1-How to Prepare the Perfect Cream Cheese Pecan Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide Creating these Cream Cheese Pecan Cookies starts with simple steps that lead to delicious results. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper. This sets the stage for baking success and helps your cookies come out just right.

2- In a mixer, cream together the unsalted butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, and salt until smooth and creamy, which takes about 1 minute. Add the vanilla extract and scrape down the bowl to mix everything evenly. Gradually mix in the flour on low speed until just combined, then fold in 1 cup of the small chopped pecans for that nutty crunch.

3- Spread the dough around the bowl and freeze it until it’s firm, about 20 to 30 minutes. Divide the dough into three equal portions, each about 12 ounces, and shape each into a 6-inch log on a greased surface. Roll each log in the finely chopped pecans to coat them well, wrap tightly, and chill for 30 minutes in the freezer or 3 hours in the fridge.

4- Once chilled, preheat the oven if you haven’t already, and slice each log into 12 pieces about 1/2 inch thick. Arrange 12 cookies per sheet and bake one sheet at a time until just set, around 13 to 16 minutes. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack. The whole process takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, including chilling time, and results in tasty treats you can store in an airtight container.