These Glazed Maple Walnut Cookies have a soft, buttery texture with warm maple flavor and sweet glazed walnuts in every bite. If you enjoy cookies with nuts, you may also want to browse my Cookies with Nuts Recipes for more favorites. Instead of trying to find packaged glazed maple walnuts, I decided to make my own using maple syrup, butter, and sugar. It gives this updated 2021 recipe even more maple flavor.
These cookies are full of warm maple flavor that pairs perfectly with the glazed walnuts. Using both white and light brown sugar adds a subtle hint of molasses and helps create a soft, rich cookie. If you enjoy maple flavors, you might also like my Double Maple Sugar Cookies or Black Walnut Maple Cookies with Brown Sugar Icing for even more maple flavor inspiration.
Jump to:
A Quick Look: Glazed Maple Walnut Cookies
Recipe Name: Glazed Maple Walnut Cookies
Ready In: About 1 hour and 30 minutes (including chill time)
Yield: 30 cookies
Texture: Soft and buttery with lightly crisp edges and bits of glazed walnuts
Flavor Profile: Warm maple flavor with sweet glazed walnuts and a hint of molasses from the brown sugar
Difficulty: Moderate due to the glazing of the walnuts
Ingredients You Will Need
You will need ingredients for both the cookie dough and the homemade glazed walnuts. The glazed walnuts are easy to make and add wonderful maple flavor to these cookies.
Ingredients for the Glazed Maple Walnuts
- Walnuts: I use chopped walnuts so you get bits of maple walnut in every bite, but walnut halves can also be chopped after glazing.
- Maple syrup: Real maple syrup gives the walnuts their warm maple flavor.
- Butter and sugar: These help coat the walnuts and create that sweet glaze.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredients for the Cookie Dough
- Light brown sugar + white sugar: Using both sugars gives these cookies sweetness with a subtle hint of molasses flavor.
- Maple flavoring/extract: This boosts the maple flavor so it stands out next to the walnuts.
- Walnuts: Be sure the glazed walnuts are cooled before adding them to the dough.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Glazed Maple Walnuts
Maple Syrup Tip: Does it Matter the Brand?
For recipes where maple is the star flavor, the maple syrup you choose can make a difference. I prefer using real maple syrup for the best flavor, since imitation pancake syrups tend to be sweeter and less maple-forward. If you are curious about grades, storage, or choosing a syrup for baking, The Chef & The Dish has a helpful article called "Maple Syrup 101: The Ultimate Guide on How to Select, Store and Cook with Maple Syrup." It is an easy, quick read for home bakers.
Step 1: This works best in a nonstick pan. Add the sugar, maple syrup, and one tablespoon of butter to the pan.
Step 2: Heat over medium heat so that the sugar melts with the butter and maple syrup. You don't want the heat too high or it will crystallize the sugar.
Step 3: Don't worry if the sugar crystallizes. Just add another tablespoon of butter so that it loosens the sugar mixture again. Stir so that it sticks to the walnuts and then take the pan off the heat.
Step 4: Once the pan is off the heat, spread the walnuts on a parchment lined sheet pan to cool.
Step 5: Now you can chop any walnuts that you think are too big into bite-size pieces. I include all the small pieces; they have lots of flavor.
Step 6: Making your own glazed maple walnuts only takes about 15 to 20 minutes, so they are not too time-consuming to make. Set the chopped walnuts aside to be added to the cookie dough later.
How to Make the Maple Cookie Dough
Now that the glazed maple walnuts are chopped and ready, it is time to make the cookies.
Prepping
Step 7: Weigh or measure the sugars into a bowl and set it aside. In another bowl, weigh or measure the flour. Add to the flour the cinnamon, baking powder and the salt. I run a whisk through to blend.
Step 8: Mash a ripe banana and measure out ¼ cup. The banana adds moisture and softness to the cookies.
Mixing the Cookie Dough
Step 9: Add the cream cheese to the mixer bowl. I then cube the butter.
Step 10: Mix on a medium mixer speed until the cream cheese and the butter have blended together. This should take about 1 minutes.
Step 11: Now add the sugars and mix on a medium mixer speed for 3 minutes. It will look creamy and have soft peaks.
Step 12: Time to add the maple syrup, banana, egg, and the vanilla extract. On a medium mixer speed, mix until all ingredients are incorporated. This should take about 1 minute.
