These Chocolate Maple Cookies are truly a unique cookie recipe. What you’ll find here are maple cookies with chocolate frosting. It’s a great combination of flavors!
While traveling through the state of Vermont last summer, we passed quite a few of those little soft serve ice cream stands that you often see on the side of the road when you’re on a family road trip. In my part of the world, these soft serve ice cream cones are known as “Frosties” but for some reason, in the good state of Vermont they’re called Creamies. Most specifically, because it’s the land of Maple Syrup, there are big signs inviting folks to try Maple Creamies. As many times as we saw these wonderful little ice cream shacks, I never once stopped to try a Maple Creamy. I’ve been thinking about those darn creamies ever since.
Just before we left Vermont, we stopped at a Maple Farm near East Montpelier: Bragg Farm Sugarhouse, where I purchased a few maple-themed goodies. Can you believe they had Maple Creamies at this place too and I didn’t get one there either?? Clearly, there were too many regional food choices on the trip, and the state’s beloved ice cream cone didn’t quite make the cut.
One of the goodies I purchased at the Maple Farm was a bottle of maple flavoring that I hauled back to California with me. Cookies seemed like a good way to try the maple flavoring, so I decided on baking Chocolate Iced Maple Cookies.
You absolutely must use maple flavoring (extract) for this recipe. Don’t try to substitute maple syrup, thinking it will add the maple flavor that you need because you just won’t get it. The maple cookies themselves are nothing to write home about… they’re just a maple-flavored cakey type of cookie. They’re not bad… just nothing special. Add a good smear of that chocolate icing, however, and they’re transformed into quite a delicious little treat. Chocolate and Maple turn out to be a nice flavor pairing.
You don’t have to go to Vermont to get maple flavoring. Your regular old grocery store will carry an imitation maple extract but I’d do everything I could to locate a real maple extract. Imitation is, well… imitation (it’s just not as good). There are plenty of online sources for real maple extract.
You will have to go to Vermont, however, to taste one of those Maple Creamies… something I’ll be sure to do on my next trip to that beautiful state.
If you’re looking for more recipes to use up your maple extract, try these Maple Cupcakes for desssert or Blueberry Maple Muffins for breakfast. These Maple Sandwich Cookies look pretty good too! And I’m thinking that Maple Oat Nut Scones would be a delicious afternoon treat!
Chocolate Maple Cookies
Ingredients
COOKIES
- 1¼ cups shortening
- 1½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon maple extract
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
ICING
- Two 1 ounce squares semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
COOKIES
- Preheat oven to 350°F. and spray baking sheets with nonstick spray (or line with parchment paper).
- In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and maple extracts.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.
ICING
- Melt chocolate and butter in a microwave or heavy saucepan. Add sugar and milk, mixing well. Frost cooled cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What an interesting combination! I never would have paired maple with chocolate but I definitely will try it. As soon as I get my hands on some real flavoring!
Question for you – where did you get the capability to have the blog post formatted to print? I’d love to add that to my blog.
I have a reputation for making iced cookies. Will add these to my collection. Thanks for tip about maple extract.