Pecan Shortbread Cookies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0. Spread the chopped pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for about 6 minutes, until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the confectioners' sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, vanilla extract and salt at medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add the flour in 3 batches, beating at low speed until just incorporated.
Discard the vanilla bean.
Stir in the pecans.
Transfer the dough to a work surface and roll into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. Wrap the log in plastic or parchment paper and refrigerate for about 1 hour, until chilled.
Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
Spread the turbinado sugar on a platter.
Brush the log with the egg yolk and roll in the sugar.
Slice the log into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Transfer the rounds to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
Bake the shortbread cookies for about 20 minutes, until the edges are golden; rotate the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking.
Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let stand until cooled completely, about 30 minutes, before serving.