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Pecan Shortbread Christmas Tree Cookies

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  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 1 hr 15 min
  • Servings 32
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Butter, flour and sugar come together to create rich, delicate cookies.
By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Oct 20, 2014
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 5 drops green food color
  • 1 3/4 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 32 pecan halves
  • 3/4 cup white vanilla baking chips
  • Granulated sugar, if desired
  • 32 yellow decorating stars, if desired
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 325°F. Spray or lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets. In large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and food color. On low speed, beat in flour just until mixed. Stir in chopped pecans.
  • 2
    Divide dough into 4 equal parts; shape each into ball. Place 2 balls of dough on each cookie sheet, on opposite ends. With rolling pin or floured fingers, gently flatten and shape each ball into 6-inch circle. With large knife, divide and cut each round into 8 wedges, slightly separating each cut with knife. Poke tops of wedges with fork, and place 1 pecan half in middle of each outer edge to make tree trunk.
  • 3
    Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until firm but not brown. While still warm, cut into wedges again. Cool completely on cookie sheets, about 30 minutes.
  • 4
    Place cooled tree wedges on cooling racks or waxed paper. Place baking chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on High 40 to 60 seconds, turning bag over after 30 seconds. Squeeze bag gently until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip off one corner of bag, and drizzle side to side over wedges to make tree garland. Sprinkle with sugar Top each tree with star.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    After the holiday season, make these cookies without the food color, pecan "trunks" and stars.
  • tip 2
    If using paste food color, you need only a small amount to get a nice green color.

Nutrition

160 Calories, 11g Total Fat, 1g Protein, 15g Total Carbohydrate, 9g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cookie
Calories
160
Calories from Fat
100
Total Fat
11g
17%
Saturated Fat
6g
30%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
15mg
5%
Sodium
65mg
3%
Potassium
20mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate
15g
5%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
9g
Protein
1g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
4%
4%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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