The Best Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies
If you love baking with pecans you need this cookie. It truly is the best Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies recipe for a number of reasons. The most important reason being that they taste AMAZING!
Table of Contents
If you are wondering why these pecan chocolate chip cookies are the best, I am here to tell you.
First of all, this homemade chocolate chip cookies recipe is so simple to make. You do not need to wait for softened butter, there is no need to chill the dough and it can be mixed by hand {no electric mixer required}.
Of course, these butter pecan cookies are also full of crunchy pecans and are so darn delicious.
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Tips & tricks to achieve the most delicious cookies of your life!
What goes into this Recipe
- Butter: Salted butter is my favorite kind of butter to use but unsalted butter can also be added if you prefer.
- Light Brown Sugar: Using a larger amount of brown sugar than white sugar helps to give them a great flavor and softer texture. Dark brown sugar can also be used.
- Pecans: Giving these cookies a great taste and crunch, they are the perfect nut for this cookie recipe.
- Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: While mini chocolate chips are my favorite, a milk chocolate or regular sized semi-sweet chocolate chip can also be used.
- Flaky Sea Salt: The perfect topping to the baked cookies. It helps to balance the sweetness and bring out the flavor of the pecans.
Substitutions/Variations
Chocolate Chips- Try using dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips.
Nuts- Walnuts would be a wonderful substitute for the pecans in this recipe but you could also add macadamia nuts or pistachios.
How to make
1. Combine the melted butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Mix with a spoon to combine. Add the dry ingredients {all purpose flour, baking soda and salt} all at once to the butter mixture. Stir until it is mixed into the wet ingredients and you have a thick dough. Add the chopped pecans and mini chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
2. Stir the chips and pecans into the dough until they are evenly distributed. Use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1 1/2 tablespoons} to scoop the dough into your hand. Roll into a smooth ball and press the top of the cookies into extra chocolate chips and pecans.
3. Place the cookie dough balls onto a silicone mat {or parchment paper} lined cookie sheet.
4. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are browning and the center is set. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt {if desired}. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet.
Expert Tips
- If you prefer smaller cookies or giant cookies, use a small or large cookie scoop to measure out the dough. Thy baking times will need to be adjusted depending on whether they are a Mini Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie or Thick Chocolate Chip Cookie.
- Be sure to add additional pecans and chocolate chips to the top of the cookie dough. This simple step will give you a beautiful top and extra flavors.
- Don’t over bake the cookies. To get amazing gooey cookies this is such an important step.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet. To get perfectly baked cookies this step is key. The residual heat from the cookie sheet will help to set up the cookies into a soft center with crispy edges.
Storage and Freezing
Store- These chewy cookies can easily be stored in an airtight container or zipper bag at room temperature for 4 days. You can also keep them in the refrigerator and they will last a day or two longer.
Freeze- This is an excellent recipe to freeze up to 3 months in advance wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag.
You can also freeze pre-scooped cookie dough for up to 3 months. It can be baked from frozen for an extra 2-3 minutes or can be defrosted before freezing.
Recipe FAQs
There can be a couple of reasons why they are not soft and chewy. The biggest thing is to not over bake the cookies. Pull the cookies from the oven once they are set and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for best results.
The dough could also have been overworked. When you add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mix until it is incorporated but do not mix too much.
The best way to tell when the cookies are finished baking is to make sure that the edges are set and begin to turn golden brown. The middle may still look a bit under done but they will set up when cooling on the baking sheet.
This chocolate chip pecan cookie recipe is much like a cowboy cookie but they also contain shredded coconut and peanut butter chips.
Do you love pecan desserts ? Try these recipe…
The Best Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter {2 sticks-melted}
- 1 cup brown sugar {packed}
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup pecans {chopped}
Optional Topping
- 2 Tablespoons flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Microwave butter in a large microwave safe bowl for about 40 seconds {add 5 second increments if not melted}. Add both sugars to the butter and mix by hand until creamy. Add the vanilla and eggs, mix until incorporated but do not over mix or the dough can get stiff.
- Add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Mix until everything is incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and chopped pecans {reserving a couple of tablespoons of each for the top} and stir until they are evenly distributed. Place the reserved chocolate chips and pecans on a plate.
- Use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1 1/2 tablespoons} to scoop dough into your hands. Roll into a smooth ball and press the top in the reserved chocolate chips and pecans.
- Place the cookie dough balls onto a silicone mat {or parchment} lined baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven for 9-11 minutes {or until edges are set and center is still slightly jiggly} remove from the oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt {optional}. Allow cookies to cool completely on the pan.
Notes
- If you prefer smaller cookies or giant cookies, use a small or large cookie scoop to measure out the dough.
- Be sure to add additional pecans and chocolate chips to the top of the cookie dough. This simple step will give you a beautiful top and extra flavors.
- Don’t over bake the cookies. To get amazing gooey cookies this is such an important step.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet. To get perfectly baked cookies this step is key. The residual heat from the cookie sheet will help to set up the cookies into a soft center with crispy edges.
