The Ultimate Maple Cookies Recipe: Chewy, Sweet Perfection from Spring Hill Farm

Total Time: 3-4 hours (including chilling time) | Active Time: 1 hour | Makes: 36 cookies

After a long day working on our Vermont maple farm, there's nothing better than kicking your feet up and relaxing with a warm maple cookie fresh from the oven. These aren't just any maple cookies – they're chewy, packed with real maple flavor, and made with the pure maple syrup we tap right here at Spring Hill Farm.

We're always looking for recipes that will truly make our maple sing, and these maple cookies have become the crown jewel of our farm kitchen. With their perfectly chewy texture and rich maple glaze, they've become a crowd favorite among our friends, family, and everyone who visits our farm.

What makes these maple cookies special:

• Chewy texture (not cakey!) thanks to the perfect balance of ingredients
• Double maple flavor from both syrup and glaze
• Made with high-quality, natural ingredients – no artificial flavors needed
• Delicious served warm or at room temperature
• Perfect for parties, bake sales, or cozy evenings at home
  

The secret to these incredible maple cookies lies in using real Vermont maple syrup instead of artificial maple flavoring. Our dark amber maple syrup provides a rich, caramelized nuttiness that white sugar simply can't match. Plus, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, our maple makes this delicious treat completely natural.

About Our Spring Hill Farm Test Kitchen

Testing out new maple cookie recipes in our farm kitchen is part of our daily life. Sometimes it's incorporating seasonal ingredients into tried-and-true favorites, but often it's creating something brand new – stripping away artificial, unneeded ingredients to highlight the unique flavors of our farm-fresh maple syrup.

We're always looking for new and creative ways to incorporate our products into recipes, but sometimes you just can't beat a classic. Maple syrup and cookies are a perfect pairing, and these chewy maple cookies prove why this combination has been beloved for generations.

Maple Cookies Recipe

Ingredients for the Maple Cookies:

• 3½ cups all-purpose flour (420g)
  
• 1 tsp baking soda (6g)
  
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (2g)
  
• ½ tsp ground cloves
  
• ½ tsp kosher salt
  
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar (213g)
  
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
  
• 1 cup Spring Hill Farm maple syrup
  
• ¼ cup Spring Hill Farm unsweetened applesauce
  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
  
• ½ tsp maple extract (optional, for extra maple flavor)
  

Ingredients for the Maple Glaze:

• 4 tbsp salted butter
  
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  
• 2 cups powdered sugar
  
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
  
• Pinch of flaky sea salt for finishing
  

Instructions

Prepare the Maple Cookie Dough:

1. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
   
2. Cream butter and sugar: Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the room temperature butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
   
3. Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg until well combined. Add maple syrup, applesauce, vanilla extract, and maple extract (if using). Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated.
   
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: With mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined, and a soft dough forms. If the dough seems too sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
   
5. Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days). This step is crucial for the perfect maple cookie texture – don't skip it!
   

Bake the Maple Cookies:

1. Preheat and prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
   
2. Shape cookies: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion dough into 2-tablespoon balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
   
3. Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set but centers still look slightly soft. Don't overbake – they'll continue cooking on the hot pan.
   
4. Cool: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
   

Make the Maple Glaze:

1. Prepare glaze: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add maple syrup and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Let cool for 2-3 minutes.
   
2. Glaze cookies: Drizzle or spread glaze over cooled cookies. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.