3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
3 eggs (room temperature)
1 cup 100% maple syrup
1/4 tsp. Mapleine or maple extract
4 tbsp. DeKuyper's Butter Rum Schnapps
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped walnuts

Icing:

1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. 100% maple syrup
2 cups powdered sugar
Maple sugar (optional - for sprinkling)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a separate bowl, beat shortening and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, maple syrup, flavoring and Schnapps. Add dates, walnuts; mix.

Form rounded teaspoons and drop onto parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for 13-16 minutes, or until golden on edges (depends upon size of cookies). Cool on wire rack. Spread with Icing.

Icing:

Melt butter, add cream, vanilla and syrup. Beat in powdered sugar until mixture is of a good spreading consistency. If icing is too thick for spreading, add a few drops of cream or maple syrup; if too thin, add a few spoons of powdered sugar.