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.
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.
Sweetened with pure maple syrup and the perfect size for snacking, these Vermont maple walnut muffins are a popular morning treat.
Chewy Maple Nut Bars Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
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.
Maple adds a wonderful dimension to this already-delicious French-Toast Bread Pudding, made even richer by the addictive toffee sauce.
Sweet Maple Cornbread Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
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.
This recipe for the best maple butter is as simple as it is delicious. Try some on pancakes, French toast, or freshly-baked bread.
Maple Pecan Refrigerator Cookies Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
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.
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?
Maple Baked Beans Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
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.
Maple Barbeque Ribs Photo Credit : Jen Perez
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!”
