Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
3 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 cup ground pecans
2 egg whites, beaten
Pecan halves, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine the flour
and salt. Mix the flour into the butter mixture, alternating with the sherry, making sure to finish with the
flour. Stir in the ground pecans.

Drop by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet and roll each portion between your palms to make smooth, even

balls. Press each one into the cookie sheet and brush with beaten egg white. Using a fork, knife or another
tool, press a design into the top of each cookie, or press a pecan half, right side up, into each ball or
dough. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool a few minutes and remove to a
wire rack to cool completely.

Cool and let cookies sit overnight to ripen. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.