Cream Cheese Pecan Swirl Cookies Recipe - Taste of Home

I like to try at least one or two new Holiday recipes every year.  Some of the recipes go to the "Land of Misfit Recipes" and other survive for at least another year.  This recipe - I found back in 2005 from the "Taste of Home" website called Pecan Swirls - it has become a keeper for the family.  I adjusted the amount of vanilla - as I like more of that flavor - but other than this one minor adjustment - the recipe remains the same.

This is one of my husband's yearly requests and I am glad - as I love them myself.  The aroma of cream cheese and vanilla wafting from the oven as these bake, make me feel like Pavlov's Dog (I start salivating).  The texture of these sweet cookies is light and the nut/sugar mixture is a perfect balance with the cream cheese dough.

I hope you find this recipe as enjoyable as we do.

Ingredients:

2 cups unsalted butter, softened
2 - 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups finely chopped pecans
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth.

Beat in vanilla.

Combine flour and salt - gradually add to creamed mixture.

Divide into three portions.

Wrap each in plastic wrap - refrigerated for at least 2 hours or overnight - until easy to handle.

On a lightly flour table - roll each portion into a 16" x 8" rectangle.

Combine pecans and sugar - sprinkle over dough within 1/2" of edges.

Roll up each rectangle tightly jelly-roll style (starting with long side).

Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Unwrap and cut into 3/8" slices.  Place 2" apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake 400 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

My favorite part of baking these swirls in the ends of the cookie rolls.  They are not pretty to look at, but they are wonderful.  So I can't give these ugly ends away as gifts - so I get to eat every, last one of them :)