Maple Pecan Bon Bons

Ingredients:
    1 tbsp     brown sugar
  1/2 cup      maple syrup, divided
    2 cup      whole pecans
    2 cup      dates, dried and pitted
  1/4 cup      coconut oil
1 1/4 cup      crushed graham crackers, divided (1 sleeve)
    1 pinch    salt
      to taste Butter or oil to grease cookie sheet

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir brown sugar into 1/4 cup of the maple
syrup and set aside.
Count out 40 pecans and set aside. In a food processor, combine remaining
pecans, dates, coconut oil and 1 cup of the crushed graham crackers. The
mixture should be finely chopped and stick together when pressed. Add a
pinch of salt to taste.
Roll the mixture into small, quarter-sized balls. Place the other 1/4-cup
crushed graham cracker crumbs on a plate or flat surface. Press the bottom
of each ball into the crackers and place on greased cookie sheet.
Use pastry brush to coat the bon bons with the prepped maple syrup/brown
sugar mixture. Press a whole pecan onto the top, and brush again with the
maple syrup mixture.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the maple coating just begins to bubble.
Remove from oven, then serve slightly warm or store in airtight container
for later enjoyment!


Description:
Don't have time to make a pecan pie? Try these easy mini "pecan pies" for your next holiday gathering. The dates that work as the glue to keep the bon bons together are a great source of fiber, potassium and iron, especially compared to corn syrup, which is used in traditional pecan pie. To top it off, literally, pecans are packed with vitamin E and monosaturated fatty acids as well as providing copper and manganese.


Notes: