We all have a lucky charm of some sort. A token, that favorite pair of socks, that special treat in your pocket…something that evokes good feelings, memories + has the power to perk us, power us + save the day. And for some of us, that’s a cookie. A Hero Cookie!
Flavors are FUN, yes, but they also are the mechanisms by which our bodies nourish themselves. Flavors basically tell our bodies what the food is giving us – on a nutritional and energetic level. Our bodies then prepare enzymes to break those components down, assimilate them, and turn them into fuel for our vibrant lives. We can’t eat just one flavor and get all of the things we need, so learning to track the flavors in our foods helps us to be sure that we’re really getting all of the things we need in our meals. This particular recipe has two of six flavors. The more flavors we can enjoy in any meal or food, the happier and more balanced our bodies will be. If you’re wanting to learn more about how the flavors we eat fuel our bodies – energetically and nutritively, check out this little blog post.
A simple hero cookie, with a little bit of sparkle.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the flours, salt and baking soda. Whisk to combine.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, beat together the vegan butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy, roughly 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the egg, maple syrup and maple extract to the butter mixture, and beat to combine. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again.
Add the flours and pecans to the butter mixture and mix to combine completely, 1-2 minutes, until a cohesive batter forms.
Scoop the dough out onto the prepared cookie sheet using a small ice cream scoop or heaping tablespoon, making sure there’s an inch of space around each cookie.
Refrigerate the cookie dough for 60-90 minutes to make sure that the flours hydrate and the butter cools. (SEE RECIPE NOTES on this step)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Make sure that the cookies are evenly spaced on the cookie sheet, at least 1″ apart.
Bake the cookies until just golden, 8-10 minutes, turning the pan once to make sure the bake evenly. Then remove from the oven.
Cool the cookies on a cooling rack. While the cookies cool, make your maple glaze!
Combine the sifted powdered sugar, water, maple syrup, salt and melted butter in a small bowl. Whisk to combine until a silky frosting forms.
Dip each cookie into the glaze, shaking to remove any excess. Allow the frosting to set up 10-15 minutes, then ENJOY!