subject: Cooking With Syrup: A Guide [print this page] Cooking With Syrup: A Guide Cooking With Syrup: A Guide
Consider cooking with syrup if you want to avoid using plain sugar in your recipes. This article looks at 5 main syrups often used when cooking sweet dishes or baking and you will no doubt get some further ideas from reading these brief descriptions.Golden SyrupGolden Syrup is a by-product from sugar refining and it is made from concentrated liquid white sugar. Another variation is dark syrup which is less refined, darker in color obviously, and it has a stronger taste.You will easily find golden syrup in your local supermarket although you may need to go to a large supermarket for dark syrup.Some eat golden syrup spread on toast or tea cakes. But generally it is using in baking or in sweet dishes.Here are some examples using golden syrup in sweets and desserts:Treacle Tarts: mix golden syrup with breadcrumbs and lemon juice to form the filling. Flapjacks: Mix the golden syrup with the rolled oats for a chewy texture. Sponge Pudding: Golden syrup gives the spong pudding it's flavor and color.You can store golden syrup for about a year. Don't be put off if you see it starts to crystallize. You can still use it.Corn SyrupCorn syrup is often used much the same as golden syrup, especially in America. It comes from sweetcorn although it doesn't have quite the same full flavor as golden syrup and the consistency is a little thinner too.It is commonly used over pancakes rather than the expensive maple syrup.Maple SyrupCanada is a big producer of maple syrup. It's taken from the sap of Maple trees and boiled until it reduces to a pale, thin syrup.As it is quite a painstaking process to get maple syrup, understandably the price is high. For those who like pancakes and maple syrup though, the taste of pure maple syrup cannot be compared to anything else and they are prepared to pay for it.Of course you will see cheaper bottles of maple syrup on the supermarket shelves but don't be deceived. If it's a low price it is probably only a percentage pure maple syrup. Just check the label to be sure if in doubt.What are the uses of maple syrup? Pancake and waffles obviously, but also some like it poured over ice cream and even on top of sponge puddings.MolassesMolasses is heavy, thick and dark, rich in iron and vitamins, and therefore very good for you! It is a natural syrup taken from cane juice.Due to the natural acidity in molasses, some say you should always use bicarbonate of soda with it to offset the acidity. Half a teaspoon per eight ounces of molasses is recommended.It can be used in fruit cakes, and it is particularly good in gingerbreads.Molasses is easily available in supermarkets. You can keep it stored about 1 year without too much trouble.Black TreacleBlack treacle is derived from sugar refining and it is a man made product. If you prefer a slightly sweeter taste in your baking or sweet dishes, use black treacle rather than molasses. It is not so bitter and thick as molasses.So now you know more about the 5 most commonly used syrups. Are there ways you can use them in your recipes? The next time you reach for plain sugar, why not think of an alternative and start cooking with syrup?
