3 sticks (1-1/2 cups) good quality unsalted butter
1 cup maple sugar* (You can substitute light brown sugar if preferred)
1/3 teaspoon Rain’s Choice Ground Vanilla Bean
3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
A pinch or more of salt – to taste
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
Rain’s Choice Vanilla Sugar for dusting tops
Milk or cream
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
Place butter into a large bowl. Using a hand-held mixer, blend in maple sugar and vanilla bean powder until well incorporated and the butter is light and fluffy.
Add in flour, a cup at a time, until well blended. Fold in pecans. Chill dough.
Break dough into several pieces and put one piece on a floured surface. Using a rolling pin or your hand, roll or pat dough to between 1/4 and 1/3 inch thick. Cut dough with a small cookie or biscuit cutter or use a knife and cut into fingers. Prick dough twice with a fork and place on a cookie sheet.
Using a pastry brush, lightly brush tops of each cookie with milk or cream (can use water if you prefer). Lightly sprinkle vanilla sugar on top of each cookie.
Bake until cookies are lightly golden brown and firm on top, about 20 – 30 minutes, depending on thickness. Cool on rack.
Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks (assuming they last that long).
*You can order maple sugar online if you don’t live in maple sugar country. One option is www.goodwinfamilymaple.com
Find it online: https://vanillaqueen.com/maplepecanshortbread/