Maple syrup is high on my list of favorite sweet treats. It is a must for pancakes, waffles, French toast, and eating by the spoonful. What? You don’t eat syrup by the spoonful? Moving on…
Whoever decided to collect sap from a maple tree and boil it down to make syrup was a genius, in my opinion.
So, now that we have established how much I love maple syrup there is one thing I don’t love about it.
The price.
Real maple syrup is expensive. We normally purchase maple syrup from a nearby park where they collect the sap, boil it down, and sell it right in the park.
We are usually able to get it for a better price than anywhere else we have found. In late February or early March we often purchase enough to last us all year.
However, this past winter was so strange weather-wise. We had a lot of snow and freezing temperatures right when it was maple syrup time, This meant that our local park didn’t have as much syrup to sell us this year.
So, what’s a maple syrup loving gal to do when she runs out of the real thing? Make her own*(See note below), that’s what.
I have made this homemade version several times over the years and, while it isn’t as good as the real deal, it is a close second. Plus, it only has three ingredients and contains no high fructose corn syrup.
If you are looking to try making your own syrup I recommend giving this homemade pancake syrup a try. Here’s the recipe.
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Cups Evaporated Cane Juice*
- 1 tsp. Maple Flavoring
- Combine the water and sugar in a sauce pan and stir using a whisk.
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Boil for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and add the maple flavoring.
- Cover and let sit for a few minutes to allow the syrup to thicken a little before serving.
I have used these brands of maple flavoring with success. Silver Cloud Estates Natural Maple Flavor Blend and Boyajian Maple Flavor. I am sure there are other brands that will work, but these two were very flavorful and gave this homemade syrup a nice maple flavor.
You can use vanilla extract for a different flavor of syrup if you don't have maple flavoring on hand.
I do want to note that I did quite a bit of research about the best maple flavoring and these are the two brands I have tried that are really good.
Silver Cloud Estates Natural Maple Flavor Blend and Boyajian Maple Flavor (affiliate links)
You can also use vanilla extract if you don’t have any maple flavoring. The syrup won’t taste like maple syrup, but it will still taste good. Here’s how I make my own vanilla extract. (There’s a funny story in that post, too.)
*I realize I could go out and tap our maple trees, collect the sap, boil it, and make real maple syrup, but right now that is not something I am up for. Maybe someday. 😉
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