Keep the nut-sugar filling dry and scant; excess brown sugar can caramelize and glue the horns to the pan.
An eggless cream-cheese short dough wraps a dry cinnamon pecan filling into small horns that bake flaky and crisp at the tips.
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Cinnamon Pecan Rugelach-Style Shortbread Horns Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- pastry cutter
- bowl
- rolling pin
- pizza wheel
- baking sheets
- parchment
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Chill the dough
- Chill the dough: Cut cold butter and cream cheese into flour and salt until clumps form; press into a disk and chill 1 hour.
Make the dough or filling
- Make the dough or filling: Mix pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Divide dough in half; roll each into a 9-inch circle and cut 12 wedges.
Shape the cookies
- Shape the cookies: Add a scant teaspoon filling at each wide edge and roll toward the point.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18–22 minutes until golden.
Cool and finish
- Cool and finish: Cool fully on a rack.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Work quickly with cold dairy pastry to keep the layers tender.
Technique & texture
Place the pointed tip underneath each horn so it does not unfurl.
Finishing & serving
Use parchment to catch any small amount of caramelized sugar.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 3 days | Airtight at room temperature up to 3 days. |
| Refrigeration | up to 5 days | Refrigerate up to 5 days in a sealed container. serve at room temperature. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze unbaked shaped horns up to 1 month. bake from frozen with 3 extra minutes. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked horns airtight up to 1 month. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw uncovered. crisp briefly in a 300°F oven if needed, then cool. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 24 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this classic shortbread?
It is a cream-cheese shortbread-inspired pastry with a more flaky, tender texture.
Can I add jam?
A thin smear of thick jam can be used, but reduce the dry filling so the horns seal.
Why did the horns open?
Tuck the tip underneath and avoid overfilling the wide edge.
