Coffee Maple Clusters

Couldn't make up my mind...coffee cookies or maple cookies, so why not have both?

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
2 tsps maple extract
2  1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Icing:
3 tbsps butter
1 tbsp chocolate syrup
2 tsps milk
1/4 tsp maple extract
1/2 tsp coffee granules
3/4 - 1 cup icing sugar

chocolate sprinkles

Yield: 70 cookies

In a large bowl cream the butter, shortening and sugar together. Combine the egg, instant coffee and maple extract then add to the butter mixture.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and add gradually to the wet ingredients.

Roll into small balls and place 3 in a cluster on a parchment lined baking sheet. You don't have to squish them but make sure the sides are touching each other.

Bake at 400 F for 7 minutes.

Once the cookies are cooled make the icing. Cream the butter, syrup, milk, extract and granules together, then add the icing sugar in increments to the desired consistency.

Give them each a little squirt of icing and some chocolate sprinkles!