Iced Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies
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These sweet Iced Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies is the cookie everyone will be craving this Fall season! Made with no refined sugars, these cookies are wholesome, delicious, and easy to make. Extra maple syrup and double the vanilla create the perfectly crisp, buttery, and sweet warming flavors of maple in every bite. Though, the goodness doesn’t just stop there! After baking, these cookies are generously glazed with a thick, creamy, and sweet spiced maple icing. Oh, and the best part? They don’t need to be refrigerated! These cookies are fun to bake and even more fun to eat. Share these cookies with your friends and family during all of your Fall get-togethers or give as an extra sweet homemade gift this holiday season!
About The Recipe
In my opinion, maple is one of the most underrated flavors for Fall baking. It’s sweet, warming, and delicious! I just knew I wanted to share a recipe that celebrated maple this month.
My mom and I talked about so many different things. But, we finally settled on another cookie recipe.
And, it’s no secret that I absolutely adore all of our cookies, I truthfully love these cookies so much. Though, sometimes…cookies don’t love us as much as we love them. When it comes to developing a recipe for cookies, sometimes my mom and I will make something and it just won’t turn out.
Then, sometimes we will remake it and can get it to work. But, there’s the rare few times that we have a recipe like today. Originally, these sweet cookies were something completely different. But, over the last few days, turned into an entirely new recipe.
Between you and me, I kinda like these cookies more than our original idea. I mean, just look at how cute they are!!
And what could be better than a maple sugar cookie that’s iced with a cinnamon spiced maple icing. I have been in cookie heaven since we baked these cookies the other day!
I honestly can’t wait to whip up another batch. These cookies were SO easy, came together quickly, and uses minimal ingredients. I mean, who doesn’t love a cookie that doesn’t need to be refrigerated?! They’re simply the best.
Every bite is tender, buttery, with a nutty caramel-like undertone coming from the maple.
So, whether you’re just a maple lover like me or in need of an extra simple, but still extremely flavorful cookie for the holiday’s…these cookies are for YOU!
What’s The Difference Between Cut-Out Cookies and Drop Cookies?
Between the two, it may not sound like a lot of differences. They’re both made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and leavening. Though, while the ingredients may be the same, they are vastly different cookies! Let’s get into it, shall we?
A drop cookie are some of the most popular cookies that we all love to eat. Think, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, soft and chewy peanut butter cookies…the list goes on. These are classic examples of “drop cookies”.
Drop cookies are usually made from a softer dough that gets it’s name by “dropping” balls of dough onto your cookie sheet and baking them, while cut-out cookies are made from a much stiffer dough that’s rolled out and cut into shapes.
Both cookies are sweet and absolutely delicious, but completely different all at the same time. Drop cookies are soft, moist, chewy, and easier to make. Cut-out cookies are buttery, crispy, and can be cut into intricate shapes or have icing piped into beautiful designs or patterns.
Reasons You Will Love These Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies
- Made with NO refined sugar!
- Comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time.
- The perfect Fall bake for sharing with family and friends.
- Delicious for adults and kids alike!
- Sweet without being too sweet.
Equipment Needed
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer
- Rolling Pin
- Maple Leaf Cookie Cutter
- Sheet Pans
- Whisk
Ingredients
Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
For The Cookies:
- Unsalted Butter – For this recipe, we opted to use unsalted butter, as maple can be pretty salty on it’s own and we wanted to be able to control the amount of salt in this recipe.
- Maple Syrup – Not only does the syrup add flavor, but it is the only sugar in these cookies!
- Large Egg – Eggs are a binding agent, as well as helping the cookie structurally.
- Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla to help round out the flavors.
- All-Purpose Flour – Regular unbleached all-purpose flour gives these cookies the perfect structure and texture.
- Salt – Just a dash of salt keeps these cookies flavorful and from becoming too sweet.
- Baking Powder – Leavening is essential in baking as it creates lift and gives the cookies an irresistible texture.
For The Icing:
- Powdered Sugar – Sift the powdered sugar to ensure no lumps in your icing!
- Ground Cinnamon – Adds a hint of spice to compliment the maple in the cookies.
- Maple Syrup – Gives this icing the perfect amount of flavor.
- Whole Milk – We added just enough milk to have a slightly thick, but not too thick icing that sets perfectly on top of each cookie.
How To Make Iced Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prepare cookie dough
With an electric mixer, beat butter and maple syrup until blended.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir until combined.
Step 2: Roll and cut cookies
Place dough on lightly floured surface. Dust top of dough lightly with flour. Roll to 3/16 inch thick.
Cut with a 4½ inch cutter, re-rolling scraps as necessary.
