Ingredients
Method
Prep and toast pecans
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast 6–8 minutes, watching closely. Let cool, then chop coarsely.
Make the shortbread base
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, powdered sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes with a hand mixer). Scrape down the bowl once.
- Add pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. The mixture might look a little loose—this is okay.
Add dry ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Gradually add to butter mixture, mixing on low until just incorporated. Stir in toasted pecans by hand.
Chill the dough
- Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Roll and cut
- Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter (2–2.5 inches) and place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
Bake
- Bake 12–14 minutes, or until edges begin to turn golden and bottoms are lightly browned. Rotate pans halfway through for even baking. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Make the spiced honey drizzle
- While cookies cool, warm honey gently in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and a pinch of salt. Warm until just runny—do not boil.
Drizzle and finish
- Using a spoon, lightly drizzle spiced honey over cooled cookies. Let the honey set for a few minutes before serving, or serve slightly warm for extra gooey joy.
Notes
For easier preparation, consider pressing the dough into a baking pan to make bars instead of cookies. Various nuts can be substituted if needed.
