I think I’ve done a pretty good job at keeping the sugar crazies at bay. Up until now. I’ve had little tastes of sweet things here and there but overall I’ve congratulated myself for a job well done. But old habits die hard and despite my best intentions, I caved and created a sweet condiment for today’s Meatless Monday post. In all fairness, my recipe for maple coffee popcorn drizzle doesn’t use any sugar — just pure maple syrup.
Let’s talk about maple syrup. Here in Cleveland, Ohio, we’re getting ready for maple syrup season — otherwise known as maple sugaring season. Beginning in February, maple trees will be tapped, sap will be collected and eventually the sap will be boiled down to the sweet maple syrup many of us use to top pancakes and waffles. Pretty soon northeast Ohioans will flock to area high schools, fire stations, and villages to join in the maple sugaring festivities at the many area pancake breakfasts.
But what is it about pure maple syrup that sets it apart from other sugars?
There are different “grades” of maple syrup, and they range from Grade A fancy (lightest in color) to Grade B (very dark like molasses). The flavors of the grades vary slightly but the colors are attributed to the time of maple sugaring season they are harvested from the trees. The first tap of the trees generally produces the lightest color syrup and the darkest is at the end of sugaring season.
Pure maple syrup is never refined. In fact, pure maple syrup contains many beneficial minerals. Calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and manganese are all found in maple syrup. Additionally, maple syrup has many antioxidants which are generally good for health — the darker the syrup, the more antioxidants it contains. Having said that, however, maple syrup is still very high in sugar and though delicious, should be consumed in very small amounts. It has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar so if deciding between refined sugar and pure maple syrup, syrup is the obvious choice.
In honor of the upcoming sugaring season here in northeast Ohio I thought I’d share with you an amazing, easy recipe for maple coffee popcorn drizzle. Using only the purest of Ohio maple syrups, I created this recipe to lightly sweeten a traditionally salty snack. It can also be used in smoothies, as a Greek yogurt mix-in, as well as with granola or as a dessert topping. It’s versatile, delicious, and has just enough sweet to satiate even the wildest of sweet teeth. 😉
Maple Coffee Popcorn Drizzle
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 C Grade A medium amber maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp half and half
- 2 Tbsp brewed coffee
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 1/4 C corn kernels (for air popped popcorn)
- fine-grain sea salt, to taste
Directions
In a small saucepan, heat butter and syrup over medium heat. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Add half and half, bring back to a boil and stir frequently. Stir in coffee. Whisk for 2-3 minutes until well combined. Add flour, a teaspoon at a time, to thicken the mixture. Once it has thickened to desired consistency, remove from heat. Pop corn according to air popper instructions. Drizzle warm maple coffee syrup over top of air-popped popcorn. Sprinkle with fine-grain sea salt.
Can be stored in an airtight container for one week in the refrigerator. Reheat before drizzling on popcorn.
Disclaimer: Please remember to consume as little sugar as possible. It’s not good for our bodies. And although pure maple syrup isn’t refined and does have antioxidants and some minerals that are good for our bodies, it’s still a form of sugar. Use sparingly.
I hope you enjoy this tasty sweet snack. And you don’t have to wait for maple syrup season to enjoy it — you can serve it up for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day!
Not into sugar? Check out last week’s recipe for Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day Pancakes!
Have a wonderful day and Happy Valentine’s Day to those that celebrate!
xo
TALK TO ME!
Do you live in an area with easy access to pure maple syrup?
Have you been to a maple sugaring festival or pancake breakfast?
Loading InLinkz ...Linking up with Confessions of a Mother Runner and A Whisk and Two Wands for Meatless Monday, and Marathons and Motivation for Fitness & Food.
56 Comments
This sound delicious! I like coffee and we always have a maple popcorn on hand (Quinn Vermont Maple Sea Salt) and I would have never thought of the flavors together even though I’ve had maple syrup in my coffee and had espresso caramel corn. I can’t wait to give this a try. Happy Meatless Monday!
I did link up but again had issues with it saying no back link.
I’m so sorry — I fixed it. I don’t know why it keeps doing that!!
