Busters Recipes

Maple-Pecan Balls


1/2 cup butter or margarine
--at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 teaspoon maple extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup pecans -- finely chopped
24 pecan halves
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine
the butter, sugars, baking powder, egg, maple extract and
vanilla extract; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy,
scraping the sides of the bowl several times. With the
mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour, beating just
until blended. Stir in the pecans. Shape level measuring
tablespoonfuls of dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place 1 inch
apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press a pecan half into
the top of each ball. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until
the cookies look dry and the bottoms are lightly browned.
Cool on the cookie sheets on wire racks for 1 to 2 minutes,
then remove to racks to cool completely. Store in an
airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Just before serving,
dust with powdered sugar.