Step 13: Next, add the flour mixture about a third at a time. Try not to over mix the flour. I scrape down the bowl and add the glazed maple walnuts and combine. This takes about 5 to 10 seconds.
Step 14: Using a spatula, I go around and make sure the walnuts are as dispersed throughout the cookie dough as possible.
Step 15: Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
Baking the Cookies
Step 16: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C). Add parchment paper to two cookie sheet pans. Using a medium cookie scoop, add twelve scoops to a sheet pan and bake for 11 to 12 minutes.
Step 17: After taking the cookies out of the oven, move them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
🫙🍪 Storage
Store the cookies in a container with a tight-fitting lid. They will stay fresh for about 5-7 days.
FAQs
Yes. You can make the glazed walnuts a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container until ready to use. Be sure they are completely cooled before adding them to the cookie dough.
You can, but the cookies will have less maple flavor and sweetness. The homemade glazed walnuts add both texture and a richer maple taste.
Real maple syrup is recommended for the best flavor. Pancake syrups tend to be sweeter and have less true maple flavor, which can change the overall taste of the cookies.
The banana adds moisture and helps keep the cookies soft without making them taste strongly like banana. The maple and glazed walnuts remain the main flavors.
Still Have Questions?
Need help with ingredient swaps or wondering if these cookies freeze well? I've added a few extra baking helpers below for common home baker questions.
Other Walnut Cookies to Try
If you tried this Glazed Maple Walnut Cookies recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and share your thoughts in the comments. Thanks!
Recipe
Glazed Maple Walnut Cookies
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email a link of this post to you, so you can come back any time!
Ingredients
GLAZED MAPLE WALNUTS INGREDIENTS
- 1 ¼ cup (146.25 g) Walnuts
- ¼ cup (50 g) Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Butter unsalted
COOKIE INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup (113.5 g) Butter unsalted room temperature
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese
- ½ cup (100 g) Sugar white
- ½ cup (110 g) Light brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoon Pure maple syrup
- 1 Egg
- ¼ cup Banana
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) All-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 ¼ cup (112 g) Maple glazed walnuts chopped
Instructions
MAKING GLAZED MAPLE WALNUTS
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper so the glazed walnuts can cool. Add the butter, sugar, and maple syrup to a non-stick pan.
- Turn the heat to medium and stir until the sugar dissolves into the maple syrup and butter. Add the walnuts and stir until the syrupy mixture coats them evenly. If the mixture starts to dry out, add a little more butter.
- Once the syrup coats the walnuts, take the pan off the heat and spread them onto the parchment-lined sheet pan to cool. After they have cooled, chop them into bite-size pieces. Be sure to keep the tiny pieces to add to the cookie dough. Those little bits have lots of flavor.
MAKING THE COOKIES
- Weigh or measure both sugars into one bowl and set aside. In another bowl, weigh or measure the flour, then add the cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Run a whisk through to blend. Mash the banana with a fork and measure out ¼ cup, then set aside.
- Add the butter and cream cheese to a mixer bowl and blend on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Next, add both sugars and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl before adding the vanilla extract, mashed banana, maple syrup, and egg. Mix until everything is incorporated.
- Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture about a third at a time. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl before adding the chopped glazed maple walnuts. Mix on low for about 5 to 10 seconds to distribute the walnuts through the cookie dough. Cover lightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C) and line 2 cookie sheet pans with parchment paper. Using a medium cookie scoop, place 12 mounds of dough onto a cookie sheet pan. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. After removing them from the oven, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.
Share this recipe
Notes
Real maple syrup gives the glazed walnuts their warm maple flavor. Since maple is the star flavor in this recipe, I recommend using pure maple syrup instead of pancake syrup for the best taste. Banana:
The mashed banana adds moisture and helps keep these cookies soft. You only need ¼ cup, and the maple flavor stays front and center. Walnuts:
I use chopped walnuts so you get little bits of maple walnut flavor in every bite. Be sure the glazed walnuts are fully cooled before adding them to the cookie dough. Cream Cheese:
A little cream cheese helps create a soft, tender cookie texture. Let it soften slightly so it blends smoothly with the butter.
NUTRITION DISCLAIMER
I am not a certified Dietitian or Nutritionist. The nutrition amounts given below are provided through a program and are only a guideline.
Join the Discussion