Description
These adorable Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears are a delightful treat for any occasion. The rich flavors of brown butter, maple syrup, and warm spices make these cookies irresistible, while the cute bear shapes add a touch of whimsy to your baking.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Shortbread
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
For Decoration
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, or as needed
Instructions
- Brown the butter – Place butter into a small light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling often, until small brown bits begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and the butter smells nutty, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour butter into a mixing bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Combine wet ingredients and spices – Add maple syrup and brown sugar to butter and stir to combine. Mix in vanilla extract, maple extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until combined.
- Incorporate dry ingredients – Add in flour and baking powder and mix until a smooth dough forms. Cover and place into the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Prepare baking sheet – Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape the cookies – Remove dough from the fridge. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball; place onto the cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Scoop out 1/4 teaspoon of dough and roll into a small ball, then flatten into a circle to form the snout of the bear. Scoop out two 1/8 teaspoons of dough and roll into tiny balls; place on each side of the top of the cookie to make the ears. Continue rolling out and forming bear shapes until dough is used up. Space cookies about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Chill baking sheet in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow cookies to firm up.
- Bake the cookies – Preheat the oven to 165°C (325°F). Remove the baking sheet from the fridge and place into the oven. Bake until cookies are slightly browned on the bottom, 20 to 23 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with chocolate – Place chocolate chips into a small microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup and heat until melted, about 1 minute, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Pour melted chocolate into a piping bag or a freezer bag and snip a small hole in one corner. Pipe eyes and noses onto the cookies. Allow the chocolate to harden before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Brown Butter Maple Shortbread Bears, Shortbread Cookies, Cookie Decorating, Baking with Kids
