January Bliss Maple Dream Sugar Cookies (Print Version)
Soft sugar cookies infused with pure maple syrup and vanilla. A delicate treat perfect for winter gatherings.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Rolling
09 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
10 - 1 tablespoon maple sugar, optional
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the maple syrup, then add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the ¼ cup sugar and maple sugar for rolling.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in the sugar mixture and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Gently flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass.
09 - Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden. The centers will still appear soft.
10 - Let cookies cool on the sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These cookies strike that perfect balance between crisp edges and tender centers that somehow makes you feel like youre being hugged from the inside out.
- The maple flavor deepens overnight, making these possibly the only cookies that taste even better the next morning with coffee.
02 -
- Pull these cookies out when they still look slightly underbaked in the center, as they continue cooking on the hot sheet and will become too crisp if you wait for them to look fully done.
- The dough benefits enormously from 30 minutes in the refrigerator if your kitchen runs warm, giving you perfectly shaped cookies rather than ones that spread too thin.
03 -
- When creaming butter and sugar, stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl twice during the process to ensure every bit gets incorporated for the most even texture throughout your cookies.
- For an upgraded holiday gift, sandwich two cookies with a thin layer of maple buttercream and package in small kraft boxes tied with twine and a sprig of rosemary.