Maple Gingerbread Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour 

• 3 Teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup dark-brown sugar 
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 large egg
• In a  bowl, combine the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. With an electric mixer in another bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. In the butter sugar mixture, add the maple syrup and egg. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients; mix until a dough like texture forms. Place dough on floured plastic wrap and chill until firm, 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the dough on floured parchment or waxed paper and roll out 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes, and transfer to baking sheets. 
• Bake until firm  and until the cookie is a light golden brown. It should take 10 to 15 minutes in the oven. Cool completely and decorate with icing. I used a simple icing recipe that is just a combination of powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. I also topped my cookies with crushed sugar-cinnamon crystals I purchased from trader joe's 

Enjoy!