Cayuga Cookies hail from the Lake Cayuga region of upstate New York, an area in which sugar maples abound. These chewy oatmeal cookies, delicately flavored with maple, boast generous amounts of raisins and walnuts.

Cayuga Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray cookie pans with vegetable cooking spary or lightly butter. Set aside.
2. Combine butter, brown sugar, egg and maple flavoring in a large mixing bowl; beat until well-combined and fluffy. Set aside.
3. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Add all at once to egg mixture; mix well. Add oats; mix well. Stir in raisins and chopped nuts.
4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Leave cookies on cookie pans for about two minutes to firm up; transfer to wire racks using a spatula.

Makes 24 cookies.