February 27, 2022

Maple walnut cookies

Maple syrup and walnuts are combined in these soft and chewy cookies that are perfect for maple season or anytime you want a delicious cookie.

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Maple season is here in the western New York region and that means it's time for many people to be tapping and boiling and creating this amazing delicious food. Maple syrup is always perfect for pancakes and waffles, but it can be used in so many other ways like in these cookies.

While many people associate maple with fall, maple syrup season is in the spring. When the snow begins to thaw and the temperatures rise, it's time to start collecting sugar maple sap to boil down for syrup.

We are lucky to have some relative's that have a small maple production, so we have access to fresh and local maple syrup each year. Plus, the kids get to go help and learn, which they always look forward to doing this time of year. 

When you are baking or cooking with maple syrup, you always want to seek out the darkest maple for the most flavor. This used to be called "Grade B" syrup, but it is now called "Very Dark" syrup. The darker maple is made at the end of the season and is more concentrated with maple flavor. 

If you want to enhance the maple flavor even more, you can always add a touch of maple extract to the cookies as well. This will boost the maple flavor. I'd use probably 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon depending on how strong you want the maple flavor.

With the maple syrup only, the flavor will be relatively mild. If you use a light syrup, they will taste sweet, but not maple-y. 

These cookies are perfect for those who enjoy the maple and walnut flavor combination. They are moist and chewy and soft. You can store them in airtight containers for several days. 

Give these cookies a try this maple season or anytime the mood strikes for a flavorful cookie. 

Yield: about 3 dozen cookies
Author: Amy (Savory Moments)
Maple Walnut Cookies

Maple Walnut Cookies

Maple syrup and walnuts are combined in these soft and chewy cookies that are perfect for maple season or anytime you want a delicious cookie.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup real maple syrup, the darkest you can find is best
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple extract, optional 
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1-1/3 cups chopped walnuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl (or in the bowl of a stand mixer) cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg, maple syrup, and vanilla with a hand mixer until well-combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix this into the wet ingredients until combined. Fold in the walnuts until just combined.
  4. Roll the dough one tablespoon at a time into balls and place on the baking sheet, about 1-inch apart from one another. Gently flatten them with your finger tips.
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms are golden and the edges are golden and set. They will look slightly under-baked, but that will keep them soft. Place on a wire rack to cool.
  6. Repeat until all the batter has been used. Store the cookies in an airtight container.
  7. If you are lucky enough to have some maple sugar, feel free to sprinkle some on top of the cookies before baking!
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I hope you give these maple walnut cookies a try! Let me know in the comments below.

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This recipe was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in 2023 with a recipe card, new text, and more to improve reader experience.

Check out these other recipes with maple syrup: 

Maple Pecan Pie

Maple Cream Pie

Glazed Cinnamon Maple Syrup Bread

Maple Pecan Caramel Popcorn 

Also check out this post on 40+ Maple Recipes for Maple Season and 25 Pancakes Recipes to Celebrate Maple Syrup Season.

22 comments:

  1. sounds delicious! i wish i had one right now :)

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  2. Hi Amy, I would love to see how a tree is tapped, sounds so interesting. These cookies look delicious!

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  3. I love the maple and walnut combination- it's one of my favorites! My cookie jar would be happy to be full of these. :)

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  4. I LOVE maple walnut. Especially scones, well, until I saw these cookies!

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  5. Oh yum! Can you imagine two of these with vanilla ice cream sandwiched in the middle??

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  6. Amy, maple season is indeed starting and I do love cooking and baking with maple syrup - you are right about that dark type, the darker the syrup, the more flavor it will impart to the food you are making. Although I prefer the really light (AA) on my pancakes, waffels, etc. And your wonderful cookies look delicous, stock full of walnuts!
    A really nice and seasonal recipe!
    Andrea

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  7. Walnuts are my favorite and these cookies look so irresistible to me...

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  8. Love maple syrup! These cookies look so good!

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  9. Yay for maple! It's one of my favorite flavors. These cookies sound awesome!

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  10. I love maple anything so these sound amazing!

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  11. I can't wait to make these cookies. They sound delicious

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  12. I love walnuts in cookies and don't often use them. The maple walnut combination sounds amazing.

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  13. I am jealous of your access to local maple syrup!!! These cookies sound fantastic.

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  14. It makes my heart happy when I see the taps and tubes set up for syrup season. These look awesome!

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  15. Love the idea of maple cookies, and walnuts just make them all that much better. Printing out the recipe for a weekend baking project!

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  16. Love all the flavors in these cookies, especially the walnuts!

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  17. Maple? Walnut? Yes, please! Such a delightful pairing. Thanks!

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  18. I love the combination of the maple and walnut. You are lucky that you are able to get maple syrup every year. These cookies look delicious.

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  19. You make some of the best cookie! Maple and walnut - what a fabulous flavor for a cookie. And I'm so envious of your availability to freshly tapped maple syrup.

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  20. These cookies are amazing. I made a double batch and split it. I am trying toasted pecans in one batch and the sure fire walnuts in the other. This is my third time this year to make these little beauties. Sooooo good!

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that! Pecan sound delicious, too. Thank you for letting me know.

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  21. I made these today with dark maple syrup. Not really any maple flavour unfortunately. Will ice with maple icing to perk them up a bit.

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