I wanted to let you know June 23rd is National Pecan Sandies Day #NationalPecanSandiesDay and I would love to go to the grocery store this morning to pick up Keebler Pecan Sandies for my snack this week. Although, were leaving for Oklahoma this week and saving all the money we have.
Even though we don’t have pecan Sandies to celebrate today with it shouldn’t leave you out. If you can’t get to the store to purchase Cookies I’ve included a recipe for you below and yes, I could make Cookies but we would still need to go to the store to purchase the ingredients needed to make Pecan Sandies. If you have any you can share with me that would be amazing.
National Pecan Sandies Day comes around on June 23rd every year, and whether you say it as ‘pee-can’ or ‘peh-kahn,’ we give you all the reasons to be excited about this textured, crunchy, Buttery, tree nut. Also, did we mention Pecan Sandies are a type of Cookie? We all know Cookies make everything tastier, so we don’t doubt that National Pecan Sandies Day will have you coming back for more.
A Pecan Sandy, is a Cookie and what’s with the name? The Sandy (or ‘sablé’) is a type of Sugar or Shortbread Cookie. The word ‘sablé’ is French, meaning ‘sandy,’ due to the crumbly texture of the Cookie, which comes from the sandy, breadcrumb-like texture when mixing the Flour and Butter. The name Pecan Sandy also works because of the sandy color of the Cookie.
Did you know the traditional Pecan Sandy has a toasted Pecan pressed into the Cookie and is garnished with a flurry of powdered Sugar. Furthermore, since this is a type of mildly sweet Shortbread Cookie, pecan Sandies melt in the mouth and goes amazingly with a glass of cold Milk or a hot beverage like Tea.
There is not much information to be found about the first time National Pecan Sandies Day was recognized as a holiday, but the origins of the Sandy itself can be somewhat traced. The name ‘Sandies’ was registered by the Keebler Company (an American Cookie manufacturer) as a brand name in 1955, which they used for their line of Shortbread Cookies. The Keebler Company introduced the Pecan Sandy then and, later on, added other variations. It, therefore, seems likely that the Pecan Sandy was popularized by the company and perhaps that is how the sweet treat came to have a day of its own.
However, we can trace the origin of the Sandy all the way back to Medieval France (1670) where the ‘sablé’ (the French word for ‘sandy’) was first created in the region of Sablé-sur-Sarthe, in the Western part of France. Some say that the Pecan Sandy originated from sweet treats of Medieval Arab cuisine because, in Countries like Malaysia, it is referred to as an ‘Arab Biscuit’. Other world cultures have very similar Cookies to Pecan Sandies, which are generically called ‘Snowball Cookies’ and have their own specific names depending on their Country of origin.
Differing from Pecan Sandies only in shape, Snowball Cookies are rolled into balls and doused with Powdered Sugar making them look like Snowballs bringing us to there name and contain Pecans as part of the Dough. Pecan Sandies are also known as ‘Mexican Wedding Cookies,’ ‘Russian Tea Cakes,’ and ‘Danish Wedding Cookies.’ Whatever the Country of origin, though, we are sure glad Pecan Sandies exist, and that they continue to be a favorite for people around the globe.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PECAN SANDIES DAY
- Not only will your house smell amazing which is a great trick for an open-house day, or before having guests over, but these easy-peasy Cookies can be ready in 20 minutes. Depending on the recipe you choose and the variations are countless, so you can get creative too.
- We feel that the Pecan just does not get its due recognition, so why not see for yourself how amazingly versatile Pecans can be. Step aside Walnuts, we have a new Nut to experiment with. Be it sweet or savory, there’s something for every palate. Drizzle Pecans with Caramel for a satisfying dessert addition, or toast and toss Pecans into a Salad for that Buttery crunch. Maybe plan an entire Pecan-themed meal, with all courses paying homage to the Nut.
- For folks in the U.S., many States have their own Pecan festivals and some States even have several events, do some quick research and get on board with the festivities. If your State does not have one, why not plan a trip to another State with a Pecan festival as a bonus to make your road trip extra special.
FACTS ABOUT PECANS
- Did you know Pecans are great for the heart, skin, and hair because of the nutritional properties of Pecans, and Pecans do great things for your body.
- The U.S. has a Pecan capital which is Albany, Georgia, and they have more than 600,000 Pecan trees and is officially the ‘Pecan capital’ of the U.S.
- Native Americans used the word ‘Pecan’ to describe Nuts that needed stones to crack them.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PECAN SANDIES DAY
- Just the thought of a batch of freshly baked Cookies and the heavenly smell of Cookies lingering in the house is enough of a reason to celebrate national Pecan Sandies Day and the best part is that Pecan Sandies recipes have so many variations that no one can claim to be immune to them.
- Pecans are one of those Nuts that may often go unnoticed when compared to Almonds, Cashews, or Walnuts. But the proven health benefits not to mention taste benefits of Pecans make it worthy of high praise indeed.
- The world needs to know about Pecans, and what better way to promote it than through this tasty little treat called the Pecan Sandy.
- With the U.S. being the world’s largest producer of Pecans which is 80–90% of the world’s Pecan crop, Pecans are an important American crop, which makes them a valuable livelihood source for many communities in the Central and Southern parts of the U.S. So it makes sense that this Nut is to be celebrated, bringing people together through the festivities as well
Recipe for Pecan Sandies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar, divided
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Beat 1 cup white sugar, butter, oil, and confectioners’ sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.
- Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt in a medium bowl; stir into egg mixture until dough comes together. Mix in pecans.
- Place remaining 1/2 cup white sugar into a small shallow bowl. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and flatten slightly; roll in sugar to coat evenly.
- Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
