Grandma's Sand Tarts Cookie Recipe Melts In Your Mouth (5 Ingredients) by Donna John

Cookies Holidays Desserts
3 months ago

Grandma's Sand Tarts Cookie Recipe Melts In Your Mouth (5 Ingredients)

There are lot of cookies that remind me of my grandma. This sand tart recipe tops the list. A Christmas didn't go by without these delicate sand tart cookies being displayed on Grandma's red glass tray. My grandma made this tender sand tarts crescent shaped, but ball shaped taste (almost) as good.

The texture and taste of these holiday cookies is similar to Mexican wedding cookies, kourabiedes or Italian butter balls. The five-ingredient cookies are really easy to make, too. Butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, flour and pecans and mixed together to form the delicate cookie batter. Shape them into balls or crescents and bake for 10 minutes. The hot cookies are the rolled in powdered sugar. Because they're hot, it adheres to the cookies and creates a glaze-like texture. Amazingly delicious!

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 24 (makes about 2 dozen)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (plus additional for rolling)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

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Recipe Notes

  • The cookies can also shaped into balls, but a crescent shape is traditional (and grandma approved).
  • Store the cookies in an airtight container on the counter.

Here's how to make it:

  1. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla, flour and chopped pecans. Mix until just combined. 
  2. Shape dough into crescent or ball shapes. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes, or until bottoms are beginning to get light brown.
  4. Remove and immediately roll in powdered sugar. Cool.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 129

Total Fat: 8.7g

Saturated Fat: 4.9g

Cholesterol: 20m

Sodium: 55mg

Total Carbohydrate: 11.4g

Dietary Fiber: 0.5g

Total Sugars: 1.3g

Protein: 1.6g

Vitamin D: 5mcg

Calcium: 5mg

Iron: 1mg

Potassium: 22mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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Elisa Schmitz
Oh, Donna John , these cookies remind me of my grandma, too. She made these all the time. Thank you for the recipe!
Donna John
Yes, they bring back lots of memories for me. Love how food does that. Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds
Tiffany Zook
My dads favorite, Iā€™m going to make and ship! Thanks for the recipe!
Meredith Schneider
Mmmmm Donna John! Nothing better than cookies that melt in your mouth!
Diane Macera Rodriguez
In our Italian family we called them Butter Balls! Mmmm! Delicious memories for sure!
Donna John
Butter balls? Love that. Never heard them called that before. They are delicious. Diane Macera Rodriguez
Elisa Schmitz
I made these cookies for Christmas and they were delicious. Just like my grandma used to make. Thank you, Donna John ! I served them with a side of melted chocolate for dipping, yum!

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