Maple Butter Cookies

Nothing cures the winter blues like cookies fresh from the oven.

A few weeks ago, I saw a recipe for these nutmeg maple butter cookies on Smitten Kitchen, and I knew that I had to make them immediately.

We rang out of nutmeg at home and it was -20C outside…

I didn’t want to venture out into the cold just to get nutmeg…

Sorry nutmeg.  I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It was really cold outside and I just wanted some cookies.

I love nutmeg. I really do.

Nutmeg, you are an important part of my life. I swear. I know I sometime replace you with cinnamon (like in this instance)… but, I really think you’re special.

…

Nutmeg? Nutmeg! Nut…

Sigh…

Okay, here’s the recipe.

Use nutmeg. Do not replace it with cinnamon like I did. Even though cinnamon maple cookies were also delicious, nutmeg is irreplaceable.

As you can see. I was also too lazy to get my camera… so I used the Instagram app on my iPhone.

Sorry, Camera…

Camera? Camera?!?! Camera?…

…

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup
1 large egg yolk
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon table salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. With mixer running, add yolk and slowly drizzle in maple syrup
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, nutmeg and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined. The dough will be in loose clumps. Gather them together into a tight packet with a large piece of plastic wrap and chill dough for at least two hours until firm
4. Roll out a quarter to half the dough at a time, leaving the rest in the fridge. On a floured counter, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.
5. Arrange cookies on baking sheets and bake for 8 to 11 minutes each, or until lightly golden at the edges. Transfer to racks to cool.

Recipe from Deb at Smitten Kitchen