Sunday, March 1, 2009

Make your own Pancake Syrup

By Patrick Cater

Hopefully you know that you cant make homemade maple syrup unless you several maple trees, the right equipment, and a lot of time. Even then, with just a few trees, you wont make much at all. If you are still looking for a more homemade taste for your pancake and waffle syrup, you can make the artificial stuff from scratch.

You get the great sweet taste of syrup when you make it yourself without all the preservatives. This is also great for when you are in the mood for pancakes or waffles and just so happen to run out of syrup. It is made of basic ingredients that you probably have at home.

First you will need a saucepan and wooden spoons as well as the following ingredients and amounts: one cup of granulated sugar, one cup of brown sugar, one cup of water, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon of maple extract. If you dont have any brown sugar, you can use all granulated or white sugar, but it wont be as dark and rich. You could even experiment with dark brown sugar if you would like.

Stir together all the ingredients until they are well combined. Put the pan on the stove and turn on the burner to about medium high heat, then bring it to a boil. Let it simmer until it is as thick as you like it. This will take about 10 or 15 minutes.

I prefer it to be nice and thick so that it doesnt soak into my pancakes or French toast so easily and make it soggy. Thinner syrup will resemble more the consistency of real maple syrup. Test it out for the best way that you like.

You don't have to use your pancake syrup right away. You can store it in the freezer. Store it in a jar or any kind of squeeze top container. Use an old syrup container if you have one. Use more sugar or less water if you want the syrup to be thicker. If you will use a lot, double or triple the recipe.

You can store the syrup in the refrigerator for weeks and if it hardens up just put it in the microwave for a little until its to the consistency you like. Warm syrup always tastes good, too. If you like butter-flavored syrup, you can also add a couple tablespoons of butter to your syrup, or just butter your pancakes, waffles, or French toast.

Why should you make your own syrup? Some people dont like the taste of real maple syrup, but want something that isnt full of corn syrup, which is what you will get in the store. It is cheaper especially considering that its homemade. Best of all, isnt homemade always better?

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