20 October, 2022

Cooking & Baking With Maple Syrup

The book, Sweet Nature: A Cook’s Guide to Using Honey and Maple Syrup, co-written by Beth Dooley, writes about how maple syrup can completely transform a dish.

She explains how maple syrup has a distinct flavor, able to add enriched flavor to a dish, being it a baked good or something savory.

Like this Pork Loin With A Maple Garlic Sauce.

Cane sugar, either natural or processed doesn’t have much flavor at all. Sugar is actually neutral when it comes to flavor. All sugar does is sweeten something up.

But with maple syrup you’re not only sweetening but you’re adding an additional flavor.

Cook’s Notes

You can substitute 3/4 cup maple syrup for 1 cup of white sugar in baked goods.

Be sure to reduce other liquids in the recipe by about 3 tablespoons.

Read more here about Maple Syrup – The Same As Cane Sugar.

Color & Flavor Of Maple

According to Maple From Canada, at the start of sugaring season (the removal of sap from maple trees), syrup is generally clear, with a light sweet taste. It becomes darker and caramelized as the season goes on.

The classification of maple syrup is based on it’s color and flavor. There are four colors of maple syrup. The color of the syrup depends on when the sap is harvested from the maple trees.

These include:

Golden – Delicate Taste
Amber – Rich Taste
Dark – Robust Taste
Very Dark – Strong Taste

Only Grade A maple syrup is sold in stores. There is also a Processing Grade not sold to the public but rather used in making packed foods that call for maple syrup.

Grade A maple syrup has to meet certain requirements set out by the Department of Agriculture (USA) to be able to be sold in public markets.

The Processing Grade Maple has lesser standards and is only sold to food manufacturing facilities.

Cooking & Baking With Maple Syrup

Maple sap once extracted from the tree, can be processed into different foods. Such as a natural maple water, maple flakes and syrup, maple butter and maple sugar.

Maple Butter

Maple butter is not only for pancakes and French toast.

It pairs well with sauces. And it’s perfect for garnishing desserts, flavoring custards and making marzipan.

Maple Water

Maple water is delicious on its own, but it makes deliciousness paired with fruit.

Maple water can bring splendid flavor to soups, broths and sauces. Use it to poach poultry or fish as well.

Maple Flakes

Maple flakes make a great addition to spice blends. You can season meats, fish, and vegetables.

Left To Right: Maple Pepper – Maple Sugar

Maple Pepper

Maple pepper has three simple ingredients, salt, black pepper and maple sugar. It’s a delightfully unexpected combination of sweetness and spice to your favorite recipes.

It’s a versatile seasoning. Use it to season poultry, meat, eggs, vegetables and even popcorn.

Maple Sugar

Maple sugar is mix with other spices, which include mustard, onion, smoked paprika, and chiles with a sweet organic maple sugar.

Use it as a rub for salmon, beef steaks, and poultry.

Add 1 teaspoon of maple sugar seasoning to panko or breadcrumbs before breading your chicken tenders, fish fillets, fried cheese sticks or breaded cauliflower.

**Bowls Of Mixed Fruit Seasoned With Maple & Other Natural Flavors**

Out of all five (5) applications of maple that has been reviewed here – maple flakes and butter, maple sugar seasoning, maple pepper….maple syrup can do it all.

Cost wise, maple syrup is the least expensive. All other applications of maple sap can be considered a gourmet product. Which such products usually are more expensive.

You don’t need cup fulls of maple syrup in order to get the flavor across in your recipe.

Most recipes call for 1-3 tablespoons and some may ask for up to 1/2 cup. Like this Apple Cider Maple Vinaigrette.

To use maple syrup in a recipe requires no preparation. It can be used as-is.

You can drizzle it over the top of desserts or incorporate it into the recipe, such as with these Blueberry Maple Cinnamon Cupcakes.

Maple can also be incorporated into sour cream, whipped cream, and frostings.

Maple syrup can be an exchange for an equal amount of corn syrup in most recipes, including glazes, frostings, and homemade jams.

However, keep in mind that using maple syrup instead of corn syrup may change the flavor and color of your final product.

Additionally, note that pure maple syrup can crystallize, which may not be suitable for making candy or caramel.

Try this Southern Pecan Pie and replace the corn syrup with real maple syrup. You will love the added flavor. And pecans pair well with maple syrup.

Autumn is a great time to cook and bake with maple.

There is a variety of produce associated with the Autumn season. Like apples, Brussels sprouts, root vegetables and winter squashes.

Try These Maple Drizzled Hasselback Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes

They can all be found at farmers markets and grocery stores, and all pair perfectly well with the sweet, caramel flavor of maple syrup.

Try cooking your next meal or baked dessert with Maple Syrup. Here are some suggestions.

More Deliciously Yummy Recipes

Cook Plate Fork

20 October, 2022