Christmas traditions are ageless. They give us a sense of place and belonging. An event looked forward to from year to year, passed from generation to generation. The tradition that I looked forward to was my mother making cocoon cookies. Every year I would eagerly await her baking these almost bite-sized bits of goodness. With every bite a burst of powdered sugar would explode in my mouth, as well as on my face and clothes. The crunch of the toasted pecans, the taste of the cookie so reassuring.  Eating them, a warmth enveloped me. I could feel the love. I knew it was Christmas.
piled high with sugar
like a snow covered mountain
Christmas time is near
Life goes on, you move out, get married, have kids, and move away. My new family began Christmas traditions of our own. The one tradition that I wanted to continue from my childhood was the cocoon cookies. My wife began baking them each year, with an improved recipe and in a rounded shape looking more like wedding cookies. The recipe is for pecan balls which have a better crumb, are moister, and taste better than mother's cocoon cookies. But, even with these differences, they still bring back fond memories and that reassuring feeling that Christmas is near.
I have taken over the baking duties and want to share this recipe for the pecan ball cookies. Get ready for a special treat, that mounded with powdered sugar, look like a snow covered mountain.
Pecan Balls
3 sticks (3/4 lbs) butter, preferably with a higher butterfat percentage like Plugra
1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
1/2 cup ( 100 grams) sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbs vanilla extract
3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
Toast pecans at 250 degrees for 20 minutes, finely chop and set aside.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Cream butter with both sugars and the salt.
Add vanilla and stir in flour. Then add pecans. Do not over mix.
Roll dough into walnut size balls and place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.
When cookies are cooled, roll in powdered sugar.
Store in parchment lined cookie tin and they will remain fresh for a few weeks.
Makes about 36 cookies.
#christmastraditions #christmas #christmascookies #cookiesforsanta #christmascookierecipe #cookierecipe #pecanballs #weddingcookies