We don’t bake often, but today I saw a recipe from Serious Eats for Vermont Maple Cookies and I just had to have them. (Jon and I were married in Vermont, after all). I adapted the recipe slightly and whipped up some cream cheese frosting to make cookie sandwiches. The cookies alone are outstanding… stacked one on top of the other with ooey gooey frosting in between…out of this world. The slight hint of maple coupled with the texture of the cream cheese frosting is a perfect combination.

Maple Cookies

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set to the side. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, once again mixing until smooth and light. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add it in 2-3 increments, alternating by adding the maple syrup (begin and end with the flour mixture), stirring after each addition. Between additions, pause to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 1/2 inches around each cookie to allow for spreading. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden around the edges and with a dull finish on top. If desired sandwich two cookies with frosting of your choice in the middle to serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar.

*Note- I cut this recipe in half. It produces more frosting than you will need for these cookies.