Warm and mash the beans

• Drain and rinse the butter beans and place them in a saucepan with the water.
• Warm over medium heat, then mash smooth, or to the texture you prefer.

Add the maple, cinnamon and salt

• Stir in the maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.
• Simmer for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Toast the pecans

• While the beans simmer, toast the chopped pecans in a dry pan over medium heat, shaking the pan often.
• Toast for about 2 minutes until fragrant.

Finish and serve

• Remove the beans from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Top with the toasted pecans without stirring them in, to keep the crunch.
• Sweeten with a little more maple syrup or honey if desired.