Jaime Walker from Ottawa, Canada on WikimediaIf you live under a rock or perhaps the broiling sun, you’ve probably never come across the seasonal delicacy of maple taffy.

The sweet treat has been a Canadian winter staple for generations, first appearing in Québec, New Brunswick, and even parts of New England as early as the 18th century. However, Indigenous communities have been perfecting the treat well before then.

What the treat boils down to is thickened maple syrup on a popsicle stick. It tastes good, to be sure, but half the appeal is actually watching the process of rolling the syrup onto a popsicle stick. It’s like an incredibly toned-down Canadian version of tableside service. 

The treat is usually available for purchase during winter festivals and food tours across Canada, but you can make maple taffy for free if you have a little bit of snow and some maple syrup at the ready.

The Recipe

First, you need to collect some snow. For many Canadians, picking up clean snow from the heap in their backyard is the easiest option, but you can also leave a sheet pan outside overnight if you have concerns about cleanliness. You can also line the pan with a baking sheet to prevent any sticky residue from hitting the pan.

As your snow is collecting, bring 3 cups of maple syrup to a boil. You can use store-bought maple syrup, but just make sure it’s 100% pure maple syrup. Not pancake syrup, as it won’t thicken properly.

Bring your syrup to a boil. Once it reaches between 235-240 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool for 5-ish minutes. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can take a small amount of syrup and drop it into a cup of cold water. If the syrup forms into a little ball shape, you’re good to go.

Bring in your tray of snow and drizzle the syrup in vertical lines along the pan. After 30 seconds, you’ll be able to twirl the syrup onto a popsicle stick or simply roll it up with your hands. The result is a sweet and sticky treat that’s fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Tips And Tricks

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• Make sure to really pack the snow into the pan. Too little snow will leave a sticky mess.

• Keep an eye on your maple syrup while it's boiling, as overboiling or overcooking your syrup will make the syrup brittle. Overstirring will cause your syrup to crystallize, which you also don’t want. 

• If you don’t have snow available to you, you can crush up ice cubes in a blender to achieve the same effect.

• Make sure to use a heat-safe ladle or cup when you’re pouring your syrup. The last thing you need is additional microplastics.

• Eat or serve your candy right away, as the treat it's best enjoyed right then and there. It will melt if ignored for too long. 

We highly recommend anyone who loves the sweet taste of maple syrup to give this a try, especially to our neighbours in the south. We promise you, it’s worth the work.