Kazuha Maple Cookies

1: To make the cookie, cream together butter and white sugar in a stand mixer on medium speed until combined.

2: Add vanilla and egg yolk and mix until incorporated.

3: Sift in all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until combined.

4: Split the dough for different colors, using ¼ of the dough for red and 1 tablespoon of dough for black.

5: Add red gel food coloring for the dough designated for red, and 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder and black gel food coloring for the dough designated for black.

6: Flatten each dough using a rolling pin to ¼ inch in between parchment paper.

7: Freeze dough until solidified, around 30 minutes.

8: Cut out pieces and design Kazuha on 4 cookies (for the top cookie) and 4 blanks with no design (for the bottom cookie).

9: Once finished, bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes, or until edges of the cookie have slightly browned.

10: Cool cookies to room temperature before adding filling.

11: To make the maple filling, mix together maple syrup, powdered sugar, and salt in a small bowl.

12: To assemble, place ½ a tablespoon of maple filling in between each cooled cookie.