Pecan Butter Cookies

Serves 36

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Place pecans and sugar in a blender, pulse until pecans are finely ground.
2. Place butter and pecan-sugar mixture in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to cream together until butter is fluffy. Add vanilla, orange peel and egg yolk and beat together on low speed until combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until firm.
4. Preheat the oven to 325° F.
5. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough until thin and flat. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer cookies to a cookie sheet. Gather up scraps, reroll the dough and cut out cookies in same manner until you have 36 cookies.
6. Bake for 8-9 minutes, cookies should be golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.