National Pecan Sandies Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Pecans

National Pecan Sandies Day occurs annually on June 23, and whether you pronounce it ‘pee-can’ or ‘peh-kahn,’ we offer you every reason to celebrate this textured, crunchy, buttery tree nut. Did we also mention that these are cookies? Cookies make everything immensely better, so we have no doubt that you will return for more of this. What is a pecan sandy, and why is it called that? The sandy (or’sablé’) is a variety of sugar cookie or shortbread. The word’sablé’ is French and means’gritty’ due to the cookie’s crumbly texture, which derives from the sandy, breadcrumb-like texture created when flour and butter are combined. The appellation is also appropriate due to the sandy hue of the cookie. The traditional pecan sandy is topped with a flurry of powdered sugar and a caramelised pecan that has been pressed into the cookie. Moreover, because this is a variety of mildly sweet shortbread cookie, it melts in the mouth and pairs wonderfully with a glass of cold milk or a cup of tea.

The background of National Pecan Sandies Day

National Pecan Sandies Day was first recognised as a holiday in unknown circumstances, but the origins of the sandies themselves can be traced to a certain extent. In 1955, the Keebler Company (an American cookie manufacturer) registered the name ‘Sandies’ as a brand name for its line of shortbread biscuits. They introduced the pecan sandy then added other variations later on. Therefore, it appears probable that the company popularised the pecan sandy, and perhaps that is how the sweet treat came to have its own day.

However, the origin of the sandy can be traced all the way back to mediaeval France (1670), where the’sablé’ (the French word for’sandy’) was first created in the western French region of Sablé-sur-Sarthe. Some claim that the pecan sandy originated from mediaeval Arab sweets because it is known as a ‘Arab pastry’ in countries such as Malaysia.

Other cultures have cookies that are very similar to pecan sandies; these cookies are referred to as “snowball cookies” in a general sense and have their own country-specific names.

Snowball cookies differ from pecan sandies only in shape; they are shaped into balls and dusted with powdered sugar (resembling snowballs, hence the name), and the dough contains pecans. They are also known as ‘Danish bridal cookies,’ ‘Russian tea cakes,’ and ‘Mexican wedding cookies.’ Regardless of their country of origin, however, we are ecstatic that they exist and continue to be a worldwide favourite.

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5 FACTS ABOUT PECANS WE BET YOU NEVER KNEW

Pecans contain more antioxidants than any other tree seed and are an excellent source of zinc.

Due to the nutritional qualities of pecans, they are extremely beneficial to the body; they are a true health nut!

Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom all host their own pecan festivals.

Albany, Georgia has over 600,000 pecan trees, making it the “pecan capital” of the United States.

Native Americans used the term ‘pecan’ to characterise nuts that required stones to crack.

NATIONAL PECAN SANDIES DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	June 23	Friday
2024	June 23	Sunday
2025	June 23	Monday
2026	June 23	Tuesday
2027	June 23	Wednesday