It’s Canada 150th birthday ! How exciting ! I can’t believe I have been in this wonderful country for 27 years ! The friendly people, beautiful weather, nature, and food……I just love them all ! To celebrate this big day, I made these maple cookies ! And of course, I have to use maple syrup to make it Canadian ! Happy 150th, Canada ! And I hope you are enjoying the celebrations and activities all over our country ! 

Makes about 2-3 dozens, depending on size

For the cookie

• 170 g all-purpose flour 
• 170 g cake and pastry flour
• 3 g baking soda 
• 2 g salt
• 120 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 60 g granulated sugar
• 60 mL maple syrup
• 1 egg  
• 5 mL pure vanilla extract 
• 30 mL lemon juice 
• Zest of 1 small lemon 

1. Preheat oven to 325°F
2. Sift together flours, baking soda and salt, set aside 
3. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy 
4. Add maple syrup, egg, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest, mix until blended 
5. Mix in flour mixture, 1/3 at a time until just cooperated (do not over mix)  
6. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and gently press together until dough is formed (dough can be stored in the fridge or freezer for later use)
7. Roll out to about 0.3 cm in thickness 
8. Cut with cookie cutters (You can collect the dough scraps all together and re-roll, cover unused dough with a damp cloth or plastic wrap)
9. Place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper 
10. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, cool completely before decorate. 

For the royal icing

• 45 g meringue powder,sifted 
• 500 g icing sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 90 – 120 mL warm water
• 5 mL pure vanilla extract
• 10 mL corn syrup 
• Gel food colouring

1. Mix meringue powder with about 45 mL of water, let sit for a few minutes 
2. Stir in vanilla and corn syrup 
3. Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, mix icing sugar, salt and meringue powder mixture at low speed 
4. Slowly add in warm water until shiny and desired consistency (thicker for outlining and thinner for filling)
5. Add gel food colouring