Summer in is in full swing. The combination of heat and humidity is stifling. It's hard to catch a breath when mowing the lawn. Cooling down after yard work takes hours even in the comfort of air conditioning. The thought of adding heat indoors by turning on the oven is unappealing. This is where the goodness of no bake desserts is realized. You can keep your kitchen cool while you make No Bake Bourbon Pecan Cookies.
The story of these cookies starts with other ones. There was a massive failure with a different cookie. That recipe sounded so easy and it involved rum and butterscotch. What I wound up with was a gooey glob with no hope of setting up properly. I tried everything to make it work to no avail. Tossing it and moving on was all I could do. It was such a shame too because it meant wasting a whole Ghirardelli milk chocolate bar. *Sigh*
No Bake Bourbon Pecan Cookies are quick and easy to make. Crush vanilla wafer cookies, chop pecans, whisk confectioners sugar and cocoa, then a couple of stirs later adding in bourbon and corn syrup, you have the "dough". You shape the dough into balls then flatten into disks. Or you can leave them shaped as balls, it's your call. I wanted them to be shaped like cookies since this is for the Creative Cookie Exchange. The last steps are to roll them around in sugar to coat and let them dry to firm up.
How do the cookies taste? One word: bourbon. There are chocolate and pecan accents too. The unmistakable, prevalent flavor is bourbon. I thought about calling them no bake bourbon cookies however I threw in pecan in the title as a heads up about containing nuts.
Are you ready to make cookies? Scroll down to find a list for No Bake ones by talented cookie enthusiasts. Click on the links to get the recipes. For other no bake desserts, check out my Cherry Cream Cheese Bites and Zabaglione Italian Custard.
No-Bake Bourbon Pecan Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ to 2 cups confectioners sugar divided
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Sift 1 cup powdered sugar and cocoa into a large bowl.
- Combine bourbon and corn syrup. Pour into bowl and stir until combined.
- Add wafer crumbs and pecans. Stir until combined.
- Shape into 1-inch balls then flatten into round disks, about ⅓-inch thick.
- Roll in remaining powdered sugar (sifted) and shake to remove excess.
- Place cookies on a tray or baking sheet and allow to dry before serving.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Southern Living Christmas Cookies cookbook published in 1986 (no longer in print).
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is "Beat the Heat with No Bake Cookies". It's summer and too hot to turn on the oven. If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where we coordinate events.
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Facebook page, our Pinterest Board, and our monthly posts. You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Chunky Chocolate Fruit and Nut Cookie Slice from Jill at Made with Love
- Indoor S'mores Bars from Karen at Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Kashata Squares from Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- Nutella Clusters from Tara at Noshing with the Nolands
- No Bake Bourbon Pecan Cookies from Renee at Magnolia Days
- No Bake Coconut Cookies from Kathya at Basic N Delicious
- No Bake Cookie Butter Cookies from Heather at Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- No Bake Kit Kat Squares from Holly at A Baker's House
- No Bake Lemon Cheesecake Cookies from Becca at It's Yummi!
- Strawberry and Cream No Bake Cookies from Miranda at Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
How much Bourbon? It says 1/4.......a cup? Tabelspoon?tsp?
It's a 1/4 cup (and I fixed the recipe). Thanks for letting me know. So easy to skip a detail when in a hurry.
These are little boozy bites of love, Renee!
Just a heads up...Your recipe calls for 1/4 bourbon, but doesn't specify an amount.
Oopsie - Thanks for the heads up. I fixed it. It's a 1/4 cup.
Mmmmm, bourbon cookies. These look wonderful, Renee, and I love the addition of pecans. These are the perfect southern cookie!
Yep, totally southern. Thanks Stacy.
Love those cookies!! Great flavor combination!! I love a little boozy cookie!!
Me too! Cheers and thanks Tara
I am going to keep these in mind as holiday cookies-- love the bourbon flavor and I think having a no-bake treat around the holidays would be a great time saver.
Yes, no-bake during the holidays is a good thing. Need the oven for pies and such.
Great recipe Renee. My mum use to make these every Christmas for our annual officer's party while my dad was in the Army. It was always a big hit with everyone including us kids as we use to sneak 1 or 2 pieces. Whew! it was potently delicious.!!!! 😉
I love your description "potently delicious" because it is so fitting for these cookies. Thanks Mitzi.
These are like southern Bourbon balls we make at Christmas. but flattening them out, rolling them in sugar, and calling them a cookie? Brilliant. Making them in July? Even better.
Thanks a bunch Lynn - or rather - merci!
I love the sound of your cookies, they look so tasty.
Thanks Jill
These sound like great Christmas cookies with the bourbon and pecans (especially since they are so easy!) Putting them on my list right now.
Oh yes, they are great Christmas cookies. Might as well spread the joys of that season throughout the year too.
Ooooh Bourbon! Makes up for the loss of the chocolate bar. Absolutely gorgeous as always.
Thanks so much Karen
What can I say? This is a perfect no bake summer cookie! That seems like a lot of bourbon but I guess I will have to go buy some and give it a try! Thanks for sharing!!
It's a bit more bourbon (or any flavor alchohol) than what is in most cookies. However, it really sets these cookies apart and above the usual.
These cookies sound so decadent! I can't believe they're no-bake!
It's true though - total no-bake goodness.
These look quite easy to make. Everyone needs a good no bake cookie that involves a little whiskey. Yum!
Thanks Miranda and yes, they are very easy to make.
Another no bake cookie to add to my list! Looks like I'll need to pick up some bourbon now 🙂
Oh yes, a stop by the liquor store is in order for you Carla.