In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add in the maple syrup and eggs, and mix until everything is combined.
Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, all-spice, nutmeg, salt and pepper and mix until combined. The dough will gradually form a bowl.
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and place in the freezer for 15- 20 minutes. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.
Generously flour your worktop. Take the dough out of the freezer and roll out, until roughly 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out the cookies using your favourite Autumn cookie cutters. Place the cookies onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Place the cookies in the oven and bake for 8- 12 minutes (this will make nice soft cookies). Do not overbake. Once cooked, remove from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.
Make the chai sugar. Place all the ingredients into a small bowl and mix until combined.
Heat your chocolate over boiling water in a glass bowl. Dip your cookies into the chocolate, creating patterns and highlighting different parts of the cookie. sprinkle the chai sugar onto the cookie, shaking off the excess. Allow the chocolate to cool. If needs be, place the cookies in the fridge. Once everything has completely set, eat and enjoy.