Maple sugar candy is a melt-in-your-mouth snack! This popular recipe is delicious, easy, and requires very few ingredients. Enjoy this delicious snack alone or gift it to your friends or family during the holiday season. Pick some quality maple syrup, get your candy thermometer ready, and start cooking!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (650 grams) real maple syrup
- cup (60 grams) chopped walnuts (optional)
“ To make 18 candies ”
Step
Part 1 of 2: Making the Dough
Step 1. Bring 2 cups (650 grams) of maple syrup to a boil until they reach 110 degrees Celsius
Measure and pour the maple syrup into the saucepan. Pure maple syrup is best to use because it has the strongest and most authentic taste. Avoid using maple-flavored syrup as it will not thicken properly and reduce the taste. Heat the maple syrup over medium heat until it reaches 110 degrees Celsius. Stir the syrup with a wooden spoon as it heats up to prevent the syrup from sticking to the pan.
- Use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature of the maple syrup. Soak the tip of the thermometer in the batter to get an accurate temperature of the syrup. Make sure the thermometer does not touch the pan as it will display the wrong temperature.
- Flush the inside of the measuring cup with hot water before measuring the maple syrup. This will prevent the maple syrup from sticking to the measuring cup.
- Purchase maple syrup from a supermarket or natural grocery store.
Step 2. Remove the pan from the stove and wait for the syrup to cool to 80 degrees Celsius
Place a pot of maple syrup on a saucer or wooden board until it cools. Leave the candy thermometer in the syrup so you can monitor the temperature. Most candy thermometers can be attached to the edge of the pan.
- It usually takes 10 minutes to lower the temperature of the syrup.
- Do not stir the syrup as it cools.
Step 3. Stir the syrup rapidly for 4 minutes
Remove the candy thermometer from the pan and use a wooden spoon to quickly stir the dough. Keep stirring until the syrup starts to stick and thicken. Usually you need to stir until about 4 minutes.
- Keep the pan away from heat while you stir it.
- Stop kneading the dough as it starts to roll so the candy doesn't stick to the pan.
- Be careful not to splash the dough on your body as it is very hot.
Step 4. Stir in cup (60 grams) chopped walnuts if you want to add a bit of nutty flavor
The walnuts will help add texture and flavor to the candy. Measure the pieces of peanuts into the saucepan and gently stir the mixture. When the nuts are evenly distributed in the mixture, stop stirring.
If you don't like nuts or want some smooth candy, just skip this step
Part 2 of 2: Hardening the Candy
Step 1. Pour the candy into the gum mold
Rubber molds are the best choice for maple syrup candies because they are easy to remove from the mold. Pour the mixture slowly and carefully from the pan into the mold until it is completely filled.
- If you don't have a rubber mold, use a metal or wood mold that has been greased with oil. Avoid using plastic molds because the heat of the candy dough can melt the plastic molds.
- Purchase candy molds from craft stores, especially kitchen supply stores, or online. Some popular prints include maple leaf prints, regular circular prints, and heart-shaped prints.
Step 2. Flatten the candies with a knife and let them cool
Use the face of the knife to help flatten the dough in the mold. This step will help your candy base look smooth and professional. Leave the candies in the molds at room temperature until they are cool enough.
The cooling process takes about 1 hour
Step 3. Remove the candies from the mould
If you are using a rubber mold, turn the mold over and push the candy out. If you are using a wooden or metal mold, turn the mold over and pat lightly to help the candy separate from the mold.
If the maple candies are stuck in the mold, use a knife to help remove them
Step 4. Place the candies on a cooling rack for 2 hours
This step helps the candies to dry and gives a good texture, soft and dense. If you don't have a cooling rack, place the candies on a plate.
Step 5. Store candy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month
Transfer the candy to a storage container and make sure it's tightly closed. If you don't eat them right away, these candies can last up to 1 month.
