Maple Sugar Cookies

I tend to use maple a lot when I cook.  Maybe a bit too much.  For instance, I use it so often that my husband asks if we can have a meal that doesn't have maple in it (say, what?!).  So, I have laid off the maple induced dinner dishes, and have begun adding to my arsenal of maple dessert recipes (thank you, Pinterest!).  That being said, I don't really bake all that often.  Cooking dinner is one thing (gotta eat), but baking is an "extra" that you have to set aside time for.  And all those extra dishes to wash... not my idea of fun.  But, I found a recipe that makes the mountain of dishes and couple extra hours in the kitchen worth while.  Soft maple sugar cookies.  Yup, a simple maple cookie.  The recipe sounded easy enough, and though I was sure my cookies would not turn out like those in the pictures, I was determined to give it a shot.  I did alter the original recipe (found here) to include more maple (imagine that!) and used our famous pure maple cream instead of the maple icing included in the original recipe.  The cookies came out picture perfect and were hubby and kiddo approved!  

Maple Sugar Cookies
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
1/2 Cup Shortening
1 1/2 Cups Woodard's Sugar House Pure Maple Sugar
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Woodard's Sugar House Pure Maple Syrup
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
Pinch of Salt
3 Egg Yolks
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 Cups Flour
Woodard's Sugar House Pure Maple Cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  In a large bowl, beat butter and shortening on medium speed until thoroughly combined.  Add the maple sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix on medium speed, scraping sides of bowl as needed.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Add flour.  Scoop cookie dough into 1" balls and place 3 inches apart on cookie sheet (spacing is important! These cookies spread!).  Bake for 14 minutes, until edges are slightly browned (tops will still look soft, but will settle as cookies cool).  Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then cool on wire rack.  Once cookies are cooled, warm the maple cream in the microwave and drizzle over top of cookies.  Enjoy!

Need some of our pure maple sugar, maple syrup, or maple cream?  Find them here!