Pecan-Embellished Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Delights

1. Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F and arrange two racks so they are evenly spaced. This ensures that the cookies bake uniformly.

2. Mix Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to blend ¾ pound of room-temperature unsalted butter and 1 cup of lightly packed light brown sugar on medium speed. The goal is to create a dense dough, so avoid incorporating too much air. The mixture should be well combined and smooth.

3. Add Vanilla

Once the butter and sugar are thoroughly mixed, add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the bowl. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure that the vanilla is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

4. Sift Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, sift together 3 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. This step is crucial for eliminating any lumps and evenly distributing the salt, which enhances the flavor of the cookies.

5. Combine Ingredients

With your mixer on low speed, gradually add the sifted flour mixture to the butter mixture. Continue mixing until a dough forms. This process may take a few minutes, but be patient; the result will be a perfectly combined dough.

6. Shape Cookies

Take 1-ounce pieces of dough and roll them into balls, then shape each ball into a 2½-inch log. Place the logs about 2 inches apart on sheet pans lined with parchment paper. The spacing allows the cookies to spread slightly without sticking to each other.

7. Bake Cookies

Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cookies spring back slightly when touched. Let them cool on the pans to finish setting.

8. Melt Chocolate

While the cookies are cooling, melt 1 cup of milk chocolate morsels and 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter together in a heatproof bowl. Use the microwave, heating in 30-second intervals and stirring vigorously after each interval until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.

9. Dip Cookies in Chocolate

Once the cookies are cool, dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate, letting any excess drip off. Place the dipped cookies back on the parchment paper.

10. Add Pecans

While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle the minced and lightly salted toasted pecans over the chocolate-dipped portion of each cookie. This will ensure the pecans stick well.

11. Set Cookies

Allow the cookies to set for at least 30 minutes so the chocolate hardens. Enjoy your Pecan-Embellished Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Delights!