There are times that call for a simple, one-bowl, 10 minute drop cookie, and then, there are times that call for something a bit fancier, when you want to pull out all the stops. like, when you’re going to meet the parents of your son’s fiancé and want to bring something that says thanks for the hospitality. We travelled to Owen Sound, Ontario for Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend, to meet the folks.
On the way to Owen Sound , my husband and I discussed the logistics of the initial meeting. Would we just shake their hand, or hug? What if we go in for the hug, both arms open wide and they stick put their hand for a shake. Awkward! We took a chance and went for the hug and so did they. We arrived as strangers and left as friends.
Saturday night was Thanksgiving dinner. Mom and daughter cooked us an unbelievable feast, complete with turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, roasted squash, mashed potatoes, beets and cabbage salad! For dessert there was an early birthday cake for me (Mark Bittman’s coconut cake), baked by my son and THREE PIES (apple, pumpkin and pecan). Sunday we were treated to lunch at the charming Cobble Beach Inn. Both of her parents were charming and really made us feel welcome. Our son is a very lucky man.
These cookies were inspired by Emma’s Pecan Maple Shortbread Cookies. If you’re not familiar with Emma, you need to check out her blog and Instagram accound (@emmaduckworthbakes). She’s a brilliantly talented baker with clever ideas and her photos are off-the-charts gorgeous.
Emma dipped her cookies in a maple glaze and scattered maple glazed bacon bits over her cookies. I opted for a milk chocolate dip and a generous coating of maple glazed chopped pecans. These cookies are buttery, sweet, a tiny bit salty, crunchy and packed with maple flavour. If you can get your hands on maple sugar use it instead of regular granulated sugar.
After makling the dough, roll it out right away, while it is still soft, between 2 sheets of partchment paper. It’s so much easier than trying to roll out firm chilled dough. After rolling, chill the dough before cutting out your maple leaves. While the dough is chilling make the candied maple pecans. Mix together the pecans. maple surup and a pinch of salt.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I wanted an impeccable straight, clean line of chocolate and pecans. Just dipping the cookie into the melted chocolate wasn’t going to give me the edge I wanted, so check out my method for achieving perfectly decorated cookies.
Our daughter in law is from Owen Sound too! They make good people there!
Yes they do Michelle!
Yum Cindy! Those look awesome. I’m sure they went a long way towards impressing the new in-laws!
Thanks Lynnie. Yes, they loved the cookies!
A perfectionist? Who would have guessed! Well after 48 hrs of cooking I did not think ANY recipe would get me thinking, until these! I wanted to scream “stop it” just stop it! I don’t even care much for baking, I have my favourites and that’s it. However, shortbread is always something I love and rarely make anymore. I am as always inspired by your fabulous settings and photography. Your food is interesting and approachable. Your family anecdotes charming! Thank you for always putting a smile on my face! I’d hug you too!
That’s such big news, congratulations! What a beautiful gift to bring and I’m sure they were all enjoyed by the time you left.
Thanks so much Linda!
Love the look of this recipe and need a last minute option for my baking but here’s the question it needs to be GF. Have you made this or other shortbread recipes using a GF flour and if so any other modification needed. Made the Toblerone shortbread this week for an event and they were a bit hit.
Hi Ann, I have not made these with GF flour, so I’m not really sure what would happen. I have used Bob’s Redmill 1:1 baking flour as a substitute in cakes and it has worked out well. There is a great GF blog, called snixy kitchen. I have baked several things from it and they all turned out really well.
She has a shortbread cookie recipe:
https://www.snixykitchen.com/gluten-free-chocolate-pecan-shortbread-cookies/
Try it and let me know!
Glad the Toblerone were a hit. They’re a crowd pleaser.
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!!