Vanilla Chip Maple Cookies

From Taste of Home magazine

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 7 dozen

Ingredients

• 1  cup shortening
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 2  cups  packed brown sugar
• 2  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon  maple flavoring
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 2  cups  vanilla chips or 2  cups white chocolate chips
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans

• Frosting

• 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 4  cups confectioners' sugar
• 1  teaspoon  maple flavoring
• 4 -6  tablespoons milk
• 3 1⁄2 cups pecan halves

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream together shortening, butter and brown sugar.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Beat in vanilla and maple flavoring.
4. Combine the flour and baking soda.
5. Gradually add to creamed mixture.
6. Stir in vanilla chips and pecans.
7. Drop by round tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
8. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.
10. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar.
11. Beat in maple flavoring and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency.
12. Frost cooled cookies.
13. Top each with a pecan half.