Buttery cookies with bits of pecans are shaped into crescents and dipped in a chocolate coating for a perfect combination. These crescent cookies have been favorites in our family for generations.
These melt in your mouth cookies are a must make for my family around Christmas. They have tiny bits of pecans throughout and a thick glaze of fudge on the outside.
They are a bit like snowball cookies only better. Make some for your treat trays or bake some up to enjoy yourself.
For me, the holidays are all about tradition. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun to change things up a bit and try new things.
There are just some things you just have to have in order to make it Christmas. These cookies are one of those things for my family.
My mom has been making them for as long as I can remember. Her mom made them too. I wish I knew when exactly they became a thing, but I know it’s been longer than I’ve been around!
Holiday Traditions
These cookies are as big of a part of the holiday as the tree and decorations. Speaking of the tree and traditions, each year my mom gets us each a Hallmark ornament for Christmas.
As we have moved out, we take our ornaments with us. Now every year as we hang the ornaments we get to relive the memories of our childhood.
We still keep each ornament in its original box. My husband thought I was absolutely nuts the first time he saw the crate of ornament boxes come out.
He went to work with tales of me un-boxing each one as I hung them. He came home with the knowledge that we are not the only crazy ones who do that.
It turns out some of his coworkers do the same thing. So maybe we are more normal than he gives us credit for. 😉
Do you have ornaments in their original box still? Do you go through the same unboxing every year?
Another tradition that continues to make Christmas special in our family is an overabundance of Christmas cookies. MiMi asks everyone to pick a favorite for her to make.
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There are six of us kids, plus my husband, Little Dude, a niece, a nephew, a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law too. So that means at least 12 kinds of cookies.
Then she makes each on in bulk. We are aware that any invitation to visit in December probably includes time rolling, dipping, cutting or decorating cookies.
Every years she says she is going to make fewer cookies, but every year she ends up with a whole room devoted to cookies and chex mix. (Not that anyone complains.)
Add to that the fact that my grandpa loves to make a few of his favorite cookies for Christmas. My aunt also bakes in bulk and brings tin after tin of cookies when she visits.
My cousins also enjoy baking and of course I bake my fair share as well. So we end up with a room of treats at my grandma’s house too.
With all of those cookies to choose from, these cookies are one of my favorites. I am not the only one in the family that would say that either.
The Fudgy Coating
They are the best combination of buttery cookie and rich fudgy coating. One bite and you will fall in love!
Rather than dip the cookies in candy melts or melted chocolate, you make a fudge to dip them in. You are going to find your self coming up all sorts of things to put this on.
MiMi thinks the extra is the BEST topping for ice cream. I have used it to frost other cookies as well, including some fun fudge topped donut shaped sugar cookies.
It sets up perfectly for stacking, but doesn’t have the snap of straight chocolate. You have to try it! Go ahead and make a couple of batches, turn up the Christmas music and make an afternoon of it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these cookies with something other than pecans?
Yes, any finely chopped nut will do. Almonds would be delicious or try walnuts if they are your favorite. Pistachios would be fun too and would add a bit of color.
Do I have to shape the cookies into crescents?
Of course not, if you are in a hurry or just don’t feel like shaping the cookies they bake wonderfully as balls as well. Just use a cookie scoop or a spoon to make rounded cookies.
What if I don’t want to dip them in the chocolate fudge?
That’s fine too. Just roll the baked cookies in powdered sugar instead.
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Fudge Dipped Pecan Crescent Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Fudge
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk
- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F
- Mix all of the cookie ingredients together. It will be crumbly at first, but it will come together.1 cup butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Shape dough into crescents (or small balls) and place on cookie sheets.
- Bake until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes.
- Allow to cool on the cookies sheet.
- For the fudge, melt chocolate chips, butter and milk in a double boiler.1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 3 Tablespoons butter, ½ cup milk
- Whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth.3 cups sifted powdered sugar
- Dip cookies in fudge and place on wax paper until completely set.
- Store in a airtight container.
Video
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Thanks for the great recipe! I enjoyed seeing the warm Christmas spirit you have at your house!
It has been extra fun this year watching my little guy get excited! Have a merry Christmas!
We are also a family with a million cookies at Christmas. We certainly don't need more, but I am adding this recipe to the mix!
I know, every year we say we are going to pare back but we never do! Oh well, I love delivering cookies to people too. I did eat quite a few of these before they all got delivered though!
Ooh, these are amazing!
Thanks so much! We love these cookies every year!
Aren't they fun? It just isn't Christmas without them!
These sound so tasty!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks, Jess! They are delicious!
That is a lovely looking cookie gift that you have made. Anyone would be happy to receive it.
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Kathleen
Those turned into empty trays pretty quickly! The next round of cookies is all baked up and ready to go. I just love passing out cookies!
I love the idea of making cookies as gifts, thank you for sharing the recipe!
They are perfect gifts for people who are hard to shop for or those that you just want to give a token "I was thinking of you" gift!
Oh boy — dipped in fudge?? SOunds and looks delicious 🙂 If I'm not able to make these before Christmas, they are still going on my to make very soon list instead 🙂
I hope you love them, Ali!
These cookies look delicious and what a great little gift for neighbors, family and friends! I can't wait to try these crescents! #client
Thank you, Samantha! I started dropping off cookies a couple of days ago and have seen some empty trays already, so I think they were all a hit!
It was so much fun to read how family traditions are still so much a part of your Christmases. Grandma was telling me that she always wants peppermint ice cream for Christmas and I was telling her about how she MUST try this fudge on it. We need to bring some to her Christmas Eve. She will understand what she's been missing all these years. I look forward to everyone opening up the ornaments I chose this year. I found perfect ones for everybody again this year.
It'll be fun to see what you picked for everyone!