Summer means swimming holes, late sunsets and lots and lots of frozen treats. If you’ve ventured to Vermont in the warmer months, you have likely experienced the state’s beloved star of summer: the maple creemee. This swirly treat is a shining example of the magic that happens when maple syrup and dairy combine.
When paired, real maple syrup and ice cream become a treat that is both satisfying in flavor and texture (think toppings!). In honor of National Ice Cream Month, we wanted to spotlight all the marvelous ways maple and ice cream collaborate.
Why real maple and ice cream works
Whether you’re churning a batch or adding a topping, ice cream typically calls for a little something sweet. Real maple syrup acts as a natural base sweetener while also working as a flavor enhancer. The nature of real maple’s taste can often be reminiscent of a notable sundae dweller: caramel, making it an alluring ingredient to add to your recipe.
How to use real maple if you’re making ice cream
For ice cream purveyors with a line of naturally sweetened and/or maple flavored pints on the mind, we recommend using Grade A Dark Robust maple syrup or darker grade colors in formulations. Grade A Dark Robust lends a robust, more pronounced taste of maple that melds deliciously with the cream base.
The same rule applies to those at home who are equipped with an ice cream maker! We recommend using Grade A Dark Robust to get the most maple flavor. We did experiment with maple sugar, mixing it into yogurt before churning it into frozen yogurt.
How to incorporate maple on top
Maple syrup’s smooth pour drapes luxuriously over scoops of ice cream. As the scoops melt, ice cream combines with maple syrup for a delicious spoonful. But it’s not just syrup that stands out as an ice cream topping. Maple candy offers a crunchier, familiar topping texture. With maple candy you can create your own maple crumble! Crush the candy until little sweet bits form, the perfect size for sprinkling.
Need some more inspiration? Here’s the scoop:
Maple Creemee
Traverse Vermont’s verdant terrain and collect creemees in every county! The Vermont Maple Creemee Trail, shared by Dig In Vermont, will set you in the right direction. Once you’ve tried a cone made with real maple syrup, you’ll understand the magic in this pairing.
Affogato
A little gelato and a little espresso affogatoes a long way. Add a little maple syrup to the mix for a finishing touch that emphasizes the decadence of this dessert. The beauty of an affogato recipe is that it’s not much of a recipe at all! A shot of espresso, scoops of gelato and as much maple syrup as your sweet tooth desires.
Vanilla Ice Cream and Grade A Golden Delicate Maple Syrup
A recommendation from the Marvin family is this simple combination. Scoop vanilla ice cream into your chosen vessel and drizzle Grade A Golden Delicate maple syrup on top. This classification of Grade A maple syrup is the lightest color offered, often the sweetest taste of maple and some might say its almost buttery. Poured over ice cream, it is divine!
Maple Sprinkles
Maple candy, which is simply maple syrup that has been boiled to a specific consistency and dispensed into molds to try, makes a perfect topping for ice cream. Break them up into clusters to achieve the perfect size for spooning over scoops. Watch the maple candy making process:
Maple Frozen Yogurt
If you are equipped with an ice cream maker and have a quart of yogurt in the fridge, consider churning a batch of frozen yogurt. When this recipe, published by Serious Eats, is made with maple sugar, it results in a slightly sweet, tangy, scoopable treat. Enjoy with a squeeze of maple syrup and your favorite toppings.
Maple Milkshake
Blend maple syrup and ice cream into a refreshing, sip-able treat! A maple milkshake elevates a vanilla milkshake, tasting almost like a melted creemee. Dust it with maple sugar for a satisfying finishing touch. Find our maple milkshake recipe here!