Vegan Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
One of my favorite places to be as a child was in my Grandma's kitchen. She was always making something delicious no matter what time of the day, and she often baked things. Like chocolate chip cookies. She must have baked hundreds of batches of them. She always had them on hand to give away to people in cookie tins. I would sit there and watch her make the dough, roll the cookies and place them in the oven. She had the recipe in her head, she made it so often she never needed recipe cards for reference or a timer on the oven. She just knew when they were done. And they always seemed to turn out perfect. When she wasn't looking I would always steal dough, and she would warn me not to eat too much because would get a tummy ache but I never did. I loved the dough the best, and the warm baked cookies. Once they cooled I wasn't compelled to eat so many even though they were really good. I am just a cookie dough girl, and when they are still warm from the oven the chocolate chips are still gooey and they are crave worthy. Good memories. I miss my Grandma, and her delicious cookies.
I wasn't so into baking at that time, just eating but now I am a baker myself. I think my Grandma would be proud! I made some chocolate chip cookies last week and they made me think of her. Some maple pecan chocolate chip cookies. She always added nuts to her chocolate chip cookies, I think pecans, but it was so long ago I can't remember. I just wanted some good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies! I added maple sugar to the dough, because maple and pecans are a match made in heaven. The dough was so incredibly good! I ate too much just sayin. But hey, that is my favorite type of cookie. Unbaked. But they did smell amazing while baking, and tasted wonderful too once they were done.
I like to eat them while the chocolate chips are still gooey. These have a hint of maple flavor, and they are rich and delicious thanks to the coconut oil and pecan butter both of which I used in them. They are not diet cookies. They are indulge in them because they are rich but still better for you than regular cookies cookies and I am proud of them! They got a thumbs up from my taste testers too, which is a big complement because they can be picky. If you are looking for a sweet indulgence to make this weekend, give these babies a try!
Vegan Maple Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 16 large cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp filtered water
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil, warmed to liquid
- 1/2 cup raw pecan butter
- 1 1/2 cups maple sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tsp maple extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 cups gluten free all purpose flour
- 1 cup mini vegan chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flax seed and filtered water. Set aside in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, coconut oil and pecan butter with sugar and mix until well combined
Mix in the vanilla extract and flax mixture until well combined. Add the baking soda and salt then the flour, a cup at a time, mixing between each addition, until well combined. Mix in the chocolate chips and pecans. Place in the freezer for about 10 minutes until it is firm enough to scoop (if it is too soft at all, it may not be, in that case proceed with scooping. It just depends on how warm the coconut oil was). - To bake, Preheat your oven to 350F degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. To Form the cookies take about a 1 1/2 inch chunk of dough, form into a ball and on prepared cookie sheets a couple inches apart, and press down just slightly. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, until puffed and just starting to brown slightly. Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining cookies and let cool before enjoying.
