I’m a little late to the party celebrating Massachusetts Maple Month—but at least I can offer a small contribution.Sometime the simplest recipes are the best. Sometimes they're also the only ones for which a home cook has the time and the ingredients.
I originally hoped to share my friend Pat’s prize-winning recipe for maple lace cookies. Our extended family was coming to dinner Saturday evening, and I was all set to make these wafers—or so I thought.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the key ingredient in my pantry: maple sugar! So I punted and made a maple-based sauce for ice cream instead.
Very rich and very sweet, it works beautifully poured in small quantities over ice cream. Toasted walnuts or pecans make a festive garnish.
As for the cookies, well, I can make them NEXT March………
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| My nephew Michael had no trouble finishing his maple butterscotch sundae! |
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) sweet butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat melt the butter, stirring constantly. Add the brown sugar and stir until it melts. Continue to stir or whisk as the mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Whisk in the maple syrup. The mixture will look a little weird at first, but it will come together eventually! Return the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly, and boil it (still whisking!) until it coats a spoon. This took about 3 minutes on my weird electric stove.
Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cream. Let the sauce cool slightly before serving it with ice cream. (You may also let it cool to room temperature and then refrigerate it until you are ready to use it. At that point warm it slightly in the microwave.)
Makes just over 1-1/2 cups.
Delicious. And it’s lovely to see handsome young Michael again!!
ReplyDeleteThis sauce looks quite dangerous!
ReplyDeleteLove the pic of your nephew–can just tell that he’s loving his treat! Tasty pic, too.
ReplyDeleteLooks scrumptious. And don’t wait until next March to post that cookie recipe. I have some maple sugar and I don’t know how to use it. Would love to try the cookies.
ReplyDeleteJanice, it's dangerous in a good way. Frayed, and Nancy, Michael LOVES to taste my wares, as you can imagine. Abigail, I'm still hoping to lay my hands on that maple sugar, but if I don't I'll be sure to get you that recipe.
ReplyDeleteMy husband would love this! He's the maple fan in our relationship...will have to remember this one for later-thanks!
ReplyDeleteAny time, EveryDay! It's a keeper, I think.
ReplyDeleteSoooo yummy, Tinky. This ice cream sauce ranks right up there with my mother's chocolate sauce. Is mapleholic a word? :-) Thanks for the recipe! Sue
ReplyDeleteI think it should be, Sue, and I plan to use it next maple season!
ReplyDelete