I first tasted these sugary, melt-in-your-mouth Mexican Wedding Cookies last Christmas and I ate about 10 in one sitting. When the New York chill is on your last nerve and you need a bit of post-He’s-Just-Not-That-Into-You sweetness, whip up a batch of these, put on a kettle of tea, and draw yourself a hot bath.
Perfect recipe for a little comfort.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely ground
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
PREPARATION:
Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sea salt, and vanilla; beat until well blended. Beat in flour, then pecans. Divide dough in half; form each half into ball. Wrap separately in plastic; chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and cinnamon in pie dish to blend. Set cinnamon sugar aside.
Working with half of chilled dough, roll dough by 2 teaspoonfuls between palms into balls. Arrange balls on heavy large baking sheet, spacing 1/2 inch apart. Bake cookies until golden brown on bottom and just pale golden on top, about 18 minutes. Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheet. Gently toss warm cookies in cinnamon sugar to coat completely. Transfer coated cookies to rack and cool completely. Repeat procedure with remaining half of dough. (Cookies can be prepared 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature; reserve remaining cinnamon sugar.)
Sift remaining cinnamon sugar over cookies and serve.
