Description
Delightful Pecan Pie Cookies blend classic Southern comfort with modern vegan baking magic, creating irresistible bite-sized treats. Crisp edges, gooey centers, and rich maple-caramel notes invite you to savor each delectable morsel of plant-based indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Binding and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
Flavor and Spice Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Whisk cornstarch with water in a small bowl to form a smooth, lump-free slurry.
- Melt vegan butter in a saucepan over low heat, then incorporate pecans, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Gently stir for 1-2 minutes until ingredients are well combined.
- Pour cornstarch slurry into the saucepan, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the mixture transforms into a glossy, thickened consistency. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Using an electric mixer, cream vegan butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Incorporate flax egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture. Gradually fold in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt, blending until a cohesive dough forms.
- Refrigerate dough for 30-60 minutes to enhance flavor and improve texture.
- Heat oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape dough into 10-12 uniform balls, roll in sugar, and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball and create a central indentation.
- Carefully spoon approximately 1/2 tablespoon of pecan filling into each cookie’s center, maintaining adequate spacing between cookies.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, achieving crisp edges while maintaining soft centers.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling. Enjoy warm or store for later consumption.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality pecans for the most robust flavor and texture in your cookies.
- Ensure the cornstarch slurry is completely smooth to prevent lumps in the filling.
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend or almond flour.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 164
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 38 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg