Maple Cookies with Maple Glaze (Gluten free & Vegan Options!)

Maple cookies with a soft center, drizzled with maple icing. There’s no chilling required making these a quick sugar fix. Filled with pure maple syrup these easy cookies taste just like a maple bar doughnut without the hassle of dealing with dough and frying. Read how to tweak the recipe to make these allergy friendly with options for: gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanut & tree nut free; with a vegan option too!

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Hi, my name is Megan, and I am a doughnut addict. There was a point in time when every single week when I’d grocery shop, I’d get myself a doughnut as a reward for planning out my weekly meal plan.

Of course, one of my favorites was a maple bar. There’s just something so satisfying about that maple glaze, am I right?

But, who has time to make doughnuts?? Especially allergy friendly doughnuts, since both of my boys have multiple food allergies.

So, forget worrying about rising dough, and frying and making a mess. You can get the SAME flavor from these easy maple brown sugar cookies that you can whip up in a fraction of the time!

Before you bake and devour these fall favorite cookies, let’s go over some FAQ’s:

Is the maple syrup needed for maple cookies the same as the syrup you put on pancakes?

That would be a big no. The tall, squeezable bottles, like Mrs. Butterworth’s, are not pure maple syrup and would not give the maple cookies that pure maple flavor you’re looking for. You’re going to want to spring (because yes, it’s a little more expensive) for pure maple syrup. You’ll often find it in the same area of the grocery store, but it’s often in a jug or a glass bottle. Or, you can find it on Amazon. I’m not picky about the brand, but you do need it to be PURE maple syrup.

What type of maple syrup do I need for these cookies?

I always found that a bit confusing too! All pure maple grades actually have the same density and sugar content, but the grades help distinguish between the color and the intensity of the maple flavor. I went with Grade A medium amber for mine, since the higher the grade the more expensive it can get. I would think you’d be fine with Grade A dark amber (the next step up), but I might shy away from Grade B, whose flavor has been described as “hard core”. Thanks to Deep Mountain Maple for educating me!

Are these maple cookies the same as Canadian Leaf Maple Cookies?

Since I’m from the United States, I’d never heard of Canadian Leaf Maple Cookies. It wasn’t until I was googling this recipe that I realized those type of cookies are super popular up north. While both my cookies and those cookies are both based on the wonderful elixir that is maple syrup, theirs is a sandwich type cookie (often in the shape of a leaf) that puts a cream frosting in between.

How do you make soft maple cookies?

Making soft maple cookies is simple. You just:

1. Cream the butter and sugar
2. Add the egg 
3. Add the liquids (maple syrup, vanilla, maple extract)
4. Add the baking soda and salt
5. Stir in the flour
6. Scoop onto a greased cookie tray
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9-11 minutes
8. While they cool, melt all the ingredients for the glaze in a small saucepan over medium low heat (butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar and salt)
9. Whisk until everything is melted and combined
10. Drizzle the glaze over the cookies
11. Allow the glaze to harden
12. Inhale the cookies

How do you make gluten free maple cookies?

Since my son is allergic to wheat, and my husband has a gluten intolerance, I had to make these work for a gluten free diet. You simply swap out the amount of flour called for, using a gluten free flour blend. You can use my gluten free flour blend or, I’ve used a pre-bought mix like Walmart’s gluten free flour in a pinch. (Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 could also work.) If you use my gluten free flour blend that has no xanthan, you’ll want to add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan to help them rise. If you use a store-bought blend that already has xanthan than you don’t need to add anymore. I find that my gluten-free flour blend tends to make flatter cookies, and the Walmart blend made them a little more domed because they also include sorghum flour, which makes the dough a bit thicker (as shown in the pictures).

How do you make these maple cookies vegan?

Since my son is allergic to eggs and dairy, all of my baking is vegan. Here is how you make these vegan maple cookies:

• Swap out the butter for vegan butter
• Use 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 2 Tablespoons of water to replace the egg

That’s it! I wanted that rich buttery taste, so instead of using coconut oil (which is often a great butter replacement) I went with vegan butter. I would recommend doing the same. The brand I like to get is Earth Balance. 

How do you store these maple cookies so that they stay chewy?

Having a soft, chewy center on your maple cookie makes or breaks it! Be sure once they’ve cooled to store them at room temperature in an air tight container. We’ve never had ours last more than 24 hours, but I imagine they could be kept for 3-4 days.

When is a good time to make maple cookies?

Honestly, whenever you have a craving for a maple donut —or any gluten-free doughnut— is when I’d bust these out. The ingredients aren’t necessarily seasonal (meaning you can find them any time during the year) so you can make them whenever. I see my family enjoying them all year long. However, I’d recommend making them especially for:

• Fall–I mean, maple flavor just screams fall and can mix in some variety to all that pumpkin baking
• Christmas cookie plates–who wouldn’t want these? And, because they’re more original than the typical Christmas cookie, they’d be a welcome sight!

Can maple cookies be nut free?

Obviously maple pairs oh-so-perfectly with walnuts and pecans. So, if you aren’t allergic to nuts, definitely add in 1/2-1 cup of chopped nuts to the batter before baking. But, if you’re like us and have both peanut and tree nut allergies at your house, I was pleasantly surprised how tasty they were with this typical ingredient left out. 

Are you wanting more gluten free vegan cookies:

Try these delicious cookies that are also customizable:

• Cherry chocolate cookies
• Gluten free vegan roll out sugar cookies
• Chocolate orange cookies
• Peppermint crinkle cookies
• Gluten & Dairy Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (that use no flour blends–JUST oats)
• Allergy Friendly S’mores Cookies
• Allergy Friendly Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Allergy Friendly Black & White Cookies
• Maple Cookies with Maple Glaze
• Allergy Friendly Homemade Oreos
• Gluten Free Vegan Skillet Cookie

Is there a video showing how to make these gluten free vegan maple cookies?

Yes, there is! I did a cooking segment for Allergic Living where I made the cookies live, and talked you through the entire process while I did it. Be sure to watch it if you’d like a tutorial before you begin baking these maple cookies. You can click on the still image below to launch the video, or click here to see the maple cookie recipe video.

 

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