Best Frosted Maple Cookies Recipe

Ah, fall — that time of year where the long, hot days of summer give way to the cooler, early twilit afternoons, when the leaves dazzle us with their hues of reds, yellows, and oranges, and some of our favorite recipes come into their season. Indeed, autumn is the season of apple pies, hearty stews, pumpkin spiced, well, just about everything, and cookies aplenty. And if you're looking for the perfect autumn treat of a cookie, you've certainly found it in this recipe for frosted maple cookies, courtesy of chef and recipe developer Kate Shungu of Gift of Hospitality.

Not only are these cookies perfect for fall, thanks to their pronounced maple flavor, but they are also perfect for the decidedly amateur baker. The cookies require all of 20 minutes prep time and less than half of that time in the oven, and they are made using common ingredients that you likely have in your kitchen already, with the maple extract and maple sugar being the only exceptions. But once you try these cookies, chances are good that you'll keep them on hand for a delicious snack going forward and all year around, too.

And for the perfect pairing, Shungu says, "Since these cookies are pretty sweet, I recommend serving them with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. The bitterness of either coffee or tea complements the sweetness of the cookies perfectly."

As noted, there's really nothing but common ingredients in these cookies, in addition to the maple extract and the maple sugar. Fear not, because you can find both of those at any decent grocery store, or you can order them online.

All told, to make these cookies, you'll need lots of butter (softened and divided), plenty of brown sugar, a couple of eggs, salt, vanilla, that maple extract (divided), flour, baking powder, milk, maple syrup, and powdered sugar. Once your ingredients are all sorted out, you're ready to begin.

Start the recipe off by placing ½ cup of room temperature butter and the brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat these ingredients on high until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about three minutes. "You can also use a large bowl and a hand mixer, instead of a stand mixer," says Shungu.

Next, add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until they are incorporated. Then add the vanilla, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of maple extract, and beat until these are mixed in well.

Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a medium-sized bowl, and then add just half the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture. Beat these ingredients together just until they have combined, then add half of the milk, and beat until just blended again.

Then, repeat that process with the remaining flour mixture and the remaining milk to form the whole of the cookie batter. Now, cover the bowl, and pop the dough into the fridge to chill for an hour. "The chilling time make for nice, fluffy cookies," says Shungu. "If the dough is too warm, the cookies will spread too much." Near the end of that hour, preheat the oven to 375 F.

Drop tablespoons of the chilled dough about two inches apart onto a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Next, bake the cookies in your 375 F oven for eight to 10 minutes, or until the centers are no longer wet. Then, let them cool completely before frosting. 

Waiting for the cookies to cool is the most difficult part, but rest assured, you're so close to enjoying these delightful autumn-themed treats. And while you're waiting, you can prepare the frosting.

To make the frosting, combine the remaining ½ cup of softened butter, the maple syrup, powdered sugar, and remaining ¼ teaspoon of maple extract in a large bowl. Beat the frosting on low with a hand mixer until it has combined and the frosting is light and fluffy.

Frost the cooled cookies, serve, and enjoy! These cookies are a perfect dessert to have on hand in your cookie jar or to take for dessert when you are invited to a friend's house.