Eight Days of Christmas Treats: We're starting with pecan balls

Christmas means cookies in my family - and gobs of them. As a child, I remember mounds of cookies on platters in the dining room - many made by parents of my mother's second grade students. For my husband, it was the same. His father spent hours whipping up hundreds of Christmas cookies to dole out to neighbors and friends.

So, once December rolls around, I break out the cookie cutters and cookbooks, loosen our house's usual rules on sugar intake and enjoy all of the treats.

When searching for cookie recipes, I have two goals: The recipe has to be easy and it can't all be chocolate.

These cookies fit the bill (notice the option for chocolate) and require so little time.

pinch of salt

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Put the butter, sugar and flour into a bowl and cream them with a mixer. Pour in the pecans and salt. You can use a spoon or spatula to gently incorporate the pecans into the dough. For me, it's easier to simply place the dough on a floured surfaced and carefully knead in the pecans and salt.

Once everything is incorporated, roll the dough into balls that are about the size of a cherry. Put them on an ungreased baking sheet. I layer it with some parchment paper for easy clean up. Bake for 45 minutes.

Let the cookies cool completely. They are yummy as they are, but you also can dip them in melted chocolate or the vanilla glaze. To make the glaze, simply place the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until the mixture is smooth.