Ways To Use Maple Syrup

TIP OF THE DAY: Ways To Use Maple Syrup

October 22, 2013 at 8:42 am · Filed under Honey-Sugar-Syrup, Recipes

We love real maple syrup—the kind that comes from maple trees. Most of the syrup purchased in supermarkets is called “breakfast syrup,” by law. It contains no real maple syrup—just artificial maple flavoring mixed with corn syrup (or worse, HFCS) and caramel coloring. Be sure the bottle says “100% real maple syrup.”

Maple syrup has a life far beyond pancakes. You can pour it over hot or cold breakfast cereal, for starters.

There’s plenty of pure maple syrup around, from New York, New England, and Canada. Take a look at this starter list of suggestions, and decide how you’ll use it next.

A maple soufflé recipe is below.

WAYS TO USE MAPLE SYRUP

Appetizers & Sides

Buschetta: Spread toasted bread rounds with blue cheese, then drizzle with maple syrup.

Carrots: Toss 1 pound carrot slices or sticks (or baby carrots) with 2 tablespoons syrup, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/3 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast at 400°F for 15 minutes.

Compound Butter: Blend 1 tablespoon syrup with 1 stick softened butter. Use on baked carrots, muffins, and toast.

Polenta: Drizzle with syrup just before serving.

[1] Fig and maple syrup cocktail. Here’s the (photo © Chef Linnéa Johansson | NYC).

Mains

Glaze: brush onto ham, poultry and pork chops/roasts.

Marinades: use maple syrup instead of honey or other sweetener.

Beverages

Cocktails: Make a Maple Martini (add a teaspoon or more to the vodka/gin and vermouth) and other cocktails (here’s a fig and maple cocktail recipe).

Cold drinks: sweeten iced tea and lemonade.

Hot Drinks: sweeten tea and hot chocolate.

Shakes: Blend 1 cup vanilla ice cream with 1/4 cup milk and 2 tablespoons syrup.

[2] Drizzle maple syrup on sharp cheeses (photo © http://www.murrayscheese.com).

Desserts

As a syrup on ice cream or rice pudding

In baked apples (just fill the centers of cored apples and bake)

To sweeten sautéed apples or apple pie

To replace some of the sugar in pecan pie and gingerbread cookies

GRADES OF MAPLE SYRUP

More than a few people are confused by the various types of maple syrup: grade A or B, light, medium, or dark amber, etc. But once you see the explanation in print, it’s easy to understand.

Here are the different grades of maple syrup.

RECIPE: EASY MAPLE SOUFFLÉ

Ingredients For 4 Individual Ramekins

2 eggs, separated

1/3 cup maple syrup (try Grade A Dark Amber)

Preparation

1. PREHEAT oven to 400° F. Separate egg whites and yolks.

2. WHISK together egg yolks and maple syrup in a small bowl.

3. BEAT egg whites in a stainless steel bowl, until soft peaks form.

4. FOLD the maple syrup mixture into the whipped egg whites. Pour into four ramekins and place ramekins on a baking sheet.

4. PLACE baking sheet in the oven and immediately turn temperature to 375°F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until puffed up.

Recipe courtesy PureCanadaMaple.com.