Weddingbee

Back in the day, I had my heart set on some true geek-wedding favors: rubik’s cubes. Well, when Mr. BG (and cost) dashed my hopes (that’s right, Mr. BG, DASHED), I was sure no favor would appease me.

I think the problem that we all face with favors is – we want people to like them, and things that people like tend to cost more than a few bucks.

So first I was thinking along the lines of something that guests could take home rather than something that they devoured on-site– silly me. I didn’t really GET the edible favors thing until I read a blog that said something along the lines of, “if I can’t eat it, I don’t want it.” Simple, yes – but it spawned my enlightenment.

In the end, I decided to compromise with myself (yes, you heard me, I have to compromise WITH MYSELF). I decided to make maple sugar cookies, in the shape of maple leaves, and include a maple leaf cookie cutter (which I ordered from David’s Bridal, which sounds odd, but it was awesome because I had a coupon for 25 free favors as a result of buying my dress there).

We baked the cookies on Tuesday, and Mr. BG and MIL BG diligently stuffed them Wednesday (with the help, of course, of my assembly line). And here’s how those suckers turned out:

Everyone got a cookie-cutter:

Plus 3 cookies (this is the unfrosted side, but – there’s a frosted side):

Which we sealed in a bag with a monogrammed sticker:

Then we stuffed everything into a favor box with lots of tissue paper and a note. It’s hard to read, but what it says is:

“He’s from Vermont

She’s from Massachusetts

They live in New Hampshire

And got married in Maine

So in true New England fashion

They’d like to thank you

With some maple sugar cookies”

And then we sealed them with a kiss – oh, sorry, that’s a ribbon:

These were actually a ridiculous hit. I don’t deserve credit because it’s not my recipe, but we’ve since gotten several “best cookies ever” comments, and I still owe several people the recipe (in retrospect, it probably would have been cute to include the recipe with the cookie cutter, but ah well) – but you guys will get it first. Just in case anyone wants to make a whole lot of delicious maple-ness, here you go (from www.foodnetwork.com, with my notes):

Maple Cookies

Recipe courtesy Dennis Brady

Show: Emeril Live

Episode: Emeril’s Cookie Contest

Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon maple extract

1/4 cup maple syrup

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Heavy cream

Maple Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup maple sugar

1 teaspoon maple extract

1/4 cup unsalted butter

In a medium bowl, cream the butter, then gradually add the sugar and continue to beat. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, maple extract, and maple syrup, and beat until light and fluffy.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Thoroughly blend into the butter mixture. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 4 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll the dough out 1/4-inch thick. With a drinking glass, cut out cookies and transfer to parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the cookies with heavy cream. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile make the maple glaze. Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until it just reaches the boiling point. Brush or dip the tops of the cookies in the maple glaze while still hot. Let cool. These taste better the next day.

NOTES:

-Recipe makes about 100 cookies.

-20 cookies on a sheet for about 10 minutes in our oven at 375.

-Used salted butter, left out the salt.

-Used maple flavoring rather than maple extract.

-Used maple syrup rather than maple sugar for the glaze.

-Never used heavy cream.

Num num num. Enjoy!

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