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Maple Season Is Here 🍁

That’s right, maple season, also often referred to as sugar season, has begun. Sap from maple trees is collected during the tapping season, which is between February and April with March being the prime month for maple production. These are the months when temperatures are above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, making the sap flow. Maple trees should be at least 30+ years old before they are tapped. A 40-year-old sugar maple tree will produce about 10 gallons of sap per season. 

Maple lovers can also enjoy the slightly smoky, caramel-like sweetness in a variety of products other than just syrup. These products range from cereals and snacks, goodies (like candy and ice cream) to butter and even a non-dairy maple oat beverage. 


Here in the Northeast, we are lucky to have locally made pure maple syrup with Vermont being the top producer of maple syrup in the U.S., and New York being the second. It’s a natural and nutritious sweetener containing several benefits, including 24 antioxidants that can reduce the damage of free radicals which cause inflammation and contribute to the formation of various chronic diseases.

A Sweet Substitute

In addition to being a terrific table syrup, it’s a flavorful ingredient in baking and cooking. Here’s how you can substitute pure maple syrup in recipes calling for white sugar: 

  • Substitute ¾ to one cup of maple syrup for every one cup white sugar
  • Decrease the liquid in the recipe by 2 to 4 tablespoons for each cup of sugar used
  • Add ¼ to ½ tsp baking soda unless recipe already calls for buttermilk, sour milk or sour cream
  • Decrease oven temperature by 25 degrees as batters containing maple tend to caramelize around the edges more quickly 

 

Whether you’re using it as a table syrup or in cooking, one substitution you should never make is imitation maple syrup in place of real. There’s simply no comparison to the wonderful flavor of real maple syrup!

Move Over Pancakes ... Maple Syrup Is For Much More! 

Make-Ahead Maple Pecan Coffee Cake

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS Maple Pecan Streusel: ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup brown sugar 1 ½ cups pecans, chopped ¼ cup maple syrup 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Cinnamon Swirl: ½ cup sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Cake: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar ⅓ cup maple syrup 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 eggs, room temperature 1 cup sour cream INSTRUCTIONS Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine all streusel ingredients. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine all cinnamon swirl ingredients. Set aside. For the cake: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the syrup and vanilla and mix until combined. Mix in the eggs 1 at a time. Alternate adding the flour mixture and sour cream. Start with half the flour mixture, then half the sour cream, mixing to combine between each addition. Repeat once more until everything is completely combined. Spread half the cake batter onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the top. Spread the remaining batter over the cinnamon swirl layer. Sprinkle the streusel mixture evenly over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool, then slice and serve. Makes: 24 slices Prep Time: 35 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 9 hours 25 minutes Recipe by Farm Flavor

Candied Pecans

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS ½ cup maple syrup ¼ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups pecan halves INSTRUCTIONS Place a sheet of parchment paper on the counter. In a small bowl, combine the maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. Heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Toast pecan halves for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Watch carefully as they can burn very easily. Remove pecans from heat and transfer to a bowl. Return skillet to stove and increase heat to medium. Add the sugar mixture. Let mixture bubble and thicken for about 1 minute, then add the toasted pecans and stir while mixture continues to thicken and coats the pecans. Once the pecans are completely coated and the sugar mixture has caramelized, remove from heat and quickly pour out onto the prepared piece of parchment paper. Allow to cool completely. Once cooled, serve immediately or store in an airtight container. Recipe by Farm Flavor

Maple Bourbon Chipotle Chicken Wings

September 30, 2021
INGREDIENTS 1.5 lb chicken wings For spice rub: 2 tsp olive oil to coat wings 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 ½ teaspoons maple sugar For sauce: 6 slices of bacon (cut into 1 inch pieces) 4 cloves minced garlic 1 tablespoon grated shallot 2 teaspoons chipotle chilies minced (from can of chipotles in adobo sauce) 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste ¼ cup bourbon ½ cup maple syrup INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Place chicken wings in a large bowl and drizzle with oil to coat. Whisk together all dry ingredients from spice rub in a small bowl. Add spice rub to chicken, using your hands to coat wings evenly. Let rest for 15-20 minutes. Prepare a pan for the oven by lining with foil (for easy clean-up), and placing a wire rack in the pan. Place chicken wings skin side down in single layer on rack, and bake for 40 minutes in center of oven, turning wings over after 20 minutes. Turn over once more and broil for 4-5 minutes for crispy skin. While wings are baking, prepare the sauce. Cook bacon in a saucepan over medium heat until lightly browned then remove from pan. Add garlic and shallots to pan and cook for 2 minutes or until softened. Add chilies and cook for 2 more minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients and return bacon to the pan. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to a simmer for 15 minutes to combine the flavors. Set aside. When wings are done, cover with sauce and provide extra sauce for dipping.

Courtesy of Farm Flavor, this coffee cake is perfect to bring to a brunch or serve at your own. Make it the day before, refrigerate, and then bake the next morning for delicious fresh-baked goodness!

