• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, baking soda, and salt, stirring to combine. Set aside.
• Combine oil, granulated sugar, apple sauce, and vanilla in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients together on low speed for 1-2 minutes until combined well.
• Add in the dry ingredients, mixing until completely combined. The batter will be very thick. If the batter is too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk or water.
• Cover the bowl and allow the batter to chill for at least 30 minutes. This will reduce spreading of the cookies.

Make filling:

• In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk. Set aside.
• In a sauce pan, combine coconut oil with 4 tbsp coconut milk, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring regularly. A translucent syrup will form and begin to simmer. Reduce heat to medium low.
• Add in the chopped pecans and bring the syrup to a low boil for 3 minutes, stirring regularly, until it’s beginning to reduce.
• Add in the cornstarch mixture, vanilla, and cinnamon, stirring consistently for 2-3 minutes until it’s very thick. Check thickness by making sure it takes at least 2 full seconds for a cleared area in the pan to fill back in.
• Remove the pan from heat and set it aside until it cools completely. It will thicken a bit more.

Put Cookies Together

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using a 2 tablespoon scoop, add slightly heaping amounts of dough and roll into balls. Place the dough balls on a lined baking sheet. Leave 2-3 inches between each cookie.
• Using a spoon, press cookies down creating a deep well in the center of each ball. Be careful not to press through the cookie as you could create a tear.
• Place just under a tablespoon of filling in the center of each cookie well.
• Bake the pecan pie cookies for 9-11 minutes until they are firm and just golden around the edges. Remove cookies from oven, tapping the tray once to help the cookies to settle.
• Allow the cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet and then move them to a cooling rack.