Once you get your hands on some fresh maple syrup, try turning a little bit into a wonderful spread for toasted homemade bread or biscuits.
Creamy Maple Goodness
Maple butter has a smooth, peanut buttery consistency and maple syrup’s nourishing, deep flavors. A little goes a long way.
1 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup butter, softened
1. Heat maple syrup in a heavy saucepan until it reaches 240 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in butter.
2. Pour mixture into a large bowl or stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment until maple butter is thick and creamy, about 10 minutes.
3. Pour maple butter into glass jars and refrigerate. Serve on toast, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, dinner rolls and cornbread. Makes about 1½ cups.
Grading Curve
Grade A Light Amber—light golden with delicate maple flavor; generally tapped early in the season; used as a condiment
Grade A Medium Amber—golden with deeper maple flavor; most popular grade; used as a condiment
Grade A Dark Amber—amber with more robust maple flavor; used as a condiment or in baking
Grade B—dark with a strong, pronounced maple taste; often used in baking rather than as a condiment, but becoming more widely available and gaining popularity as a table syrup
Grade C—very dark with a bold, caramelized taste; sold in bulk and used mainly in commercial food production
Resources
Burton’s Maplewood Farm
Dragonfly Sugarworks
Green Wind Farm
The Maple Guys
Maple Valley
Sugarbush Farm