Oh my goodness! That has my name written all over it. Happy meatless Monday
Haha 🙂
I have both fake and real maple syrup. The real I use for baked goods and such and the fake is for my everyday breakfasts, topping oats and waffles. The real is expensive, so I save it 😉
I’ve actually been thinking about the whole added sugar thing. I applaud you! It’s really hard to cut it out! There is sugar in everything. The worst part about it for me isn’t the health issue, but the politics issue. The food companies and scientists literally lie to us consumers! That makes me mad, I hate being taken advantage of. Food has a lot of politics and compassion tied in it for me (duh, vegan) so I’m starting to curb added sugar simply because I cannot support those industries.
Thanks for the reminder and support <3
Yeah, the food industry is crazy corrupt. It’s no good. Have you seen Forks Over Knives and Food, Inc? Those two documentaries changed my life. And for that very reason, I can’t use the fake syrup anymore! Once you know, you can never un-know!!
No you didn’t!!!! This looks so lovely! I would love a good maple drizzle!
Oh I did! Haha <3
That sounds so good! I love a little sweet with m popcorn! Thanks for hosting!
Thanks! I hope you like it.
Pure maple syrup is the way to go. So much better than the processed stuff. I went to a maple syrup making place up in Vermont and oh man was it good. That’s where I learned about the process and the different grades. I didn’t realize how maple syrup was graded before that trip.
It is SO much better. Once you go pure, it’s hard to go back to the cheap stuff.
Coffee popcorn?! Yes, please!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve never thought to use coffee as a garnish before. But maybe that’s because I despise the taste of coffee, lol.
Haha, yes that may be why. You can barely taste it in the drizzle, though. 😉
We only use maple syrup at our house!!!
It’s the BEST. I grew up on the fake stuff. There’s no comparison.
Oh wow I do love popcorn! This looks so yummy!! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I didn’t know that about pure maple syrup. I have a patient who gets gallons from his trees, maybe I’ll beg him for some. 🙂 That popcorn drizzle looks delicious!
Seriously?! You totally have to ask for some. It’s so delicious when it’s fresh!
I’m a huge fan of pure maple syrup. I’m not a big coffee person, but I am a big maple person, and a big popcorn person, so I say this look amazing!
Haha, well if it’s any help, you can barely taste the coffee. 🙂
So creative!! This sounds awesome! I wish I could have popcorn!!
Aw, I wish you could too!
This looks great!
Thanks, Vicki!
This sounds so amazing!!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Sounds good! I’m a fan of popcorn and M and M’s combo! A little bit of everything all at once.
Yum! Sounds like a fun treat!
Oh, I’ve been to many pancake breakfasts LOL But, never any maple sugaring festivals. This drizzle looks yummy! I love popcorn ;_)
Pancake breakfasts are seriously the best. And the festivals are pretty awesome, too.
So interesting to learn all about maple syrup! I love using just a little bit of pure maple syrup in recipes or on pancakes. This looks great!
It’s a really fascinating process. Also it’s delicious, so there’s that. 🙂
I LOVE popcorn, and this drizzle looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it out!
Ditto! It’s pretty awesome if I do say so myself. 😉
Oh, this sounds divine! I am pretty traditional when it comes to popcorn (air-popped, melted butter and a sprinkle of salt), but I could be convinced to go this route.
I’m the exact same way. But maple syrup…
I swear I’d dive headfirst into that popcorn. Yuuuuuum! My kids still want the fake syrup they get at friends’ houses but I’ve literally never had it in the house as long as they’ve been alive. Of course I was raised on the crappy fake stuff…ugh.
HOW do they want fake syrup?! It’s terrible compared to the real thing!!
Oh, that sounds fantastic! I have a jug of maple syrup in my fridge. It needs pancakes — or popcorn!
Or anything really… 😉 Toast? Yogurt! Mmmm…
I love sweet and salty together and maple syrup is my favorite “sweet”. This looks so very tasty!
What is it about maple syrup that makes it so darn delicious?!
This is great information – thanks for sharing all the good stuff about maple syrup. I’ve been substituting maple syrup in place of refined sugar in our pancakes and using much less sugar than what the recipe calls for. This recipe sounds good!
I’m just glad it has a few minerals and nutrients in it. I feel much less guilty than eating straight up sugar. 😉
Did you say maple? I’m there!
I did! 🙂
This sounds amazing! WE only buy real syrup as my hubby calls it, I gotta try this, he would love it!
I love real maple syrup. Nothing beats it!
This sounds like a amazing treat! I can’t wait to try it out. Thanks so much for linking up at Sunday Fitness & Food 🙂
I hope you like it 😉
Can’t wait to try this!
🙂 🙂 🙂