VeganMoFo Day 12: Maple Pecan Cookies

Maple syrup does wonders in baked goods. It isn’t cheap, but consider it an investment for your health and taste buds. It brings a natural subtle sweetness and chewy texture to cookies. In general, you can substitute maple syrup for granulated sugar in baking by following the rules listed here, but it may take some experimentation to get the texture you seek.

Here’s a maple cookie recipe in celebration of fall. If you happen to have maple extract on hand (who doesn’t?), it’ll make these cookies undeniably maple-y. If you don’t have any, no worries, these cookies will still be delicious.

Recipe adapted from the Nigella Lawson website 

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

¼ cup of canola oil
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons applesauce
½ cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon maple extract (optional)

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

24 pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the canola oil with the brown sugar.
3. Add the applesauce, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and maple extract.  Mix well. 
4. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
6. Form balls of dough with your hands (or use a cookie scoop to save time) and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
7. Place a pecan half on each cookie and press down lightly.  (Try not to flatten the dough too much)
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes and then let cool on a wire rack.

I rounded up some other mouth-watering vegan maple cookie recipes that I saw online. I still have yet to try these, but they’re on my to-do list!

Maple Oat Cookies
Maple Spice Cookies
Banana Maple Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Maple Cookies

And if you’re having a massive maple snack attack, but aren't in the mood to bake, the Trader Joe's Maple Leaf Cookies are vegan.  :)

Enjoy!