When I saw these cookies on Pinterest via Dear Crissy I could not resist making them. They just looked too good not to! And they definitely are too good. Beautifully chewy and full of sugary, maple flavour, they are the perfect little treat for the festive season - especially if you have a sweet tooth. I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as I do.

Ingredients

COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
3 egg yolks
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

ICING
1/4 cup full cream milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tbs pure maple syrup
2 cups icing sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300F/150C.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter with a mixer on medium for about 30 seconds. Add the next six ingredients (through to salt). Beat on medium for two minutes, scraping bowl as needed. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla essence. Beat in flour until combined.

3. Shape dough into balls.* Place them seven to eight centimetres apart on a tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 12-16 minutes** or until the edges are lightly brown - the tops will still look slightly soft.

4. Cool on baking paper for two minutes. Remove and cool on wire rack. Centres will dip as cookies cool.

5. Drizzle with icing - stir together 1/4 cup full cream milk with 1/4 cup melted butter and three tablespoons of maple syrup. Whisk in two cups of icing sugar to make icing drizzling consistency.

*The size of the balls will determine how large the cookies come out and subsequently how many cookies you'll get out of one batch of dough. Just make sure that you are consistent with whatever size you decide to go with.
**The length of time in the oven will depend on your oven as well as the size of your cookies. So begin at 12 minutes and keep an eye on them.

Tip: if your cookies don't come out perfectly round or bleed into each other for whatever reason, you can always use a round cookie cutter before they harden to get them circle and photo-worthy.

1. Traditional & Cosy
This tablescape is full of Winter goodness - which doesn't really apply to Australia at this time of year - but it sure is a lovely table. It incorporates real evergreen and cedar boughs garland with contrasting red berries as well as pinecones. These adorable tea towels are used in place of napkins and candles in empty cans add warmth to the table and a vintage feel.


2. Gold & Classy
I feel like this table would really suit an all-female Christmas party - it just screams feminine and fun to me while being classy at the same time. The use of gold confetti placemats and the gold glitter gift boxes make this setting playful while the fern garland and tall candle holders keep it formal.  I love that these tall candle holders are clear and that white has also been used so that the table is not overwhelmingly gold.


3. Natural & Musical
With a beautiful grey linen tablecloth as the base, this table utilises a neutral colour palette. This is perfect for those of you who would prefer to not have an over-the-top dining table. It is wonderfully understated with natural decorations, including a birch log with cut-outs for candles. My favourite thing about this tablescape would have to be the sheet music placemats. To make it more relevant to Christmas, you could buy carols sheet music and then stain it with tea for an aged appearance.


10. White & Wintery
Another one of my favourites, this is the perfect table those of you who are going with a Winter wonderland theme this year. This tablescape is Nordic inspired - it is a very popular design trend at the moment. If you're struggling with a colour scheme, you can't go wrong with white. It's fresh and clean unless one of your guests spills their glass of red wine. The handmade paper stars offer a homely touch and the choice of greenery adds to the wintery feel. And how cute is that little house candle holder!