Texas Pecan Sandy
Photo: Carolina Ayala / Contributor
A sable is a crisp shortbread like French shortbread cookie that was created in the 1600s and at first, reserved for royalty. Soon, it became a treat for the everyman, and many variations and flavors emerged. Made with almonds or walnuts with hints of lemon, orange or vanilla, there were even savory sables with pepper and cheese. In English, sable translated to sand and it’s a cookie with a sandy breadcrumb like texture and a perfect bite with an afternoon chai or coffee.
Here, we add ground local pecans to the cookie mix and then add a whole pecan on top. Orange zest, cinnamon, black pepper, and a generous amount of salt give the cookie the perfect balance. If you prefer a smaller cookie, just roll the log into a smaller and longer one and bake them for a shorter time.