Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Start your morning off right with this 3 ingredient Cranberry Maple Syrup


If you are as fond of cranberries as I am, you will love this recipe for cranberry maple syrup. The tartness of the cranberries is offset with the sweetness of the maple syrup, making this a very versatile year-around syrup for pancakes. With only 3 ingredients, it couldn't be more simple.

I actually hoard cranberries in my freezer and use them throughout the year. For this recipe frozen cranberries work just as well as fresh ones. Be sure to use the best quality maple syrup you can find, because the imitation syrup, to my taste, has a faux flavor and not worth using.

I’ve served the syrup over cornmeal pancakes, but use any pancake you like. Wattles would also be delicious. If you are looking for a homemade gift idea, the deep ruby red syrup would be very festive in a pretty glass jar tied with a holiday ribbon.

Enjoy!

Cranberry Maple Syrup
Coastal Living Magazine – yield 1 cup

¾ cup pure maple syrup
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, divided
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Bring maple syrup and 3/4 cup cranberries to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 3 minutes or until cranberries pop. Crush cranberries in saucepan using a spatula or potato masher. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup cranberries; simmer just until they begin to pop (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat, add butter, and stir until melted. Keeps well covered in the refrigerator.



Cornmeal Pancakes
Adapted from Joy of Cooking – yield twelve 4” cakes

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 large egg
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons canola oil or other neutral flavored oil
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Combine the cornmeal, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over the mixture, stir will, cover and set aside for 15 minutes.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and oil until combined. After 15 minutes, add the cornmeal mixture from above and stir until smooth.

Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Stir into the hot cornmeal mixture. If the mixture seems a little thick, stir in a bit of milk.

Heat a pancake griddle or 12” lightly oiled skillet until hot. Drop the pancake batter by spoonful’s onto the griddle. When the pancakes begin to bubble in the center and start to dry around the edges, turn and cook until done. The second side takes only about half as long as the first side and never browns as evenly, so serve them first side up.

Remove the cakes from the griddle and keep warm in a pre-heated 200 degree F oven while you make the remaining cakes. Do not stack the cakes or they will become soggy. When all of the pancakes are done, serve immediately.


This recipe will be shared with Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum and Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Waterside Shops in Naples, Florida. I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse of the lovely holiday decorations among the swaying palm trees and beautiful water fountains at this very classy, best-in-class shopping destination that features such stores as Nordstrom, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, Guicci, Cartier, De Beers, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Whoever said you can't get in the holiday spirit in sunny Florida hasn't been to the Waterside shops.






51 comments:

  1. YUM!!.. thanks for sharing. And ooooh, to be where you are for the holidays... it looks so warm and sunny and inviting.

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  2. Thanks for another delicious addition to my cranberry recipe file and a great little gift idea. I, too, am a cranberry hoarder. And, don't get me started on maple syrup vs the strange substitute that many restaurants have. I am envisioning you shopping without a coat at that lovely Naples area. Enjoy!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. A great way to start the day! Those are divine pancakes.

    I'd love to spend a few days in sunny Florida...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. The syrup and the cakes both sound (and look) very, very, good. Growing up in the cold, snowy, North, Christmas in a sunny, 80* location doesn't seem quite right.

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  5. Mmmmmm I love cranberries and they are so healthy. Love your Christmassy
    photos, gorgeous. Diane

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  6. Last year after it was too late, I said I was going to hoard cranberries in my freezer THIS year. And I still haven't done it. Must grab some next time I'm at the store. Beautiful pancakes Sam and love the Christmas decorations.

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  7. It looks so good..

    I just came back from beautiful sunny Fl.. Didn't go to Naples though..looks fabulous!

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  8. That sounds wonderful Sam! I love that the berries take on a two tones look.

    I did a post on the Waterside Shops a year ago in Nov, when I was there. We took many of the same pictures!
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  9. Palm trees and Christmas decorations just don't seen right together. I had relatives who lived in Florida and just couldn't picture them barbecuing their Christmas turkey. It's all in what we are used to I guess. I do know that I would love this maple cranberry syrup and it would make a lovely little gift. Yummy photo, Sam.

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  10. I love USA so much that I wish to spent my Xmas Holidays in South Florida :D !!!

    And I wish to have breakfast with your recipe above :D .. hugs, Flavia

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  11. And don't you know - some pure maple syrup just arrived in the mail from a friend (that's a good friend). Wlll be doing this - I also use cranberries year round. Love the cornmeal in the pancakes also - give it some heft without dead weight. Quite frankly, just plain jealous of sunny Florida.

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  12. I love the tartness of cranberries too. Cornmeal pancake are the only pancake I'll eat, it's what I had as a child.

    We do get plenty of Christmas feel here in Florida don't we? My favorite are the boat parades. Do you have a holiday boat parade near you?

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  13. These recipes sound delicious!

    Have a lovely Christmas holiday season.

    FlowerLady

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  14. That syrup is a great idea and so simple! I'll have to keep that in mind for this coming weekend.

    Those Florida skies are brilliant blue, aren't they?

    Hope you and Meakin are having a wonderful season down there.

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  15. I would love to kick off every morning with those gorgeous cornmeal pancakes!
    The holiday decorations in Florida are so pretty, bet would be even prettier when all the lights on.

