This June 23 food holiday celebrates a shortbread-like butter cookie with a fine texture and color resembling sand.

Very popular in France as a tea biscuit, pecan sandies or sablé cookies may be derived from the sweet treats of medieval Arab cuisine.

While the cookie draws inspiration from shortbread traditions, the addition of pecans gives it a unique Southern American twist.

The Keebler Company registered "Sandies" as a brand name in 1955, popularizing the pecan sandy and helping it gain national recognition.