These Vegan Pecan Pie Cookies are so chewy & delicious! Cinnamon cookies get filled with a gooey homemade pecan pie filling for an amazing vegan cookie recipe.
These dairy-free & eggless pecan pie cookies are part of a new cookie series I'm starting all about stuffed & filled cookies! The first cookie recipe was my amazing Apple Pie Cookies that went mega-viral.
These cookies are their pecan counterpart and taste just like a pecan pie in cookie form!
Ingredients:
Substitution notes:
- All-purpose flour: Can be substituted 1:1 for gluten-free all-purpose flour. Keep in mind that flour substitutes such as coconut flour or almond flour will not work in this recipe as it's not a 1:1 substitution.
- Maple syrup: Can be substituted for agave or date syrup.
How to make pecan pie cookies
Make the pecan pie filling
First, melt the vegan butter in a pan. Then, add in the pecans, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Cook together for 2-3 minutes until bubbling.
Then, add in the cornstarch slurry and continue cooking until thick and glossy.
Make the cinnamon cookie dough
While the pecan filling is cooling, make the cookie dough. First, cream together the vegan butter and sugar until fluffy. This helps to incorporate air into the dough.
Then, mix in the flax egg and vanilla.
After that, add in the dry ingredients including all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Mix together until you have thick cookie dough. Then, cover and chill in the fridge for 30-minutes to 1 hour.
Chilling the dough is super important and ensures the dough doesn't spread too much while baking!
Assemble & bake the pecan cookies
Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and form it into 10 evenly-sized cookie dough balls.
Then, roll each ball in sugar until evenly coated. This gives the cookies a crunchy exterior and helps these pecan cookies not spread too much while baking.
Add the cookie dough to a parchment-lined baking tray. Use your thumb to press into the center of each cookie and use your fingers to make a larger indent in the center of each cookie dough ball.
Then, spoon about ½- 1 Tablespoon of pecan pie filling into each cookie. Don't overfill them or the filling will overflow from the edges while baking. Then, add to the oven to bake!
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the tray for a few minutes. If your cookies aren't perfectly round, use a spoon to put the cookie edges into a circular shape while they are still warm.
Then, serve & enjoy these pecan pie cookies!
FAQ & Tips:
Can I make the pecan filling ahead of time?
Definitely! You can make it and store it in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days before using it. Keep in mind- it will solidify more in the fridge, but can still be scooped into the cookie dough before baking.
How do I store baked pecan pie cookies?
Baked cookies can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. I highly recommend storing them between sheets of parchment paper so they don't stick together.
To defrost frozen cookies, just let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying them. I even like these vegan pecan cookies straight out of the freezer!
I can't wait for you to try these chewy & gooey Vegan Pecan Pie Cookies! They are the perfect Holiday cookie to enjoy over Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering. Enjoy!
-TSG
More vegan cookie recipes you will love:
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Vegan Pecan Pie Cookies
Ingredients
Pecan Pie Filling
- 1 Tablespoon water
- ½ Tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons vegan butter
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
Cinnamon Cookie Dough
- ½ cup vegan butter room temperature
- ½ cup+ 2 Tablespoons sugar ½ cup for dough, 2 Tbsp for rolling before baking
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 flax egg 1 Tablespoon (8 grams) ground flaxseed mixed with 3 Tbsp water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups + 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Make the pecan pie filling:
- First, make the cornstarch slurry by mixing together the cold water and cornstarch until a cloudy paste forms. Set aside.
- Add the butter to a saucepan and melt over low heat. Once bubbling, add in the chopped pecans, brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir together and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Once bubbling, add in the cornstarch slurry and mix together. Continue cooking over low heat for 2-3 minutes until it thickens and becomes glossy. Then, set aside to cool while you make the cookie dough.
Make the cinnamon cookie dough:
- To make the dough, add the room temperature vegan butter, ½ cup of white sugar, and brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Then, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Next, add the flax egg and vanilla bean paste to the bowl and mix together for about 30 seconds.
- Add in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make sure to add the flour first and then add the other ingredients on top. Mix everything together until a thick cookie dough forms. The dough will start off crumbly, so keep mixing it until soft.
