Maple Walnut Cookies Food

MAPLE WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Toast the walnuts in a preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let the nuts cool. Then process in a food processor, using the pulse action, until they are finely ground. Do not overprocess or you will end up with a paste.
• Cream together the butter and maple syrup. When light and fluffy, add the egg and beat well for 1 minute. Stir in the extracts, then the flour, and the finely ground nuts. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for 20 minutes to make it easier to handle.
• Preheat the oven to 350. Line baking sheets with baking paper.
• Using a #24 scoop (2 tablespoons) or a spoon, scoop out the dough and place the balls 1-inch apart on the baking sheets. With lightly moistened fingers, flattern each cookie to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
• Bake the cookies until golden brown, for 15-18 minutes on an insulated or double pan.
• Let the cookies cool on the pans before removing.
• Variations:
• Maple Almond: Substitute almonds for the walnuts.
• Maple Hazelnuts: Substitute hazelnuts for the walnuts.
• Maple Pecan: Substitute pecans for the walnuts.
• Almond: Substitute almonds for the walnuts and fruit sweeteners for all or part of the maple syrup.

FROSTED MAPLE WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cookies:
• Cream butter and sugar. Add maple flavor and eggs.
• Add dry ingredients and mix.
• Stir in walnuts.
• Place tablespoon sized cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet, bake for about 10 minutes.
• Cool.
• Mix frosting ingredients, spread on cooled cookies.
• Note: If you make the frosting after all the cookies are baked and cooling. It times out just about right.