Maple Gingerbread

This recipe results in a delicious non-traditional gingerbread. Although it can be made any time of year, I made this for Christmas this year. I found this recipe in Mom's cookie recipe box. The recipe is a type of quick bread recipe, rather than cookie recipe. But when made in a large pan, it can be cut into cookie-sized pieces and included in a holiday cookie plate.

The recipe uses maple syrup instead of molasses or dark brown sugar, which gives traditional gingerbread its darker coloring. So, this gingerbread is lighter in color and does not appear to be gingerbread. But it is a delicious variation of gingerbread. Next time I make this gingerbread, I might try a cream cheese frosting. This time, I added chopped candied ginger, which added a nice extra zing to the gingerbread.

Maple Gingerbread 

• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 2 1/3 cup flour
• 1 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup chopped candied ginger

Combine syrup, sour cream, butter, and egg; beat well. Gradually add in flour, baking soda, ginger, salt. Beat until smooth. Blend in the candied ginger. Turn into a greased 9X13 pan and press to even the dough. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until done. Allow to cool before cutting. Enjoy!

Orange Drop Cookies

This recipe is a terrific Christmas cookie recipe. Although I found the index card for this recipe in Mom's recipe box, it is not her handwriting, so I suspect she got the recipe from someone after tasting these tasty cookies. The orange flavor is delicious and festive for the holiday season, but could be delicious any time of year. This recipe yields a lot of cookies, about six dozen. The cookies freeze well, so they can be saved for later.

The recipe is quite simple. I used all butter, instead of shortening and margarine. The recipe does not specify which type of nuts to use. I used hazelnuts, but many other nuts could be used or you could leave out the nuts completely. Also, next time I make this recipe, I might add in dried cranberries. Also, I only frosted about half of the cookies. These cookies are terrific with or without the frosting.

Orange Drop Cookies 

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs 
• 2 Tbsp.  grated orange peel
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking pwoder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• Orange juice and grated peel to taste

Cream 1 cup butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, peel, orange juice, vanilla, and milk. Add in flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Blend in the nuts. Drop by spoonful onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 12 to 13 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting. To make the frosting, blend the softened butter with the powdered sugar. Add orange juice and grated peel to taste and to spreading consistency. Spread the frosting on the cookies. Enjoy!

Maple Cookies

I found this recipe in Mom's cookie recipe box. I made these cookies for Thanksgiving this year, which was celebrated at Rich and Christen's house. These cookies are so delicious, it was hard to stop eating them. But, the recipe yields a whole lot of cookies, so this is a great recipe when you need to feed a bunch. The cookies are a variation on sugar cookies, with a bit of maple flavor. The dough is a rolled out, so you could use any type of cookie cutter. I used a basic circle cookie cutter.

The recipe below is just a little different from Mom's recipe pictured below. I did not have maple extract, but I did have maple syrup, so I just reduced the sugar from the original recipe and added a little vanilla. Like other sugar cookies, you could frost these cookies. I would consider trying a maple glaze frosting, using maple syrup and powdered sugar. Whether you frost these cookies or eat them plain, you will love these tasty cookies.

Maple Cookies 

• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 2 eggs

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together. Blend in butter, sugar, vanilla, maple syrup, and eggs. Beat until well blended. Chill dough overnight.

Roll out a small amount of dough on a well-floured board until 1/8 inch think. Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes on greased baking sheet. Allow to cool. Enjoy!