Pecan Balls

The cookie that started it all. Tender butter cookies rolled in powdered sugar - Charlene's introduction to these at age ten sparked a lifelong love. The only cookies she bakes and keeps fresh.

Servings: 60 cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15-18 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
2 cups chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
For rolling: 1 pound powdered sugar

Instructions

Combine all ingredients, roll into 1" balls. Bake 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees. Bake until just turning golden. They will not brown.

After baking, roll in powdered sugar. It takes about 1 pound of powdered sugar for this step. The warm cookies will absorb the sugar and create a wonderful powdered finish. I usually line a large, shallow bowl with powdered sugar, add the warm cookies and roll them around. Then add more powdered sugar to the bowl and add the next batch of warm cookies. Continue this process until all the cookies are baked and rolled in sugar. If there is any sugar left, I just pour it over the bowl of cookies. They stay extremely fresh surrounded by the powdered sugar.

It makes about 5 dozen cookies.