12 Spring Maple Recipes

In “New England Bakers,” we head north to the small town of Goshen, Vermont, where a young couple are keeping alive the tradition of making maple syrup the old-fashioned way through their Republic of Vermont label. As they check on taps and boiling sap, we learn what it means to carry on the region’s maple syrup legacy in uncertain times. With the melting snow comes maple season in New England, when we find ourselves craving all things topped or made with delicious pure maple syrup -- from our favorite creamy maple walnut ice cream recipe to our best baked beans with maple syrup. Here's a collection of some of our favorite maple recipes from the Yankee Magazine archives.

Best Maple Recipes For Spring

Homemade Maple Walnut Ice Cream

This delicious homemade maple walnut ice cream recipe gets its rich flavor from two simple steps: Concentrating the maple syrup by simmering it for 10 minutes and toasting the walnuts.

Maple Walnut Muffins

Sweetened with pure maple syrup and the perfect size for snacking, these Vermont maple walnut muffins are a popular morning treat. [caption id="attachment_69837" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Chewy Maple Nut Bars[/caption]

Chewy Maple Nut Bars

The combination of sweet brown sugar, crunchy pecans, and pure maple syrup is tough to beat. Pecan pie lovers in particular will go nuts for these maple nut bars -- the handheld variation of the popular dessert.

French-Toast Bread Pudding with Rum-Spiked Maple-Toffee Sauce

Maple adds a wonderful dimension to this already-delicious French-Toast Bread Pudding, made even richer by the addictive toffee sauce. [caption id="attachment_69836" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Sweet Maple Cornbread[/caption]

Maple Cornbread

For breakfast or snacking, nothing dresses cornbread up better than the simple addition of pure maple syrup — both in the batter and right on top of a square, still warm from the oven.

Best Maple Butter

This recipe for the best maple butter is as simple as it is delicious. Try some on pancakes, French toast, or freshly-baked bread. [caption id="attachment_90033" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Maple Pecan Refrigerator Cookies[/caption]

Maple-Pecan Refrigerator Cookies

These Maple Pecan Refrigerator Cookies are very New England--but with a Southern twist, thanks to pecans' nutty flavor. They're easy to make and can be stored in the freezer until needed. They're not super-sweet, but they're very buttery. For the best maple flavor, use grade B syrup if you can find it, or grade A dark amber will do.

Maple Grape-Nuts Pudding

We love this maple-kissed version of the New England diner classic. What could be better than a dense layer of sweet and nutty “cake” topped with smooth and creamy custard? [caption id="attachment_90034" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Maple Baked Beans[/caption]

Slow-Cooker Maple Baked Beans

Sweetened with maple and molasses, these homemade baked beans with maple syrup are both delicious and easy to make.

Maple-Walnut Layer Cake with Easy Maple Frosting

This towering cake is a real old-fashioned treat, as delicious as it is charming. Sour cream and toasted walnuts give it a rich, nutty flavor; the maple syrup gives it a warm, sweet finish. [caption id="attachment_69835" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Maple Barbeque Ribs[/caption]

Ann Herrmann's Maple Barbecue Ribs

A reader-favorite, these maple-sweetened ribs are a delightful spin on a barbecue favorite. One reader said it best: “EASY and LOVED by all my guests!”

Sweet Potato Gratin with Maple Butter

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes are layered with thinly sliced shallots and a sweet maple butter for a side dish that's both attractive and sweet.