Soft and chewy, these Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies bring cozy, comforting flavors to life in every bite. Rich maple syrup and crunchy pecans take center stage.
The cream cheese base ensures every cookie melts in your mouth, while warm cinnamon and maple extract offer the perfect autumn-inspired twist that works year-round.
Key Players in These Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies
- Cream cheese – Adds a luscious, tangy richness that makes these cookies irresistibly soft and chewy.
- Salted butter – A melted base that gives the dough a smooth, tender texture with a hint of savory balance.
- Brown sugar – Deepens the sweetness with its molasses notes, complementing the maple beautifully.
- Maple syrup – Infuses authentic flavor and moisture, bringing warmth and depth to each bite.
- Maple extract – Intensifies the maple essence, ensuring every bite tastes like pure maple bliss.
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure while keeping the cookies light and pillowy.
- Chopped pecans – Add a satisfying crunch and nutty richness that pairs perfectly with the maple profile.
- Cinnamon – Enhances the cookie’s cozy, spiced undertones and ties all flavors together.
How to Make Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies
Start by whisking warm melted butter with cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth and silky. This ensures a rich, uniform base.
Incorporate the egg, maple syrup, and maple extract to deepen the flavor profile, then stir in flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder until fully combined. The dough will be thick and rich.
Fold in a generous amount of chopped pecans to give texture and a nutty boost.
Roll scoops of dough into balls, coat them in cinnamon-sugar powdered goodness, and bake until they’re just set and barely golden around the edges.
Sweet Tips & Maple Magic
For an extra pop of maple, try drizzling the cooled cookies with a simple maple glaze. You can also toast the pecans before folding them in to enhance their nutty aroma and crunch.
If you love extra texture, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking creates a sweet-salty contrast that elevates every bite. These cookies can be made smaller for bite-sized treats or larger for bakery-style indulgence—just adjust baking time accordingly.
Keeping Them Fresh: Storing Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies
To keep these cookies as delightful as the day they were baked, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
If you want to extend their shelf life, they freeze beautifully. Just place cooled cookies in a single layer in a freezer bag or airtight container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or reheat in a low oven for a just-baked feel.
Warm, soft, and loaded with maple pecan flavor, these cookies will quickly become a favorite comfort bake.
Maple Pecan Cream Cheese Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1 tsp maple extract
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 oz cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
Topping:
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and cream cheese. Pour in the melted butter while still warm and whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and unified. Incorporate the egg, maple syrup, and maple extract into the mixture, whisking for roughly one minute to blend. Sift in the flour along with the baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon, and stir the mixture with a rubber spatula until no dry streaks remain. Gently fold the chopped pecans into the dough. In a separate small bowl, blend together the powdered sugar and cinnamon for the coating. Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough evenly (either #40 or #50 scoop recommended), shaping each scoop into a ball. Roll each dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture before arranging them on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced approximately two inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the cookies are set and lightly golden around the edges.
