Maple shortbread sandwich cookies

Ingredients

• •8 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• •1/4 teaspoon salt
• •2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• •1/4 cup maple sugar
• •1/2 teaspoon maple flavor
• •1 cup flour
• •2 tbsp flour
• •2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• •1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• •1/4 teaspoon salt
• •2 tablespoon maple syrup, Grade B preferred
• •1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• •1/4 teaspoon maple flavor
• •1 tablespoon milk, optional; if necessary to make a spreadable filling

Steps

1. 1In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter, salt, sugars, and maple flavor.
2. 2Add the flour and mix just until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. The dough can chill longer than 30 minutes, but if it does, allow about 15 minutes for it to warm a bit and soften before rolling it out.
3. 3Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line it with parchment.
4. 4On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough about 1/8" thick.
5. 5Use a cutter to cut the dough into shapes — leaves, stars, hearts, circles, your choice. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet.
6. 6Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're beginning to brown a bit. Remove them from the oven, and cool right on the pan.
7. 7To make the filling: Mix together all of the filling ingredients except the milk, stirring until smooth. If the filling isn't spreadable, add a bit of the milk to soften its texture.
8. 8Spread the bottom of half the cookies with filling; if you have a scale, about 45g is a good amount for each. Top with the remaining cookies.
9. 9Store cookies, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days. Freeze for longer storage.