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Glazed Maple Leaf Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 133 reviews

Delightful Glazed Maple Leaf Cookies featuring a tender walnut-spiced dough, baked to golden perfection and topped with a luscious maple brown sugar glaze. These charming maple leaf-shaped cookies combine warm cinnamon and maple flavors with a smooth, sweet icing that is perfect for autumn gatherings or holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 cup raw walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup

Icing

  • 3/4 cup (160 g) light brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple extract or pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups (175 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk
  • Crushed raw walnuts and maple sugar, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare dry ingredients: In a food processor, pulse the flour and raw walnuts until the walnuts are finely ground. Add baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, then pulse again until combined evenly.
  2. Make cookie dough: In a large bowl, use a handheld mixer on medium-high speed to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, whole milk, and pure maple syrup, beating until combined. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients, mixing on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth with no dry streaks.
  3. Chill dough: Transfer the dough to a clean surface, shape it into a disc, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days to firm up.
  4. Roll and cut cookies: Lightly flour a surface and roll the chilled dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Using a maple leaf-shaped cookie cutter, cut out about 48 cookies, re-rolling scraps as needed. Place them on two parchment-lined baking sheets and freeze them for about 10 minutes to chill.
  5. Bake cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and arrange racks in the upper and lower thirds. Bake the cookies, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, for 10 to 12 minutes until edges turn lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool completely.
  6. Prepare icing: In a small saucepan over low heat, cook the light brown sugar and butter, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Allow to cool slightly, then whisk in the maple extract and maple syrup. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar until fully combined, then stir in the pinch of salt and nutmeg. Whisk in the whole milk to achieve a light brown, smooth icing.
  7. Glaze and decorate cookies: Dip one side of each cookie into the maple glaze, letting excess drip off. Optionally, decorate with crushed raw walnuts or sprinkle with maple sugar for added texture and flavor. Allow the glaze to set before serving.

Notes

  • To ensure crisp edges and tender centers, chilling the dough before cutting and baking is essential.
  • Freezing the cookies before baking helps maintain their shape and produces a better texture.
  • Maple extract can be substituted with pure vanilla extract, but maple extract intensifies the signature flavor.
  • Store glazed cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
  • These cookies can be made ahead and stored refrigerated or frozen unglazed; apply glaze just before serving.

Keywords: Maple leaf cookies, walnut cookies, maple glaze, autumn cookies, holiday cookie recipe, cinnamon cookies

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/glazed-maple-leaf-cookies-recipe/