Farm Flavor’s sweet and salty nuts are a terrific snack, a delicious, crunchy addition to salads or sprinkled on top of ice cream and more.

When cooking, maple syrup isn’t limited to just sweet dishes, but is also used as an ingredient in savory ones like these sweet, spicy, and smoky wings courtesy of Vermont Sugar Makers.

Maple Apple Baked Beans

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS 5 cans (15 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained 2 1/4 cups Granny Smith apples (2 very large apples), peeled and chopped 1 2/3 cups sweet onion, chopped 1 cup cooked bacon, coarsely chopped 1 1/2 cups hickory barbecue sauce 1 cup pure maple syrup 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 1/4 cup stone-ground mustard 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir well Pour in 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish or cast iron Dutch oven coated with vegetable cooking spray Bake for 45 minutes, or until bubbly and heated throughout Recipe by Farm Flavor

Maple-Mustard Glazed Pork Chops

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS 4 bone-in, center-cut pork chops (about 6 ounces each) ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ small white onion, chopped ¼ cup fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons maple syrup INSTRUCTIONS Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add pork chops and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through but slightly pink in the center. Transfer pork chops to a platter without draining the pan Return pan to medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes, or until tender Add the broth, bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the mustard and maple syrup. Continue cooking for 1 minute, or until slightly thickened Return the pork chops to the pan and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until thoroughly heated through (be careful not to overcook) Serve pork chops warm with sauce Recipe by Farm Flavor

Sweet Potato and Bacon Bisque

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS 4 cups peeled/diced sweet potatoes 4 cups water 6 slices of bacon 1 small onion, minced 1 ½ cups light cream or milk ¼ cup pure NYS maple syrup 1 tsp salt, more as needed ¼ tsp ground cinnamon Sour cream for serving, optional INSTRUCTIONS Boil sweet potatoes in a large covered pot Reduce heat, simmer 20 minutes until tender Remove from heat (do not drain) Sauté bacon until crisp and blot Reserve about 3 tbsp of bacon fat, sauté onion for 5 minutes Puree the potatoes and cooking water in a food processor or blender Return to soup pot, stir in onion, cream, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and crumbled bacon Serve piping hot Put a small dollop of sour cream in each bowl, if desired Recipe by New York State Maple

These baked beans make a great side dish at a summer barbecue or any other time, and makes a delicious accompaniment for many pork, chicken and beef dishes!

The tangy, tart flavor of the Dijon mustard is counterbalanced with the addition of the maple syrup to create a sweet-savory glaze in this recipe from Farm Flavor. 

Warm up with this delicious bisque from New York State Maple. Its flavor is enhanced by the maple syrup, which gives it just the right touch of sweetness! 

Maple Salmon

Maple syrup is one of only a few ingredients used in this super easy “get it on the table fast" dish. Maple Salmon, courtesy of New York State Maple, is quick to prepare and takes almost no time to cook - perfect for those nights when time is short!

Maple Pecan White Bean Brownies

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS BLONDIES: 1 1/2 cups white beans, cooked or canned (rinsed and drained) 3 tbsp coconut oil 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup oat flour, gluten-free 3/4 cup coconut sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, raw 1/2 cup pecans, raw pecans, crushed, for garnish MAPLE PECAN GLAZE: 3/4 cup pecans 1/4 cup maple syrup, pure 2 tbsp coconut oil 1/4 cup water 1 tsp vanilla extract pinch salt, sea INSTRUCTIONS MAPLE PECAN GLAZE: Combine all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth and creamy. BLONDIES: Preheat the oven to 350 and line a 9-inch square dish with parchment paper. Process the white beans, coconut oil, and vanilla in a large processor until relatively smooth. Add in the coconut sugar, oat flour, salt, baking soda and vinegar and blend until until a smooth batter is formed. Add in the pecans and pulse briefly until incorporated. Pour the batter into the lined baking dish and use a spatula to smooth the top. Bake at 350F until the top begins to crack, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving. Top with the Maple Pecan Glaze just before serving, along with an additional sprinkling of crushed pecans, if desired. Recipe by USA Pulses

Maple Salad Dressing

March 15, 2023
INGREDIENTS ¼ cup pure NYS Maple Syrup (recommend grade A - very dark color & strong taste ) ½ cup Balsamic vinegar 2 tsp dijon mustard 1 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS Place vinegar, Pure NYS Maple Syrup, mustard, salt and pepper to taste into a blender Pulse to combine, then add olive oil in steady stream as you continue to blend. Recipe by New York State Maple

Here’s a dessert from USA Pulses that’s gluten free and vegan, and big on taste with the addition of a sweet, nutty glaze!

Delicious on any salad, this maple dressing pairs especially well with salads containing pork, chicken or shrimp.

Maple Bacon Dessert Pizza

What’s not to love with only 4 ingredients needed to create this simple, sweet n’ savory pizza from New York State Maple!

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