Start by roasting pecans either on the stovetop or in the oven. On Stovetop: Toast in a skillet over medium heat until they brown a bit and begin to smell fragrant, about 2 to 5 minutes.In Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. On a lined baking sheet, add the pecans, and toast them in the oven for 7-8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant. Let the pecans cool completely. Once completely cooled, add them to a food processor and blend until they are finely chopped. Scoop out 3 tablespoons of pecans, and set it aside.
To the food processor, add the flour and salt. Pulse that together a few times until combined.
In a separate mixing bowl, add the softened butter and sugar and beat that together with a mixer until light and fluffy. Once beaten, add in the vanilla extract and cold water.
To the wet mixture, add in the flour and pecan mixture a little bit at a time, and stir until incorporated into a thick dough.
To a lightly floured flat surface, roll the dough into a log shape. Wrap the log in parchment paper or plastic wrap.
Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Overnight will also work.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Take the log out of the fridge, and slice the dough into circles. Each slice should be ½ to a ¼ an inch thick, and make sure you place them about 2 inches apart.
Bake the cookies for 12 minutes. Halfway through, rotate the pan around for an even bake. Take the cookies out once the edges become slightly golden brown. Let them cool completely on the baking sheet, remove and enjoy!