Chocolate Chip Cookies With Maple Syrup

Chocolate chip cookies are a crowd pleaser and easily one of the most loved cookie recipes in existence. There are so many different ways to make this simple recipe depending on your preferences. 

Do you like a flat, thin and crunchy cookie or a big soft and chewy cookie? Personally I love them both, but I usually bake soft and chewy.

Besides texture, there are many other ways to change up this classic cookie recipe. This easy chocolate chip cookie recipe includes maple syrup, which adds a flavor that will make your cookies a little more interesting and unique.

Where Does Maple Syrup Come From?

Maple syrup can be made from the sap of several different types of maple trees such as sugar or red maple. The sap is tapped from the trees by drilling holes into the trunks.

Most of the water is then removed by boiling which creates the syrup which has a more concentrated flavor than the sap before processing.

Maple syrup was first made by indigenous tribes in North America, where these trees are found, and later adopted by European settlers.

It is now a very popular product in the United States and Canada.

Maple Syrup For Baking

Maple is a perfect flavor to add year-round. When I think of maple I often think of a large maple leaf-shaped bottle from a place like Vermont or Canada. These are places that are beautiful in every season!

Maple syrup is a great natural sweetener. Maple syrup is graded and can vary slightly in color and flavor. It ranges from a lighter golden color to a dark and rich color. Each type of maple syrup has a slightly different taste.

Pure maple syrup should be used in baking and not the type of maple syrup found in grocery stores with many added ingredients.

Be sure to look for pure maple syrup when using it for baking. This will give you the best possible flavor for your cookies. 

Much like honey, maple is often used as a healthier swap for refined sugar. While they both do have slightly more nutritional value they are not necessarily much healthier.

However, the flavor of maple syrup may allow for less to be used than refined sugar. Maple syrup also does contain some antioxidants and minerals.

Much like vanilla extract, maple syrup is used for flavoring and, in this recipe, does not really affect the outcome of the texture of the cookies.

Maple Syrup Substitute: Maple Extract

Maple syrup adds a subtle flavor in these cookies, but if you want more of a maple flavor you can add maple extract.

Maple extract is a more concentrated form of maple and has a stronger flavor. Maple extract is a great maple syrup substitute, but it should be added in smaller quantities.

Maple Syrup Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Tips 

If you want more of a maple flavor you can add in maple extract. Maple extract is far more concentrated than maple syrup so only a teaspoon or two is needed.

Nuts like walnuts or pecans would compliment this recipe well. You can use any types of nuts, about ¼ of a cup or less each.

Chocolate chunks or white chocolate chips could be substituted for the chocolate chips.

If you’re making these in the fall (or just love fall!) you could add a little pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. 

The dough for this recipe can be slightly sticky. To prevent sticking on your baking sheet you can add parchment paper, use a coated baking sheet, or a silicone baking sheet (our favorite is this one). 

Be sure not to overcook the cookies. They should be only slightly browned on the bottom. Check on them while baking slightly before the recommended baking time.

How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies With Maple Syrup

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and gather your ingredients.

Step 2: In a medium-sized bowl mix flour and salt and set aside.

Step 3: In a separate bowl cream the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and maple syrup until creamy and smooth.

Step 4: Add the vanilla extract and eggs. Mix well.

Step 5: Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Step 6: Fold in chocolate chips.

Step 7: Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes.