Maple Butterballs

By norsegal8

Butter, brown sugar, vanilla, maple syrup and heavy cream harmonize perfectly in a cookie. For gift giving at holiday time, put the butterballs in paper candy cases.

Ingredients

• DOUGH
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• MAPLE CREAM FILLING
• 2/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preparation

Step 1

1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter at medium-low speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the sugar and salt at medium speed until creamy. Add the egg, then the vanilla, beating just until well combined and slightly fluffy, and scraping down the sides of the bowl. Lower speed, gradually blend in the flour, and mix just until thoroughly combined.

3. Using a large pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch plain decorating tip, pipe bulbs ½- to ¾-inch in diameter and ½ inch apart on baking sheets. (Piping is easier if you anchor the parchment to the baking sheet with a dab of dough under each corner.). Using a damp pastry brush, tap cookies to flatten the point left from piping.

4. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until firm when lightly touched and tan in color. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. The lift the cookies from the pan to the rack with a spatula.

5. Maple Cream Filling: In a 1 ½-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, gently boil the maple syrup and cream over medium heat until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter. Cool until the filling is lukewarm and its consistency is like honey, about 30 minutes.

6. Spoon or pipe ¼ to ½ teaspoon filling on half the cookies, flat side up. Center the remaining cookies on top of the filled bottoms, gently pressing the pairs together.

7. Store cookies in one layer in a covered airtight container.