Let’s break down the process of making these delicious cookies into clear, easy-to-follow steps:

1. Preheat Your Oven:
   • Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your cookies bake evenly. While the oven is warming up, you can prepare your cookie dough!
2. Mix the Butter and Sugars:
   • In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This step is essential because it incorporates air into the dough, making your cookies light and tender.
3. Add the Maple Syrup and Eggs:
   • Next, pour in 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup, 2 large eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Beat the mixture until well combined, ensuring everything is incorporated smoothly. The maple syrup will add moisture and flavor, making these cookies extra special!
4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Whisking the dry ingredients separately helps to distribute the baking soda and powder evenly throughout the flour.
5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients:
   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want to keep your cookies tender. If the dough feels a bit sticky, that’s perfectly okay!
6. Scoop the Dough:
   • Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. I like to roll them slightly in my hands for a more uniform shape, but it’s not necessary!
7. Bake the Cookies:
   • Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look slightly soft. This is crucial; the cookies will continue to firm up as they cool, so you want to take them out before they look fully baked.
8. Cool and Enjoy:
   • Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows the cookies to set perfectly and become wonderfully chewy.
9. Optional Toppings:
   • For an extra special touch, consider drizzling some additional maple syrup over the cooled cookies or sprinkling them with a little sea salt. The combination of sweet and salty is simply divine!
10. Storage:
    • Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Just make sure to separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.