It’s Maple’s Moment

by Ben Rigby. Photos by Michael Piazza.

The maple harvest carries some of our most cherished spring rituals — trips to the sugarbush, hot syrup over freshly packed snow, the scent of woodsmoke lingering in the air. Maple syrup is prized for its sweetness, but its true magic lies in its depth. The following recipes take maple syrup beyond pancakes, showing how its quiet complexity can anchor sweet and savoury dishes, balancing salt, spice and rich flavours.

"En papillote" refers to cooking something in parchment paper or foil. The sealed environment traps steam, aromas and flavours and

A galette is like a free-form pie, for when you just want pie for pie’s sake.

Maple syrup takes the place of chocolate in this recipe, providing a counterpoint to the intensity of the peppers.

Shortbread, with its buttery richness, is a prime candidate for maple syrup.

Duck breast is a perfect match for chocolate mole, so it naturally goes well with this maple version.

A maple teriyaki-style sauce works wonders on a nice pork cutlet

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