Go Back

Brown Sugar Maple Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Brown sugar maple shortbread cookies are buttery, lightly sweet cookies with a tender, crumbly texture and a hint of pure maple syrup. Chill the dough before cutting, then bake until set with edges just beginning to turn golden.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 19 minutes
Chilling and cooling 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 29 minutes
Servings: 30 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 110
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp fine salt

Equipment

  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 large baking sheets
  • 1 2 1/2-inch cutter

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Beat in the maple syrup and vanilla extract until combined.
  5. Whisk the flour and salt together in a separate bowl.
  6. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture on low speed just until no dry flour remains.
  7. Press the crumbly dough together.
  8. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk.
  9. Wrap the disks and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  10. Roll each disk between sheets of parchment to 1/4-inch thickness.
  11. Cut the dough with a 2 1/2-inch cutter and reroll scraps once.
  12. Arrange the cookies on the prepared sheets and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  13. Bake for 15 to 19 minutes, swapping and rotating the sheets halfway through, until the cookies are set and their edges are just beginning to turn golden.
  14. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes.
  15. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Keep the dough cold for cleaner cuts. Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. For a dairy-free variation, use a plant-based butter substitute.