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High Altitude Soft and Chewy Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies

September 10, 2022 by Heather Smoke Leave a Comment

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An easy, high altitude recipe for soft and chewy brown sugar pecan cookies, coated in sparkling sugar and spiced with a little cardamom. These are incredibly soft brown sugar cookies that are full of nutty chopped pecans, although you can leave the pecans out for a plain brown sugar cookie, too. These also make a wonderful cookie recipe to add to your holiday baking list!

You might also like these high altitude recipes for soft and chewy date pecan cookie sandwiches, soft ginger molasses cookies, and soft maple cookies.

Brown sugar pecan cookies next to a coffee cup.

This site contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  This means that I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using those links.  This in no way affects my opinion of those products and services.  All opinions expressed on this site are my own.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

High Altitude Tested. I develop all the recipes on this site for Denver’s altitude of 5,280 feet, so mountain bakers can bake with confidence.

Perfect for the Holidays. These brown sugar pecan cookies make a wonderful holiday cookie with the nutty pecans, sweet brown sugar and hint of cardamom. And they make a lovely addition to a Christmas cookie box.

Easy to Make. You’ll love the simplicity of today’s recipe, with standard pantry ingredients and an easy method of making the cookie dough.

Soft for Days. The soft and chewy texture of these brown sugar cookies is just perfect, and they’re still soft days after baking.

Brown sugar pecan cookie with a bite taken.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredients list and instructions.

Ingredients

  • Butter. I bake with unsalted butter, but if you use salted, you should reduce the salt in the recipe.
  • Sugar. A combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar adds sweetness, moisture, and a hint of molasses. The moisture in the brown sugar also makes a softer, chewier cookie.
  • Egg. Gives the cookie dough structure and helps to bind the dough together.
  • Golden Syrup. Lyle’s golden syrup has a buttery, toffee caramel flavor, and it’s just wonderful in these cookies. It also makes the cookies so soft and chewy, so it’s important for the right texture. If you can’t find golden syrup, you can use dark corn syrup instead.
  • Vanilla Extract. Flavor.
  • Corn Starch. Tenderizes the cookie dough for a softer texture.
  • Baking Soda. Leavens the cookies so they puff up as they bake.
  • Salt. Balances the sweetness.
  • Cardamom. Complements the flavors of the brown sugar, golden syrup and pecans.
  • Flour. All-purpose flour adds structure and strength.
  • Pecans. Adds nutty crunch. You can also use walnuts if you like, or just leave the nuts out completely.
Ingredients for soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
Soft and chewy brown sugar pecan cookies on a metal baking sheet.

Instructions

  • In a bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, egg, golden syrup, vanilla, corn starch, baking soda, salt and cardamom for 2 minutes, until fluffy.
  • Measuring cup of golden syrup.
  • Step 1 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Step 2 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Add the flour and chopped pecans, and use a spatula to fold everything together to form a dough.
  • Step 3 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Step 4 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Step 5 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Use a small cookie scoop with a release lever to portion the dough into 24 portions. Roll the dough into balls, then coat in the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Flatten the dough balls slightly with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass.
  • Cover the flattened dough balls and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Step 6 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Step 7 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Step 8 for making soft brown sugar pecan cookies.
  • Brown sugar pecan cookies on a black cooling rack.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
  • Place the chilled cookies 3 inches apart on the baking sheet, and bake for exactly 8 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

TIP: When the cookies are hot from the oven, they’ll be slightly puffed, but the centers will settle down and flatten a bit as they cool.

Soft and chewy brown sugar pecan cookies.

Be sure to read all of my BAKING FAQs where I discuss ingredients, substitutions and common baking questions, so that you can be successful in your own baking!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just use more sugar instead of the golden syrup?

If you leave the syrup out, the texture of these brown sugar pecan cookies just won’t be the same. The golden syrup contributes to the soft chewy texture, and you really need to use it. You can also substitute dark corn syrup, if you can’t get golden syrup.

What does golden syrup taste like?

Golden syrup has notes of butter, toffee and caramel.

Can I make these without the pecans?

Yes, the recipe works just fine if you want to leave out the pecans.

Can these cookies be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the baked cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3-6 months.

Brown sugar pecan cookies on a metal baking sheet.

You Might Also Like

  • Soft ginger molasses cookies arranged on a baking sheet.
    Ginger Molasses Cookies
  • Date pecan cookies filled with pecan buttercream.
    Date Pecan Cookies
  • Snickerdoodle shortbread cookies with waffle imprint.
    Snickerdoodle Shortbread Cookies
  • 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies on a black cooling rack.
    Peanut Butter Cookies

Favorite Products

Did you love today’s recipe? Please rate the recipe and let me know in the comments what you thought! Also, be sure to follow Curly Girl Kitchen on Instagram, and tag me when you try one of my recipes so I can see all your delicious creations!

Brown sugar pecan cookies next to a coffee cup.

High Altitude Soft and Chewy Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies

Heather Smoke
An easy, high altitude recipe for soft and chewy brown sugar pecan cookies, coated in sparkling sugar and spiced with a little cardamom.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Chill Time 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 18 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings2 dozen cookies

Equipment

  • Electric Mixer (Stand or Hand-Held)

Ingredients
 

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp Lyle's golden syrup (or substitute dark corn syrup)
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ tsp corn starch
  • ¾ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
  • ⅛ tsp ground cardamom
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, fluffed, spooned and leveled
  • ½ cup pecans, finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, egg, golden syrup, vanilla, corn starch, baking soda, salt and cardamom for 2 minutes, until fluffy.
  • Add the flour and chopped pecans, and use a spatula to fold everything together to form a dough.
  • Use a small cookie scoop with a release lever to portion the dough into 24 portions. Roll the dough into balls, then coat in the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Flatten the dough balls slightly with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass.
  • Cover the flattened dough balls and refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
  • Place the chilled cookies 3 inches apart on the baking sheet, and bake for exactly 8 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    Note: When the cookies are hot from the oven, they'll be slightly puffed, but the centers will settle down and flatten a bit as they cool.

Notes

Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for 3-6 months.
Keyword Brown Sugar Cookies, High Altitude Cookies, Pecan, Soft Sugar Cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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I'm Heather, and welcome to my Colorado kitchen, where you will find high-altitude tested recipes for beautifully photographed cakes, baked goods and sweets. I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and everyone is welcome in mine. So stay a while, sip a cup of coffee, and bake something delicious with me!

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