Maple taffy facts for kids
Molten syrup being poured on clean white snow to create the soft maple candy.
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| Alternative names | Maple taffee, tire d'érable, sugar on snow |
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| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Canada; United States |
| Region or state | Quebec, Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba; New England |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Maple syrup, snow |
Maple taffy is a super sweet treat made from maple syrup! It's also known by other fun names like maple toffee, tire d'érable, or sugar on snow. This special candy is made by cooking maple sap, which is the liquid from maple trees. It's cooked until it's thicker than syrup but not quite maple butter.
This yummy candy is a big part of the culture in places like Quebec, Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick in Canada, and northern New England in the United States. People pour the warm, thick maple liquid onto clean snow. Then, they use a small wooden stick or a fork to roll it up and eat it!
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How to Make Maple Taffy
Making maple taffy is a fun process! First, you need to boil maple syrup. It should reach about 112 °C (234 °F). Using a candy thermometer helps a lot to get the right temperature.
Once the syrup is hot enough, it becomes a thick liquid. You can keep it warm over a very low flame or in a pan of hot water. But remember, don't stir it! Stirring can make it form grainy crystals, and we want it smooth.
Next, you pour this hot, gooey liquid onto clean, fresh snow. The cold snow quickly makes the liquid thicken and harden. If the syrup runs and doesn't harden, it means it wasn't boiled long enough. It needs to be cooked a bit more.
When it's just right, the candy will be firm enough to pick up. You can then enjoy your fresh maple taffy! The hotter you boil the syrup, the thicker the candy will be. Most people like it soft, so it's usually served right away. This treat is often made at a sugar shack, also called a cabane à sucre, where maple syrup is produced.
Where Maple Taffy is Popular
Maple taffy is a traditional treat in several regions, each with its own special way of enjoying it.
Maple Taffy in Quebec
In Quebec, Canada, maple taffy is a highlight at a cabane à sucre. This is a rustic building where maple sap is boiled down into syrup and sugar. At these sugar shacks, the taffy is served with many other traditional Québécois foods. Some of these dishes are savory, meaning they are not sweet, but they often use maple sugar as a glaze or flavor.
Maple Taffy in New England
In New England, United States, making maple taffy is sometimes called a sugar on snow party. At these parties, the soft maple candy is traditionally served with donuts, sour dill pickles, and coffee. The sour pickles and coffee help to balance out the super sweet taste of the candy.
Maple Taffy in Manitoba
Maple taffy is also made in the Canadian province of Manitoba. However, they use syrup from the Manitoba maple tree, which is also known as a box elder. The syrup and taffy from a Manitoba maple are usually darker in color. They also have a different, more earthy flavor compared to taffy made from sugar maples.
