Maple Cookies Recipe

 

If you’re craving something cozy, sweet, and utterly delightful, these Maple Cookies are exactly what you need to brighten your day. Soft, tender, and bursting with the rich, natural sweetness of dark maple syrup, each bite delivers a comforting warmth that feels like a hug from the inside out. The perfect balance of buttery dough and that luscious maple glaze makes these cookies a standout treat that’s easy to make and even easier to love.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Creating these delicious Maple Cookies requires just a handful of simple, classic ingredients that work harmoniously together. Each component plays a crucial role—from the flour that forms the soft base, to the pure maple syrup that infuses irresistible flavor and sweetness.

• All purpose flour (2 ½ cups/300 grams): The main structure that keeps your cookies tender but sturdy.
• Cornstarch (1 teaspoon): Adds a subtle softness for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Baking powder (3/4 teaspoon) & baking soda (3/4 teaspoon): These leavening agents ensure a perfect rise and lightness.
• Salt (1/4 teaspoon): Enhances all the flavors, balancing the sweetness beautifully.
• Unsalted butter, room temperature (1/2 cup/114 grams): Creates a rich, creamy crumb and contributes to the buttery flavor.
• Light brown sugar (1 cup/220 grams): Adds moisture and a hint of caramel depth that pairs wonderfully with maple.
• Large egg (1): Binds everything together and adds richness.
• Dark maple syrup (1/4 cup/80 grams): The star ingredient delivering authentic maple sweetness and aroma.
• Vanilla (1 teaspoon): Rounds out the flavors with a warm, inviting note.
• Maple extract (1 teaspoon): Boosts the maple essence for extra punch.
• Unsalted butter, melted (3 tablespoons/43 grams): For the luscious glaze that adds a glossy finish.
• Dark maple syrup (3 tablespoons/60 grams): Used in the glaze to enhance that signature flavor.
• Vanilla (1/2 teaspoon) & maple extract (1/2 teaspoon): Combined for a glaze that captures all the maple magic.
• Confectioners’ sugar (1 ½ cups/180 grams): Provides the sweetness and smooth texture in the glaze.
• Milk (1-3 tablespoons): Adjusts the glaze texture to just the right drizzling consistency.

How to Make Maple Cookies

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Ingredients

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick. Next, whisk together the dry ingredients—flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—in a medium to large bowl until everything is well incorporated. Setting this aside keeps your workspace organized and ready for the magic to happen.

Step 2: Craft the Velvety Cookie Dough

In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy—this usually takes about 3 minutes with an electric hand mixer. This step is key to a tender texture. Then, mix in the egg, dark maple syrup, vanilla, and maple extract until your batter is smooth, silky, and bursting with inviting aromas. Slowly blend in the dry ingredients until the dough forms completely, rich with that unmistakable maple scent you can hardly wait to taste.

Step 3: Shape and Bake Your Maple Cookies

Use a small cookie scoop to portion out the dough onto your prepared baking sheets, keeping about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading. Pop them into your preheated oven and bake for 9 minutes. When done, let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This resting period ensures your cookies set perfectly, so they stay soft inside but have just the right edge.

Step 4: Create and Drizzle the Maple Butter Glaze

While the cookies cool, whip together the glaze in a small bowl: combine melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla, maple extract, confectioners’ sugar, and just enough milk to achieve a smooth, drizzleable texture. Spoon this heavenly glaze over the cooled maple cookies, letting it set for a few minutes. This luscious topping elevates each cookie with an extra layer of maple sweetness and a lovely glossy shine.

How to Serve Maple Cookies

Garnishes

Enhance your Maple Cookies with a sprinkle of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts for an irresistible crunch that complements the soft cookie. You could also dust a light coating of cinnamon or a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt on top of the glaze to add deeper flavor nuances and a little surprise in every bite.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or a warm mug of chai tea, perfect for an afternoon treat. For a cozy breakfast twist, serve them alongside a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with fresh berries—adding delightful textures and balancing the maple’s sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

Make your Maple Cookies a showstopper by stacking them into a rustic tower tied with a ribbon for gatherings, or plate them with seasonal fruits and a drizzle of extra maple syrup for an elegant dessert presentation. You can also sandwich two cookies together with cream cheese frosting for a playful twist that’s sure to impress.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your Maple Cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. This prevents them from drying out and maintains their chewy, tender texture so every bite is just as delicious as the first.

Freezing

If you want to enjoy Maple Cookies later, freeze the baked and cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. They keep well for up to 3 months, giving you a quick homemade treat anytime you crave it.

Reheating

For warm, fresh-from-the-oven taste, pop frozen or refrigerated Maple Cookies into a preheated 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 5 minutes. This restores their softness and brings out all those glorious maple flavors, making each bite irresistible once again.

FAQs

Can I use pure maple syrup instead of dark maple syrup?

Absolutely! Pure maple syrup of any grade works, but dark maple syrup has a more robust flavor that really shines in these cookies. Use what you have, and your cookies will still be deliciously sweet.

Is maple extract necessary if I already use maple syrup?

The maple extract intensifies the maple flavor, making it more pronounced without adding extra liquid. If you don’t have it, your cookies will still taste great, but the flavor might be a bit milder.

Can I substitute brown sugar with white sugar?

Brown sugar adds moisture and a subtle caramel note that white sugar lacks. If you use white sugar instead, your cookies might be slightly less tender and complex, but they will still turn out tasty.

What if I don’t have cornstarch on hand?

Cornstarch helps create a tender crumb, but if you’re out, you can skip it or replace it with an equal amount of arrowroot powder or potato starch. Your cookies may be just a tad less soft, but still lovely.

How thick should the maple butter glaze be?

The glaze should be smooth and pourable but not too runny—thick enough to coat the back of a spoon before drizzling. Adjust with milk a little at a time until you hit the perfect consistency for easy glazing.

Final Thoughts

Trust me, once you try these Maple Cookies, they’ll quickly become a favorite in your recipe collection. The cozy flavors, the tender texture, and that dreamy maple glaze make them impossible to resist. Whip up a batch today—you’ll be sharing smiles and maple magic in every bite!

 

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