Indulge in homemade Maple Cookies with Maple Icing, a delightful treat combining essential ingredients like all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and the star flavor—maple extract. Topped with a rich, maple-flavored icing, these cookies are perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings.
Growing up in a family where the kitchen was the heart of our home, I have fond memories of baking sessions with my grandmother. The aroma of maple always brings me back to those cozy afternoons, especially during the holidays. Inspired by her love for simple yet flavorful ingredients, I crafted this Maple Cookies with Maple Icing recipe. It’s more than just a cookie recipe; it’s a warm hug from the past, wrapped in the sweet, nostalgic embrace of maple.
Why You’ll Love Maple Cookies With Maple Icing
This Maple Cookies with Maple Icing recipe stands out for its simplicity and the classic, comforting taste of maple. The cookies are soft, fluffy, and embody the perfect balance of sweetness, making them a hit for all ages. The icing, rich and creamy with a deep maple flavor, elevates these cookies into a gourmet treat. Additionally, the recipe’s versatility allows for creative twists, catering to various taste preferences.
Ingredient Notes for Maple Cookies With Maple Icing
Creating the perfect Maple Cookies with Maple Icing starts with understanding your ingredients. Here’s a breakdown:
- Unsalted Butter: Ensures control over the salt content, and adds to the cookie’s rich flavor.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar: They provide sweetness, with brown sugar adding a hint of caramel.
- Maple Extract & Maple Syrup: The heart of this recipe, offering an authentic maple taste.
- Buttermilk: Adds a subtle tang and contributes to the cookie’s tender texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for the cookie dough, giving it structure.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents ensure your cookies are fluffy and light.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and contribute to the texture.
Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
Creating these Maple Cookies with Maple Icing is a delightful baking journey. Let’s break down each step for clarity:
- Preparation: Start by preheating your oven and prepping your baking sheet. This ensures a smooth baking process.
- Creaming Butter and Sugar: This step is crucial for creating a light and fluffy base for your cookies.
- Incorporating Eggs: Adding eggs one at a time ensures they’re fully integrated into the batter.
- Adding Buttermilk: Gradual addition prevents the batter from separating, maintaining a smooth consistency.
- Mixing Dry Ingredients: This combines the flavors and ensures even distribution of leavening agents.
- Incorporating Flour: Doing this in stages prevents overworking the dough, which can lead to tough cookies.
- Forming Cookies: Spacing them apart allows for even baking and prevents cookies from merging together.
- Baking: Watching the bake time is key to achieving the perfect texture.
- Cooling: Allows the cookies to set and makes them easier to handle during icing.
Icing Preparation
- Melting Butter and Sugar: Forms the base of your icing and imparts a rich flavor.
- Boiling with Milk and Maple Syrup: Enhances the maple flavor and achieves the right consistency.
- Cooling and Adding Powdered Sugar: Ensures a smooth texture and the right thickness for spreading.
- Icing the Cookies: Doing this when the cookies are cool prevents the icing from melting.
- Setting the Icing: Allows the icing to harden slightly, making the cookies easier to store.
Storage Options for Maple Cookies With Maple Icing
Storing these Maple Cookies with Maple Icing properly is essential for maintaining their freshness and texture. Once the icing has set, place the cookies in an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week, ensuring they retain their soft, chewy texture. For longer storage, these cookies can be frozen, either iced or uniced, for up to three months. Just remember to thaw them at room temperature before serving, to bring back that just-baked taste.
Variations and Substitutions for the Recipe
Flexibility is key in any recipe, and this Maple Cookies with Maple Icing recipe is no exception. Here are some creative variations and substitutions:
- Alternate Flours: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free or whole wheat flour for a healthier twist.
- Vegan Options: Use plant-based butter and a flax egg to make these cookies vegan-friendly.
- Different Sugars: Brown sugar can be used in the cookie dough for a deeper flavor profile.
- Maple Variations: If maple extract is unavailable, increase the maple syrup in the icing for a stronger maple flavor.
- Nutty Additions: Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts can add a delightful crunch and richness to the cookies.
- Spice it Up: Incorporate spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, spiced version of these cookies.
Maple Cookies With Maple Icing
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons maple extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Icing:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- A pinch of salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Preparation of Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Sequentially add the eggs to the mixture, fully incorporating each one before introducing the next.
- Gradually mix in the buttermilk, maintaining a low speed.
- Combine the salt, vanilla extract, maple extract, baking soda, and baking powder, and integrate them into the batter.
- Methodically add half of the flour into the mixture, ensuring thorough mixing, then incorporate the remaining flour to form a consistent dough.
- Use a spoon to place approximately two-tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes, taking care to avoid overbaking. The cookies should remain pale in color.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Preparation of Icing:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar, and bring the mixture to a boil for two minutes, whisking continuously.
- Add the milk, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt to the saucepan, and bring the mixture back to a boil for one minute, while continuously whisking.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.
- Gradually incorporate the powdered sugar, whisking until the icing achieves a glue-like consistency. Adjust the thickness by adding milk, one tablespoon at a time, as needed.
- Promptly spread the icing over the cooled cookies, as it will thicken upon cooling. Add more milk if necessary to maintain a spreadable consistency.
- Allow the icing to set before storing the cookies in a covered container.
