Butterscotch Pecan Sandies and the death of my hand mixer

More addictive than they look!


First I have to tell you that if you make these, beware! They look like an innocent cookie where you will eat one or two and be satisfied. But these cookies are just not that simple. You see, Zack's mom made them over Christmas along with Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Peanut Butter Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Cheesecake Brownies. This is all in addition to the Peanut Butter Cookies and Buckeyes that I brought along. You would think with all these options I would not have been compelled to continuously eat these cookies. I just kept going back for more. They are sweet, salty, nutty, and buttery all at once. I knew I was going to make them when I got home.

This weekend Zack and I had plans to visit with friends in MD. They were planning to make us lunch, so I thought it would be nice to make them some cookies. I decided this would be the perfect occasion to make the Butterscotch Pecan Sandies that we had over Christmas. I knew since I would be giving them away I would not be able to eat too many (for those of you who are curious I only at two this weekend and we don't have any left at the house so that is all for me). Friday night I decided to make these cookies around 10PM. I was beating my butter and sugar together and everything was going smoothly. That is until the moment I sat my hand mixer down on the counter and it shot off a fire ball! Yes, a ball of fire shot out of the mixer! I screamed and Zack came running in worried I was hurt (he saw the ball of fire from the living room). Besides having my heart jump out of my chest, I was unscathed and so was my kitchen. The fire ball did not hurt the counter or anything else. Once I got over the initial shock and realized both I and the house were okay I actually got sad. How was I supposed to bake without my hand mixer? Okay, I know I can bake without it but I don't want to! This was not a fancy mixer which I am sure some of you have. It was just an inexpensive little hand mixer my mom shipped me while I was in college. I am pretty sure she picked it up from Big Lots. Actually, I am surprised it lasted as long as it did, but now I am mixerless. It was a sad day in my kitchen! On the plus side I finished the cookies without the mixer and they turned out great. As my friend Sara said, now I just have one more thing to add to my wedding registry.

Butterscotch Pecan Sandies
recipe from Guittard

3 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 cups butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine flour and baking soda in a small bowl and set aside. In a large micing bowl cream butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla on medium speed until light. Beat in egg until fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add flour one cup at a time, just until combined. Stir in pecans and butterscotch chips.

With a small scoop or 2 teaspoons, form small balls of dough less than one inch in diameter. Place on baking sheet, allowing 2 inches between cookies. Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass to about 1/4 inch in height. Bake fro 8-10 minutes until brown around edged, but tops are still pale. Transfer to racks to cool. Store in airtight container.

Note: The original recipes yeilds 9 dozen 1 1/2 inch cookies. I made just shy of 5 dozen 2 1/4 in cookies.