There are many ways to make maple candy. Maple syrup producers’ associations often share their recipes to help promote pure maple syrup. For example, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association has a recipe video that demonstrates how to make maple candy. The Massachusetts Maple Producers Association also has a video about making maple candy.
The first method involves boiling maple sap until it reaches the syrup point and the resulting candy is known as maple taffy. This candy is very popular in Quebec and Eastern Ontario where it is considered to be traditional. Maple taffy is often eaten using a metal dinner fork and popsicle stick.
Maple candy is easiest to make when it’s made in small batches. You should use a candy thermometer to ensure that the syrup reaches the correct temperature. A candy thermometer will help ensure that your maple candy is perfectly soft. The syrup should be kept at 112 degrees Celsius or 230 degrees F to avoid scorching. Once it’s at this temperature, it should not be stirred or heated over a low flame. Once the syrup reaches the desired temperature, pour it onto clean snow. The cold temperatures will cause the syrup to thicken. If the syrup is not running as you pour it onto the snow, it has not cooled sufficiently to make soft maple candy.
Making maple sugar candy is a quick and easy process that requires only two ingredients and can be made in less than an hour. It’s also healthier than junk food. Maple candy is particularly popular in the northeastern United States and Canada. There are several methods for making maple sugar candy. Traditionally, the sweet syrup is cooked in a large pot over a flame to make it plastic.
Maple syrup is a sugar maple tree sap that is used to make maple candy. Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple trees harvested with plastic tubing. Maple syrup is a liquid, and it must have the proper balance of invert sugars to make a good candy. Consequently, the lightest grade of maple syrup is often used to produce candy.
The maple syrup used in the creation of maple syrup candy is made by heating the sap until it is 27oF higher than its boiling point. It is then allowed to cool to room temperature at 70oF or 50oF. Then, the syrup is stirred until it reaches a soft, pourable consistency. The mixture can then be poured into molds or made into tiny cakes. The syrup can be dropped onto a marble or waxed surface depending on the mold.
Maple candy is a fast-paced process that requires a lot of work. The syrup needs to be allowed to cool to room temperature quickly. The candy will set once it has cooled to room temperature. The candy can be removed from the molds and checked for hardness using a candy thermometer. A candy thermometer that measures 212 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended to ensure safety. If the syrup becomes too hard, you can heat it with 1/2 cup water and then repeat the process. You can adjust the temperature to suit your taste and altitude.
About Jim Vanderberg
Jim Vanderber from Toronto is known as “Toronto Jim”, and he makes and sells his own maple candy. All ingredients are sourced directly from local maple suppliers, and the maple candy is produced in kitchens in the Toronto Canada area. You can find Toronto Jim’s Maple Candy in retail locations around Toronto. Follow Toronto Jim on Twitter at @torontojim.