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Making Maple Syrup & Fluffiest Pancakes Ever

It’s been quite a few years since we’ve made maple syrup at the cottage. Either the kids were too little and running wild, or the weather conditions weren’t right (you need freezing nights & warm sunny days or the sap won’t flow). This year was perfect – we arrived early enough in the day to tap about 15 maple trees. The kids are now old enough to be active participants in our Easter weekend ritual, and they actually “get it”. With great enthusiasm, they got right in there, looking for maples, tapping, collecting sap, and hanging out by the fire, without the lure of marshmallows.

This is Mother Earth, feeding my little one with nutrient-rich nectar from her soul.
The Koreans drink the sap in huge quantities every spring for it’s wide range of health benefits.

Drill about 2 inches, with a slight upward slant (preferably on the sunny side of the tree) the sap can flow out with gravity.

Gently tap in spigot, and hang bucket.


We ran out of buckets, so we improvised with large Ziplock bags.
Check every now and then, and empty sap into large pots for the first boiling.

Over the course of two days, we collected approximately 50 litres of sap and ended up with
just over a litre of maple syrup. If we had sugar maples, our ratio would’ve been more like 30:1.

It takes a loooooong time to boil down, so keep busy – check on the fire, do some gardening, make lunch, have tea with the chickens.

Cooking over the wood fire gives the syrup a nice smokey flavour. Keep a rolling boil until most of the water has evaporated.
Then do the second boil on the stove for better temperature control. It should reach 219°F for syrup.

A trick my friend David taught me – add egg white at the end of the boiling process to clarify the syrup. All the fine sediment will stick to the egg, and float to the top. Skim and discard the “gag”.

Pour hot syrup through a coffee filter into a sterilized jar for a final filter, in case there’s any “gag” left. I sterilize jars in an oven set at 200°F for 10 minutes. Change the filter if it clogs up. Sap collected early in the season will produce a lighter golden syrup. Sap that’s late in the season is higher in antioxidents & minerals and makes an amber coloured syrup.

These pancakes were okay, not the fluffiest as my baking powder was dead (who knew that happens?).
Test by adding a teaspoon of baking powder into 1/3 cup of hot water. It should boil vigorously.

Liquid gold. Well worth the effort. Once set up you could go into production for weeks.

  • Erik - This is so great.ReplyCancel

  • Barbara Parmenter - You are amazing! Is there anything you can’t do?? Looks like a lot of work but that it was enjoyed by all. What a great way to spend Easter weekend!ReplyCancel

  • Lisa Cain - looks amazing. where did you get the tapping supplies – lee valley?? not sure we have enough maples at the cottage. now if there was pine syrup….ReplyCancel

  • france Simard - How wonderful!!! I have the best memories as a kid around maple syrup time : )ReplyCancel

  • Chez Us - I was just checking in over at your site, and I have to say – OMG! I am completely loving this Maple Syrup post. I have always had this romantic idea of fetching, and making my own maple syrup. There really is nothing like good maple syrup spread across pancakes or fresh toast or waffles! Fantastic post, and a wonderful experience for the kids!

    As well, I love the greenhouse; looks so peaceful, and warm!ReplyCancel

  • Lauren - A very inspiring post! Thank you for sharing! It doesn’t get more local than that!ReplyCancel

  • Lemon Buttermilk Pudding Cake » FreestyleFarm - […] is cold with fresh berries and a baby scoop of vanilla ice cream – all drizzled with our own maple syrup. Casual enough to serve spooned straight from the baking dish, or fancy it up in individual […]ReplyCancel

  • Fresh Berry Pavlova » FreestyleFarm - […] Add whipped cream and top with fresh berries. I tossed them first in a bit of our homemade maple syrup. […]ReplyCancel

  • Spring Happenings » FreestyleFarm - […] break was spent at the cottage tapping maples and making syrup. The sap didn’t flow as well as last year. The nights were too warm, with days even warmer. We tapped 23 trees and collected sap for a week, […]ReplyCancel

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  • click here - This is one of those simple chop and dump soups. It simmers for 20 minutes and you have a thick and hearty chowder. A bowl of this is like a big hug, warm and comforting. Add a slice or two of no-knead bread and dinner is done.ReplyCancel

  • Click Here - We came to day by day to tap 15 trees on a day. Children are now active participants in our Easter weekend ritual, and they are really “getting it”. With great enthusiasm, they are there, mobiles, tapping, collecting food, fire extinguishing, marshmallow’s joy.I’m in fact inspired with this blog! Very clear explanation of problems is given and it’s far open to all of us. Thanks for sharing this put up. That is very goodReplyCancel

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