- Cover the bowl of dough with plastic wrap and add the bowl to the fridge to chill for 30 minutes- 1 hour. The dough can also be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Assembling & baking the cookies
- About 10 minutes before removing the dough from the fridge preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and use a cookie scoop to scoop out 11 evenly sized cookies. Roll each cookie dough ball between your palms to form a round ball. Then, roll each ball in a bowl with the 2 Tbsp of sugar that was set aside so that each dough ball is coated in sugar.
- Place the cinnamon cookie dough balls onto the baking sheet. Then, slightly press each dough ball down with your palm.
- Use your thumb to make an indent in the center of each cookie and then use your fingers to spread the dough out and make the indent larger. Then, spoon about ½ Tablespoon of the cooled pecan pie filling into the center of each cookie.
- Once filled, make sure the cookies are at least 2 inches apart on the baking tray as they will spread while baking. Then, add the tray to the oven and bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes until the edges are crisp and the centers are set but still gooey.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. If needed use a spoon to push the edges of the cookies into a rounder shape while they are still warm. Then, move the cookies to a wire rack to continue cooling.
- Once cooled, enjoy these pecan pie cookies!
Notes
- Please see the blog post for substitution ideas
- Baked cookies can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. I highly recommend storing them between sheets of parchment paper so they don't stick together.
- To defrost frozen cookies, just let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying them!
Annika says
I substituted the vegan ingredients for regular butter and an egg (both 1:1), and it turned out wonderful. My boyfriend loves pecan pie and was dying for these cookies. It was my first time making a slurry, so I was a bit confused by the word “paste” since it was still liquid, but a quick Google how-to helped. Next time, I’ll probably 1.5x the pecan pie filling because I wanted a little more, especially of the goop. Such a fun recipe!!
Megan says
So glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 Just keep in mind- if you increase the filling it may run outside the cookie a bit while baking.
Melanie says
Love the cookies, made for friends for thanksgiving and were a hit.
Question do you have an suggestions on best alteration for the dough for someone that doesn't like cinnamon, I tried just skipping the cinnamon but the cookie just tastes plain, maybe more sugar?
Megan says
Glad you liked them! More sugar would change the texture of the cookies and make them spread too much/ too sweet. You can use a different spice or add more vanilla extract and it shouldn't change the texture of the cookies. Or another extract flavor if you want!
Kirsten Svendsen says
Nutmeg, all spice, or ginger maybe?
Lauren says
Thank you for sharing your recipes. They're wonderful! Trying this one out right now. 🙂
bailey says
could i use applesauce instead of flaxseeds for the egg subsitiute?
Megan says
No I wouldn't recommend it it will make the cookies fluffier and cake-like.
Chelsea says
I chose to infuse the cookie dough with c*nnab1s oil, and couldn’t have been more pleased with the results!! This recipe is every vegan pecan lover’s dream. Pecan pie in cookie form is so versatile and transportable! I was able to take them on a plane to share with friends and everyone loved them.
I added spices like ginger and allspice to compliment the cinnamon in both the cookie dough and the filling.
I didn’t have maple syrup so I mixed some agave and molasses together and that worked very well! I also used coconut it sugar in place of brown& white sugar, and the result was phenomenal.
Even my boyfriend who hates nuts in desserts love these. I give this recipe a 10/10!!!
Megan says
Thanks for sharing your substitutes and so happy everyone enjoyed them! 🙂
Kelly Stuart says
So easy and delish! This is easily adapted to be non vegan as well. Big hit at my friendsgiving feast! Will definitely make these again! Double or triple the recipe!
Megan says
Thanks for the review! 🙂
Kalina says
These look amazing!! Stumbled across the video on tiktok and I would love to try them!! My only question is,
if I use non vegan ingredients will it be the same or will the measurements have to be different? Nothing wrong with vegan I just have all on hand otherwise
Megan says
Vegan butter can be subbed for dairy butter 1:1 with no problems! For the flax eggs, I'm honestly not sure. Because eggs vary in size and also give some leavening to cookies, it does affect the texture slightly- they may be a little puffier or spread more depending. But it should still taste good. I don't bake with eggs at all so I'm not totally sure but hope that helps!
Shannon says
Wow! These are incredible and so easy to make! I could hug you for this recipe!
Jacob says
Loved these cookies!