I haven’t done much holiday baking this December but did find a new cookie for Santa to sample, Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies! This cookie has a fluffy, muffin-like texture with a bourbon glaze on top!
I ended up with more cookies than the recipe called for so there’s plenty to share. They’re also large cookies so one is satisfying and plenty to sink your teeth into and enjoy with your afternoon cuppa or morning coffee, ‘tis the season after all :)
I had a little cookie and tea inspiration from my Birds of a Feather Advent Calendar so the cardinals have flown in to join Santa.
Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies, recipe courtesy Southern Living
Yield: Makes about *2 dozen. *I ended up with 3 ½ dozen large cookies.
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
*2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
*2 teaspoons ground ginger
*1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
*1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
*1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
(*I substituted 5 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice since I had it on hand)
4 cups finely ground toasted pecans
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons molasses
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 cups toasted pecan halves
BOURBON GLAZE, recipe to follow
Directions
Stir together first 8 ingredients. Stir together ground pecans and next 7 ingredients in a second bowl. Stir bourbon mixture into flour mixture until smooth. Cover and chill *12 hours. (* The video for this recipe says to chill 6 hours. I chilled my dough 4 hours, long enough to be sure it’s cold enough so the cookies don’t spread when baked.)
Preheat oven to 350°. Drop level portions of dough 2 inches apart onto 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets, using a 2-oz. ice-cream scoop (about 2 Tbsp.) Place 3 pecans on each cookie.
Bake at 350° for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool; drizzle with Bourbon Glaze.
BOURBON GLAZE
Yield: Makes about 1 1/2 cups
(I made half a recipe; 1 1/2 cups sugar and decreased the amount of bourbon to 2 tablespoons)
Ingredients
6 tablespoons bourbon
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 teaspoons water
Stir together bourbon and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Stir in water, 1 tsp. at a time, until desired consistency. If you don’t want to use bourbon in the glaze substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla.
You can find a printable recipe from Southern Living, here.
Santa/Cardinal Cookie Jar, Teapot and Plates/ HomeGoods, several years ago.
Have you started or finished your holiday baking?
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Metamorphosis Monday
Thank you so much for your lovely work throughout the year! It brings much joy to me and some nice treats into our home. Have a lovely holiday!
Hi, I’ve really been enjoying your site! I made the Cha-Cha chicken…delicious…must try these tasty looking cookies!
Mmmm the cookies do look like little muffin tops, Mary, and would be perfect with my cup of tea! You always find the most delectable recipes for us to try and create the prettiest settings for us to enjoy.
mmmmmmm, yes please! A bourbon glazed gingerbread pecan topped bite would be very welcome right now! That is funny that the recipe yielded almost double, but what a happy surprise! I am going to try to bake these so we can nibble on them for Christmas day! They look wonderful on your Santa plates too :) ho ho ho!
Jenna
“So one is satisfying”… Funny girl! They sound great Mary, especially with the glaze! LOVIN’ the plaid plates:@)
Cookies with a “muffin like” texture, in my opinion, are suitable for breakfast. These look yummy and I could use one now. The more bourbon the better. Seriously. It has been that kind of morning. Only minutes ago I said goodbye to three firemen. Long story.
Yum! I’ve not done any baking since Thanksgiving. I know if I do that I will indulge. Ha!
That said, I’m in charge of dessert for Christmas Eve. ;-)
Love the tartan touches!
From where did youu purchase the plaid plates used under the Santa ones? They are lovely!
Hi Carol, They came from HomeGoods several years ago :)
What a PRETTY post, Mary!! ADORE your Santa cookie jar and those face plates, too. Precious!
I know MY Santa would go for these cookies, but I’m not so sure about the grandkidlets, esp. the littlest one who turns her nose up at anything with nuts. I’ll save the recipe to try another day. This week, it is all cut out sugar cookies! LOL
Thanks for the lovely respite from the holiday crazies. It is always such a pleasure to visit your beautiful blog.
Hugs,
Rett
I love your Santa cookie jar with the cardinal top!!! Where did you find that? The cookies look delicious, I have not done ANY baking, but have gotten gifts so have plenty of goodies around. Especially since Joe doesn’t eat sweets. Merry, merry!!!!!
what an adorable feather tea party with santa! yesterday I was in a bakery that held high tea, mounds of treats, cute wee tables, all they needed was a feathered tea pot to fit right in with our advent! I am so afraid the count down is on, that suddenly Christmas will be upon us and this will all be a distant dream, so loved seeing this month with you, its been pure joy for my senses~
Another beautiful post, Mary! As a dish addict, I thoroughly enjoy your huge variety of dishes, accents and displays. Thanks for sharing your creativity, recipes, etc. with your blog followers. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
The table setting, the dishes, the cookies, everything is wonderful and beautiful. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Merry Christmas and many blessings.
FABBY
Oh my….these look amazing….and they of course are so beautifully presented for Santa’s visit….Santa is going to love you and give you everything on your wish list after taking a bite of those cookies!!!!