Southern White Chocolate Pecan Shortbreads

A buttery, pecan-shortbread crust with a thin layer of white chocolate and toasted pecans.  This is as Southern as it gets. This cookie has pronounced toasted pecan taste, it really comes through.  You have to be a pecan lover to enjoy these.  Perfect with coffee or tea.  These are great for holiday gift giving to place in tins.  They travel very well.

Southern White Chocolate Pecan Shortbread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease 9 x 13 pan

Shortbread
2 cups all purpose flour
pinch salt
2 sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg room temperature
1/2 cup, chopped, toasted pecans

Topping:
1 1/2 cups white chocolate morsels
1/2 cup, chopped, toasted pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Toast your pecans on a skillet for a few minutes, be careful to stir nuts with a wooden spoon so they do not burn, but acquire that toasted nut taste.

Grease 9 x 13 pan.  Set aside. 

In mixer cream butter with sugar until fluffy and creamy for about 5 minutes.  Add egg and continue to beat well.  Combine flour and pinch salt.  Slowly add flour to creamed butter mixture to combine ingredients well.  Add nuts and continue to beat for a few seconds more, to mix well. 

Pop shortbread mixture into fridge for 15 minutes for easy handling.  Place shortbread mixture on pan and wet hands slightly and press evenly onto pan.  It should be enough batter to go to sides.  Flatten and even out dough.  Place in oven for 25 minutes.  Remove and place chocolate directly on top of hot shortbread.  When chocolate begins to melt, smear with an offset spatula and spread chocolate evenly.  Add remaining toasted pecans to topping by sprinkling them on evenly. 

Place shortbread in fridge until chocolate is firm.  Remove from fridge and let shortbread come back to room temperature to cut shortbread.  They are a little difficult to cut.  They will be slightly firm, but I use a sharp small paring knife and I use a fork to lift cookie out.  It is so well worth it though.  They are simple and delicious.