Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring (optional)
1 (3 1/2-ounce) package vanilla flavor instant pudding mix
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
3 cups pecan halves
12 ounces chocolate flavored bark (candy) coating

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour and soda; set aside.

In large bowl, combine butter, sugars, vanilla and butter flavoring and pudding mix. Beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in chocolate morsels and chopped pecans.

Drop by tablespoonsful about 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Press pecan halves into the sides of each cookie so they stick out from the dough like spokes from the center of a wheel.

Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until dough is set and only very slightly browned.

Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes before removing cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Melt candy coating in microwave safe dish, according to package directions. Drizzle melted chocolate coating over cooled cookies, leaving pecan halves exposed.

Store in airtight container.

Yield: 4 dozen cookies. — Peter Shankles