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Maple-Pecan Shortbread

Grade B maple syrup, which is darker and more strongly flavored than Grade A, adds a robust flavor to this nut-studded shortbread.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes about 2 dozen

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
1/2 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pecan halves (about 2 1/4 ounces), finely chopped, plus 24 whole pecan halves, for decorating
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B
1 large egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon pure maple extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Sift flours and salt into a bowl. Whisk in chopped pecans.

    Step 2

    In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until smooth and light, about 1 minute. Add maple syrup, egg yolk, and extract; beat on medium speed until well combined. On low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating until just combined. Dough should be smooth and pliable. Flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, 1 1/2 hours or overnight.

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Step 4

    On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds using a 2-inch cookie cutter; place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg; place pecan half in the center of each cookie. Sprinkle the entire surface with turbinado sugar.

    Step 5

    Bake cookies, rotating sheet halfway through, until golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 4 days.

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