Butter Pecan Cookies

Process:

1. Make the pecan butter: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the raw pecan pieces on the sheet, careful not to crowd them too much. Toast in the oven for 20 minutes. Let cool slightly. Once cooled, add them to the bowl of a food processor along with a pinch of sea salt. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Use in recipe below, and store leftover pecan butter in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.
2. Make the cookie dough: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine the ground flax with the plant milk then set aside and allow to thicken for 5 minutes. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the pecan butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add the thickened flax mixture and stir to combine. Add the spelt flour, oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, sea salt, and pecan pieces on top of the wet ingredients. Using a sturdy spoon, incorporate the dry into the wet ingredients. The mixture will seem stiff, but keep mixing until a gooey cookie dough forms.
3. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop the cookie dough into 12 equal balls. Roll each ball so that it is smooth, place on sheet, then press down slightly on each ball to flatten it slightly. Press a single pecan half, or a teaspoon of chopped pecan pieces, into the center of each cookie (pressing down well).
4. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, let cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Enjoy warm off the rack, and store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter or chilled in the refrigerator. Best if enjoyed within 3 days.