1 stick unsalted butter
2 oz coarsely grated cheddar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne
2/3 c all-purpose flour
2/3 c pecan, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat together butter and cheddar in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, then beat in remaining ingredients.

Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls and arrange 3 inches apart on a buttered baking sheet. Flatten each ball into a 1 1/2 inch disk and bake in batches in the middle of oven until golden, 15 to 18 minutes.