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Brown Butter Maple Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Brown Butter Maple Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies - featured image
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These festive gingerbread cookies feature nutty brown butter, maple syrup, and warm spices, making them irresistibly soft and flavorful. Decorated as adorable reindeer, they’re perfect for holiday gatherings, gifting, or cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Royal icing (for decorating)
  • Mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
  • Red cinnamon candies or small red M&M’s (for noses)
  • Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Place unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until melted, foamy, and golden brown with specks on the bottom (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and pour into a mixing bowl to cool slightly.
  2. Add maple syrup and packed dark brown sugar to the cooled brown butter. Beat until combined (about 1 minute). Add egg and mix for another 30 seconds until smooth.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing on low until a soft dough forms. If sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons extra flour. Do not over-mix.
  5. Flatten dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days).
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Use reindeer cookie cutters to cut shapes. Gather scraps and re-roll as needed.
  8. Transfer cookies to baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly soft.
  9. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then move to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. Decorate cooled cookies with royal icing to pipe antlers and faces. Add chocolate chips for eyes and red candies for noses. Let icing set before stacking or storing (about 30 minutes).

Notes

Chill dough before rolling and cutting to prevent spreading. For gluten-free cookies, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute vegan butter. Dip cookie cutters in flour for clean edges. Let brown butter cool before adding egg to avoid scrambling. Cookies taste even better on day two as spices deepen.

Nutrition

Keywords: gingerbread, reindeer cookies, brown butter, maple syrup, holiday cookies, Christmas, festive, easy cookies, decorated cookies, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://blipflavor.com/brown-butter-maple-gingerbread-reindeer-cookies-easy-holiday-treats/