There are numerous old classic holiday dishes that no one seems to remember. Sure, everyone likes a sugar cookie fashioned like Santa Claus, but there are a few oldies-but-goodies out there that are definitely overdue for a resurgence, such as these festive pecan cream cheese cookies with their red and green colors. When I prepared these cookies for my siblings for the first time as an adult, they all expressed joy, surprise, and comfort.
They had forgotten that my mother used to prepare these every year – I presume until she decided the recipe had become obsolete. I had forgotten about them until I saw a photo of them and had a vivid memory to when I was 8 and helping her roll the dough log in colored sugar. So, despite the little stray sugar grains, I can say from personal experience that this is an excellent cookie to create with kids.
Because the dough contains an entire block of cream cheese, each cookie has a delicate texture and fascinating flavor. This gives the cookies a tangy flavor while also giving them a chewy bite. Because the dough contains a lot of cream cheese and butter, it will be soft before baking, so form it into four logs, cover each one in plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator to chill. It was easiest for me to take off my plastic wrap and stick it on my silicone baking mat.
Then I plopped four scoops of dough in the center of the plastic using an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism. After that, I rolled the baking mat over the dough to even it out and form a log shape. Then I wrapped the dough in plastic and was ready to go. Once these have chilled, fill a pan or tray halfway with colored sugar crystals. Before baking, roll the logs in the first color and cut them into pieces.
Before moving to the second color, you must replace (or wash) your utensils, tray, and cutting board, as well as wash your hands. When the hues are mixed, they can appear muddy. The batter contains chopped pecans, and each cookie has a single pecan half on top. This adds a lot of nuttiness and crunch, but if you don’t have nuts, these cookies are still delicious.
Bake these and prepare for a flood of compliments on these delicious cookies. Another thing to keep in mind is that the final cookies freeze exceptionally well, so you may bake them ahead of time with no difficulties! This is ideal for those of us who want to make the most of our holiday baking!
4. Arrange 2″ apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies begin to brown slightly, with a pecan half in the center of each cookie. Do not overcook.