Gift Guide: For Your Sugar

December 22, 2016

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I’ve written about this fantastic apple cider syrup before; it’s among my most useful pantry ingredients.  A splash added to a pan of sauteed vegetables (shredded brussels sprouts, for instance), along with a little bit of soy or fish sauce, imparts instant character.

At Thanksgiving I used cider syrup in place of  2/3 of the corn syrup in my pecan pie.  The result was spectacular; instead of cloying sweetness the syrup added a touch of acidity and a hint of apple.  It was, hands down, the best pecan pie I’ve ever made.

That gave me an idea; why not play around with alternate sugar sources?  I’ve always kept a variety of vinegars on hand; now my cupboard contains an equally large wardrobe of sugar syrups. If you’re stumped about what to give a curious cook, a quick trip to the supermarket – or even better a specialty food shop – should give you a wide range to choose from. A syrup collection would make a thoughtful and unusual present.

Herewith, a few suggestions beyond the obvious honey, maple and agave syrups.

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date syrup

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cane syrup

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sorghum

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golden syrup

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