Mean Chef's Pecan Cardamom Sand Cookies

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• 24 pecan halves
• additional granulated sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325°f.
• 2 i an electric mixer cream butter, shortening, both sugars and vanilla until mixture is well combined.
• 3 sift dry ingredients together and add to mixer along with chopped pecans.
• 4 combine well.
• 5 either use a small portion scoop or roll pieces of dough into 1 - 2-inch balls.
• 6 arrange on parchment-lined sheet pan.
• 7 place a pecan half on top of each round, sprinkle with a little sugar and press down with the bottom of a glass to flatten to about 1/4-inch thick.
• 8 bake until very pale golden.
• 9 cool.