12 Pecan Pie Cookie Recipes Perfect For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love treating all my family and friends to a perfectly roasted turkey with all the fixings, deep dishes of creamy green bean casserole, and fluffy mashed potatoes crowned with a generous pat of butter. These pecan pie cookie recipes are a great way to cap off the meal and perfect for when you want something a little sweet to nibble on but didn’t save room for a full wedge of pumpkin or pecan pie. They’re so tasty that you’ll want to make them all holiday season.

1. Pecan Pie Cookies

These cookies are the perfect blend of soft, sugary base and luxe pecan pie filling. The contrast between the rich caramel and gorgeously chewy cookie is to die for. Plus, they come together in a flash, with just over half an hour of preparation time. The brown sugar in the cookie base perfectly echos the buttery and sugary filling spiked with just the right amount of nutmeg for a warm finish reminiscent of pecan pie, but better.

2. Chocolate Drizzled Pecan Pie Delights

I love the combination of chocolate and caramel, and these cookies take it to the next level with a flaky base studded with caramel and pecans and liberally drizzled with milk chocolate. Plus, they’re a great shortcut recipe when you’re pushed for time because the base is store-bought pie crust cut into circles. Make sure that you crimp the edges of your pie-crust cookies so that none of the delicious filling runs out. For the filling, you just need some common ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry, like packed brown sugar, eggs, butter, and pecans. 

3. Pecan Pie Cookies by Amira’s Pantry

This recipe gets an extra sweet boost from honey, giving these cookies a nuanced and interesting riff on the classic flavor combination. Plus, you’ll enjoy the winning combination of sweet filling and warm chocolate. I like to use light brown sugar in the filling because of the way it pairs with the honey, but you can use whatever variety you happen to have on hand. I also use unsalted butter and add a bit of salt to taste and contrast with the sweeter flavors.

4. Pecan Pie Thumbprint Cookies

Any thumbprint cookie transports me right back to my childhood. I love the flavor of a warm, buttery base with a yummy jam or decadent filling. These cookies are certainly no exception and will make a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving table. Filled with a vanilla-accented rich brown sugar center, these cookies are definite crowd pleasers. I like to add a little extra vanilla into my cookie base to complement the warm flavors of the pecan pie filling and crown each cookie with a sprinkle of extra pecans for a fabulous presentation.

5. Keto Pecan Pie Cookies

It can be tough to watch your carbs around the holidays, but if you have a batch of these keto-friendly cookies on hand, you can stick with your diet and not miss a second of the celebration. The keto key lies in the cookie base, which swaps in almond flour for a crumbly and buttery shortbread base that works beautifully with an easy-to-assemble filling. Even those who aren’t keeping track of their carbs will want to get their hands on these delights.

6. Pecan Pie Cookies by Created by Diane

Although I’m all about the holiday desserts, especially anything pecan or pumpkin-flavored, sometimes they can be a little too sweet, which is why these pecan pie cookies are an absolute godsend. They’re multi-layered, just sweet enough, and full of sophisticated flavors like rich brown sugar and vanilla. I like to add a touch of rum extract to spice things up just a little bit. Plus, they come together from pantry to cooling rack in under half an hour, so they’re a great option for the busy Thanksgiving season.

7. Cinnamon Pecan Pie Cookies

These cookies are an exceptional twist on your classic pecan pie cookie recipe with a warm cinnamon base that amps up the brown sugar in the filling and lends a festive feeling to every bite. Plus, you likely have everything you need right in your pantry, like ground cinnamon, baking powder, white and brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. I also like to include a pinch of salt to bring out the sweeter flavors and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg in the pecan pie filling to echo the flavors in the cookies and add just the right amount of spice. 

8. Crumbl Pecan Pie Cookies

My kids absolutely adore Crumbl cookies, so when I came across this copycat recipe, I knew that it would be an instant hit in my household. Plus, this delicious dupe is super easy to make with a scrumptious, soft sugar cookie base. I like to use vegetable oil and butter, but you can substitute canola if that’s what you have on hand. For the filling, I like to use unsalted butter, plenty of heavy cream, and some warm spices, brown sugar, and vanilla to create that caramelly base studded with pieces of pecan. 

9. Pecan Pie Cookie Cups

These cookie cups are a home run for me because they strike a fun note between miniature pies and cookies. They’re also perfectly portioned, and you get the ideal ratio of filling to cookie in every scrumptious bite. Line each individual space in a muffin tin with your sugar cookie base, bake, and fill with a decadent pecan pie filling that gets a serious kick of sweetness and richness from pure maple syrup and brown sugar. 

10. Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookies

I love these cookies because you only need nine ingredients in both the cookie base and the filling combined, and they’re super simple to put together. If you’re looking for a fun recipe to make with the kids, this one is beginner-friendly and appropriate for your Thanksgiving table. The cookie base is an effortless combination of light brown sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, flour, and baking powder. For the filling, you simply need vanilla, light brown sugar, heavy cream, and your pecans. Complete each cookie with a milk chocolate drizzle, and you’re all set. 

11. Chewy Pecan Pie Cookies

These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are full of textural contrast and complementary flavors. You can also play around with the ingredients, using a touch more brown sugar for a more intensely flavored pecan pie filling and spiking it with maple syrup for an elegant taste. I find that these cookies truly shine with authentic vanilla extract and pure maple syrup and that toasted pecans really do make all the difference in the final product. 

12. Pecan Pie Cookies by Mess for Less

This shortcut recipe is ideal for a stress-free Thanksgiving. You’ll get all of the pecan pie goodness and flavor without a ton of steps. Use Pillsbury pie crust for your cookie base, and develop that rich, golden pecan pie filling with some brown sugar and light Karo syrup. Cinnamon sugar gives the filling a touch of fire and sweetness, and I like to drizzle mine with a little milk chocolate for a fabulous presentation and a sweet surprise.

This Thanksgiving, consider treating your guests to a fun new spin on a timeless tradition with these soon-to-be-classic pecan pie cookie recipes.