about this easy Pecan Thumbprint Cookies Recipe…
Rebecca writes: “Love these. Such a wonderful and easy recipe for a cookie exchange!”
Jeanne writes: “Yummy… delicious”
Jo writes: “Just made these!!! They are awesome and so easy to whip together.”
Teresa writes: “One of my favorites!”
Dawn writes: “Great addition to the holiday cookie tray!”
Katherine writes: “So festive and SO easy!”
Dana writes: “These were very easy to make and turned out delicious!”
Teresa writes: “A drizzle of powdered sugar icing is a perfect addition to these cookies!”
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Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Pecan Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 13.25 ounces Betty Crocker Butter Pecan Cake Mix (Vanilla cake mix can be substituted)
- 1/3 cup Melted Butter
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Maple Extract
- 36 Pecan Halves
Instructions
- Combine Cake Mix, Melted Butter (or oil), Eggs, and Maple Extract in large mixing bowl, and mix with hand mixer or stand mixer until well combined.
- Cover dough and chill in refrigerator for 2 hours.
- After dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll cookie dough into 1 tablespoon sized rounded balls and transfer to cookie sheet.
- Bake on center oven rack for 7 - 13 minutes, or until done. (Note: Bake on the shorter end of the time range for non-stick cookie sheets & longer end of the time range for aluminum cookie sheets)
- Immediately after removing from oven, carefully place pecan in the center of each cookie, and very gently push down.
- Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes.
- Transfer cookies to wore racks to finish cooling, and ENJOY!
Notes
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Christie says
I’m all for easy recipes especially cookie recipes! I really love how yours only requires just four ingredients! So convenient and simple!
Heidi says
Thanks, Christie! These really are ridiculously easy to make! 🙂
Danielle says
These look so easy! I love using a cake mix! All of these look like incredible and simple recipes!
Heidi says
Aww… thank you, Danielle! Cake mix cookies really are such a fun treat… and so unbelievably quick & easy to make! 🙂
Carolyn says
In the Easy Pecan Thumbprint Cookie recipe can you use 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of oil instead of 1/2 cup of oil?
Heidi says
Hi Carolyn ~ I honestly haven’t ever tried it that way before. You may want to experiment first with 1/4 cup oil + 1/4 applesauce? If you do test out different variations, let me know how they turn out!