Maple Cookies!

 

 

Besides the usual pumpkin, apple, and cranberry, I think one of the best flavors for the fall is definitely maple. It's dark, sugary sweet scent just draws you in. A couple of years ago, my family and I went up to Canada for a week. I loved the whole trip, but I will never forget the amazing maple syrup I had. We brought back a ton, but it's all gone! (Looks like a good enough excuse to go back haha). Anyways I have this great recipe for maple cookies. They are very easy to make, plus the dough can be made in advance. Also, these cookies are very light, and depending on your preference, can be either soft or have a nice little crunch to it. So enjoy, and indulge in one of my favorite flavors for the fall! And by the way, Happy Thanksgiving!

I recommend using either grade B or grade A dark amber. They are much darker than the kind you eat plain because it is baked in.

 

 So this is what the wet and dry mixes look like before you combine them.

This part is something that the kids can help out with. The cutting out part is very easy, just make sure you have a lot of flour underneath or the dough will stick to the surface!

 

Ahh....Perfection!



 

Maple Cut-Out Cookies:

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick unsalted butter (softened)

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup maple syrup

 

Directions:

Sift the flour and salt into a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until very creamy. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla, then the syrup. Mix in the flour until completely combined. Divide the dough into two disks, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/8-1/4 inch thickness. Cut out with metal cookie cutters and put onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 14 minutes, but varied based on size of cookie cut outs. I used a medium sized leaf and they were perfectly browned at 14 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for about five minutes. When serving, dust with powdered sugar or ice with a royal icing.