Maple Leaves

Beautiful and tasty maple cookies with maple icing. Of course, any cookie cutter design can be used.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 48
• Yields: 4 Dozen

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter (no substitutes)
• 2⁄3 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1  egg
• 1⁄4 cup maple syrup or 1⁄4 cup  maple-flavored  syrup
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

• Maple Frosting

• 1 1⁄2 cups  sifted powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons  softened butter or 2  tablespoons margarine
• 1  teaspoon  tablespoons maple syrup or 1  teaspoon  maple-flavored  syrup

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed 30 seconds.
2. Add brown sugar, soda, and salt.
3. Beat until combined.
4. Beat in egg, maple syrup, and vanilla.
5. Beat in whole wheat flour and as much of the all-purpose flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour.
6. Divide dough in half.
7. Cover; chill 3 hours or until easy to handle.
8. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 2 1/2- to 3-inch leaf cookie cutters dipped into flour, cut into leaf shapes. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
9. Bake in a 375 degree F oven 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are firm.
10. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
11. For the Maple Frosting, beat together sifted powdered sugar and softened butter or margarine. Beat in enough maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup to make easy to spread.
12. Frost with Maple Frosting.
13. Let frosting set.
14. Place in an airtight container; store at room temperature up to 3 days.