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Pecan pie cookies with gooey caramel filling and crunchy pecans
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Pecan Pie Cookies Recipe

These pecan pie cookies are soft, buttery, and filled with a rich, gooey pecan center that tastes just like classic pecan pie in a bite-sized form. With their tender cookie base and caramel-like filling, they offer the perfect balance of sweet and nutty flavors.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 18 Cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
Pecan Filling
  • 1½ cups chopped pecans toasted optional
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¾ cup light corn syrup
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
Garnish
  • Flaky sea salt optional

Method
 

  1. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  2. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
  3. Mix dry ingredients separately, then add to wet mixture.
  4. Chill dough for 1 hour.
  5. Cook filling by heating sugars, corn syrup, and butter until smooth.
  6. Add pecans, vanilla, salt, and cream; cool slightly.
  7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  8. Roll dough into balls, place on tray, and make a small well in center.
  9. Bake for 7 minutes, remove, and add filling.
  10. Bake another 6–7 minutes until golden.
  11. Cool slightly, garnish with flaky salt, and serve.

Notes

For the best pecan pie cookies, make sure to chill the dough properly before baking. This helps the cookies keep their shape and prevents them from spreading too much. Also, allow the pecan filling to cool slightly before adding it to the cookies so it thickens and is easier to handle.
Be careful not to overfill the centers, as too much filling can spill over during baking. For a bakery-style finish, sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top after baking to balance the sweetness and enhance the nutty flavor.