You'll love these chocolate-topped shortbread cookies to serve at parties, brunches, or even as snacks. The recipe is fairly easy to make and can be frozen leading up to a big event. Wow your guests with these delicious, pastry-inspired treats.
Place pecans on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes at 350°F (177°C), or until lightly browned. I used a toaster oven for this step, but you could also use the oven. Let the pecans cool and then put them, along with 2 tablespoons (25 grams) of the flour from the recipe, into your food processor. Process until they are finely ground. Set aside.
Use a mixer to beat the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract and then add the remaining flour and salt and beat until combined. Stir in the processed nuts mixture. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about one hour or until firm.
Form the chilled dough into 1 inch balls (or smaller) and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. I used a fork to flatten them just a bit (to make a place for the frosting to sit). Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
In the meantime, make the frosting by mixing powdered sugar, cocoa, and margarine together. Once it's thoroughly mixed, add the vanilla and soy milk until you reached the desired consistency.
After cookies have cooled, top them with frosting. I used a decorative nozzle to add a little more flair to the frosting.