However, one day I was watching an awful reality show on VH1 with models as the contestants. The funny thing about it was that if they answered the trivia questions wrong, they had to eat something that they'd never dream of eating. Ever. One of the "punishment" foods was pancakes with maple syrup. The model about had a heart attack at the prospect of having to eat all those carbs and sugar and butter, oh my! That was the first time in years where I could stomach the thought of maple syrup. I have no idea how that awful show brought me back to the maple love, but I'm thankful I was watching it that morning!
These cookies have just a hint of maple in the cookie and the frosting, which plays well with the vanilla flavor, especially from the white vanilla chips. These cookies are a bit on the sweet side with that frosting, but they're definitely worth it! Soft, chewy, and a great little dessert. Although I'm sure models would say otherwise!
Vanilla Maple Cookies Recipe
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For the cookies:
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon maple flavoring/extract
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups white baking chips
For the frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoons maple flavoring/extract
4-6 tablespoons milk
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of your mixer, cream together the shortening, butter, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Mix in the vanilla, maple flavoring, and baking soda. Once incorporated, add in the flour until just combined. Fold in the baking chips.
Roll into one-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart from each other. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they just start to turn brown and remove from the oven. Let them sit on the baking sheet for two minutes and then remove to a flat surface to cool.
While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add in the maple flavoring and then the milk a little bit at a time until it's a good consistency for spreading. Be careful you don't add too much or it won't harden. Mix until smooth and spread on top of the cooled cookies. Let dry for a few hours to harden the frosting before packaging in an air-tight container or plastic bag with wax paper in between the layers of cookies.
Source: Barely adapted from Taste of Home