Step 3: Bake
Place cookies on prepared pans. Bake for 12 minutes, or until just starting to color around the edges.
Step 4: Make icing
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
Dip tops of cookies into icing, letting excess drip off. Place right side up to dry.
FAQ’s and Troubleshooting
Why is my cookie dough so soft?
This recipe is made entirely with maple syrup. This means that it will be a softer/stickier dough than you may be used to for cut-out cookies. Though, if it seems too difficult to work with, you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
Can I use different sized cutters and/or different shapes?
Absolutely! Though, keep in mind that you may get a different amount of cookies, different bake times, etc. Just keep an eye on them while they are in the oven!
Why are there bubbles in my icing/on-top of my cookies?
When it comes to making icing, over-whipping can be tempting! By over-whipping the icing, you are incorporating air into it which creates air bubbles. If you dip cookies into a bubbly icing, the cookies will dry with air bubbles on them! It’s always best to stir the icing together, not beat it.
Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
YES! If you’re trying to prep, you can easily make these cookies ahead of time. Once you get the dough made, wrap it in plastic wrap, place in a zip-top bag, and refrigerate for 1-3 days.
More Ways To Decorate These Cookies
Since these cookies are so simple, there are SO many ways to dress them up. Here are a few of our favorite ways to make these cookies just a dash more festive.
- Decorative sugar – Decorative sugar is a great way to not only add texture, but also color! Feel free to use clear for some added sparkle or classic Fall colors to add some fun festive color.
- Food coloring – Another great way to add color to your cookies! Make a basic vanilla icing (powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla), then add a drop or two to your icing and decorate as you wish.
- Maple sugar and cinnamon – I mean, these ARE maple cookies! Why not add some extra on top? Mix together 1 cup of maple sugar and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Then, once you make the icing, add a thin layer of icing to the cookies and dip the cookies into the maple sugar mixture.
What To Make With Leftover Cookies
If you have any leftover cookies, there are a few delicious ways to use them up in a few and fun dessert!
- Make ice cream sandwiches!
- Chop them and fold them into a brownie batter.
- Crumble them and put them in a milkshake.
- Decorate a cake with them!
How To Store
Since these cookies are iced, it’s best to keep these cookies in an airtight container (or zip top bag) and in the fridge for about 3-5 days. You can also freeze these cookies after you bake them, but before before decorating (you can also freeze the decorated cookies, if need be!). They will keep for 2-3 months, if un-iced. If iced, about a month.
You can also store the dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 24 hours, if needed!
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Expert Tips
- Make sure to use dark robust maple syrup for this recipe!
- Be careful to not to over mix the cookie dough!
- If the cookie dough seems too soft/sticky to work with, wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
- When cutting the cookies, try to get each cut as close as you can to each other! The less excess dough you have means you leave less dough to re-roll.
- Bake times may vary depending on the thickness you rolled your dough/the size of your cutter. The cookies should be done after about 10-12 minutes of bake time, but be sure to check on them! You can tell the cookies are done once the edges just start to brown.
- Let the cookies cool completely before icing them!
- If you would like the icing to be made without a refined sugar, you can make your own powdered sugar! To do so, blend together 1 cup of organic cane sugar and 1 Tablespoon of tapioca flour or arrowroot starch until fine and powdery.
When you make these Iced Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies, leave a comment down below and/or give this recipe a rating! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.
Iced Maple Cutout Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 9 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
Maple Cinnamon Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
Cookies
- Heat oven to 375℉.
- Line sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer, beat butter and maple syrup until blended.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Add flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Stir until combined.
- Place dough on lightly floured surface.
- Dust top of dough lightly with flour.
- Roll to 3/16 inch thick.
- Cut with a 4½ inch cutter, re-rolling scraps as necessary.
- Place cookies on prepared pans.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until just starting to color around the edges.
Maple Cinnamon Icing
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Dip tops of cookies into icing, letting excess drip off.
- Place right side up to dry.
Notes + Tips!
- Make sure to use dark robust maple syrup for this recipe!
- Be careful to not to over mix the cookie dough!
- If the cookie dough seems too soft/sticky to work with, wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
- When cutting the cookies, try to get each cut as close as you can to each other! The less excess dough you have means you leave less dough to re-roll.
- Bake times may vary depending on the thickness you rolled your dough/the size of your cutter. The cookies should be done after about 10-12 minutes of bake time, but be sure to check on them! You can tell the cookies are done once the edges just start to brown.
- Let the cookies cool completely before icing them!
- If you would like the icing to be made without a refined sugar, you can make your own powdered sugar! To do so, blend together 1 cup of organic cane sugar and 1 Tablespoon of tapioca flour or arrowroot starch until fine and powdery.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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