We made our own maple snow candy with this past week's snow. (It's too early for fresh maple sap and syrup in Pennsylvania, but we always have real maple syrup on hand for pancakes and waffles...except when we eat chicken and waffles instead.) It was fun to relive a bit from Little House in the Big Woods.
Maple Syrup Snow Candy
To make your maple snow candy, prepare by gathering snow in a shallow bowl or pan. Set aside in a freezer or outside. Place a small amount of real maple syrup in a small saucepan, a half cup or so. Over medium-high heat, heat to a boiling.Continue boiling until the maple syrup until it reaches 235°. Then drizzle the maple syrup over the snow.
Allow to cool for about thirty seconds. Pick up a piece of maple snow candy and enjoy.
Caution: This is also called Maple Taffy for a reason. It's super sticky. We didn't need a trip to the dentist, but maple snow candy has potential to cause some damage, especially to braces.
An instant kitchen thermometer makes this simple, but a candy thermometer works well, too.
Updated: I first shared this post in 2015. Six years later, maple snow candy is still something my children look forward to each year. This year, my 14-year-old made two batches for the family.
This is just one of 75 activities included in my book The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press). In addition to the activities, it helps readers explore history and think deeply about the Little House books. Check out the reviews and see if it's right for you.
This is just one of 75 activities included in my book The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press). In addition to the activities, it helps readers explore history and think deeply about the Little House books. Check out the reviews and see if it's right for you.
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~ Annette Whipple