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  16. Sam, did you read Yvonne's post yesterday? If not, please go over.
    She is not going to blog any longer, saying she must follow her heart.
    Sending love, honey bunny & MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

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  17. This cranberry maple syrup looks so good. I sure hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  18. Love the cranberry maple syrup, and plan on making it for my hubby. I use a sugar-free version that I make with apples, apple juice concentrate and cranberries, no butter. I have it on my very rare, almost-never pancakes. It's so much fun being pre-diabetic and carb-challenged.

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  19. I just love the colors in this breakfast! And I'm so envious of your glorious Florida light...it's getting pretty dark here in New England.

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  20. Sam, thanks so much for the cranberry syrup recipe! I will be making that to go with waffles Christmas morning. It sounds delicious! And so do the pancakes. Love the Christmas decor----it kind of cracks me up to see palm trees with the decorations and Santa. Beats the snow we get here!!!!

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  21. Sam, cornmeal pancakes... have never had them, but we do love cornmeal and will have to give it a try.

    Oh, to be in Naples.. one of our favorite places. ;) Enjoy the ocean breeze, but stay out of the sun. :)

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  22. Your Christmas looks alot like my Christmas. Do y'all have fake snow yet? We do :) On Tuesdays and Saturdays :)

    Love this syrup! Great color, great flavor, great yum!

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  23. Dear Sam, The syrup and the cornmeal pancakes sound like a delicious start to a day. I am a lover of cranberries. I like them all year round.
    The waterside shops look so elegant.
    Blessings, Catherine xo

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  24. I love cornmeal pancakes! And this syrup sounds perfect.

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  25. This would make a delicious Christmas breakfast, Sam! I love the festive red color of the cranberries syrup on top of the pancakes.

    The Naples, Florida mall looks lovely!

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  26. De jolies images et un délicieux encas sucré
    Je te souhaite une belle journée, ici que de pluie
    Valérie.

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  27. What a wonderful way to start the day, Sam. The syrup sounds divine and a stack of those gorgeous pancakes would fortify me for the day ahead. I hope all is well. Blessings...Mary

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  28. Oh, you just sparked a tasty memory here, Sam. I remember making a cranberry maple syrup with cornmeal pancakes for a July 4th celebration. It seemed to me the quintessential Independence Day breakfast, but perhaps even more appropriate for the fall and winter season. I've got a bag of cranberries n the freezer ...

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  29. I still use your pancake recipe every time I make them, so these corn meal pancakes will have to be added to your other recipe. Love the syrup.

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  30. I am a big fan of cranberries too and your cranberry syrup is something I'd really love to try. The cornmeal pancakes sound like a wonderful way to use it!

    I wouldn't trade our cold Christmas but after that - I'd sure love to see some palm trees :) Thanks for the warming photos.

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  31. Now, if I can just get someone to make me some pancakes.

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  32. Oh, this sounds delicious! I have some good maple syrup my sister gave me that I'm going to have to try this with. I absolutely love cranberries.
    The shops do look quite festive, too. :)

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  33. wow..this sounds amazingly deliciuos..
    love the beauuuuuuuuuuutiful cliks..;)
    Tasty Appetite

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  34. simple and fun and great christmas decor -)

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  35. Wowser!,, saw the pick on facebook

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  36. Waw, What a grand & festive Holiday breakfast!

    I love fresh made cornmeal pancakes & I love home- made cranberry sauce too!

    Real winners here!

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  37. now that is a reason to get up in the morning! WOW!

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  38. I love Waterside. Such fun to see the photos. Don't think I've ever been over there Christmastime.
    Your cranberry syrup looks wonderful, Sam. I keep them in my freezer too, but mostly because I love cranberry scones. Now I'll have to try this...and with your pancake recipe too!

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  39. Goodness those cornmeal pancakes and cranberry maple syrup looks delicious. I am from the NE, NY state right up there with my beloved VT and I am a real maple syrup girl. Also a New England cranbery bog girl, hehe. So this recipe is one I am going to have to make. Hmm, thinking of Christmas moring perhaps. Love the unique ornaments. I am a couple hours North of you, here on the Gulf Coast in Largo. Blessings.
    Lynn

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  40. Great idea & TY for the recipe. So love syrup & cranberries.

    Got to have the cold or it just isn't Christmas to us ...

    Merry Christmas ~
    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

    GIVEAWAY ENDS 12/9

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  41. These look so wonderfully good! Your photos are a real treat.
    Rita

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  42. Mmmmmm....I love fruit on my pancakes! Such a festive version of syrup...perfect for the holidays!

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  43. Looks and sounds amazing. Can't wait to try it - love cranberries! Thanks for sharing, Happy Pink Saturday, and Merry Christmas to you, Dru

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  44. it would certainly be starting off your day right with these - simply delicious - lovely Christmas photos from sunny Florida - lovely post
    mary x

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  45. I love cranberries, I keep some in my freezer all year long! I've never had cornmeal pancakes, I'll be certain to give these a try - we love cornmeal!

    The Christmas decorations look beautiful, I'll bet they are stunning in the evening!

    Happy cooking!

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  46. Sam,
    I lived into Naples for about 8 years before I moved to Sarasota. Visited Waterside frequently. We visit friends in Naples now and again and we spend time there. Girls day out! Don't need too much these days but love to look. The shopping in Naples is wonderful just about everywhere and the restaurants are wonderful too.

    Carol

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  47. Oooh, yes! I love cranberries and hoard them in my freezer, too. Well, here we get Oceanspray cranberries for about $10 a pack so they are prescious jewels. And this syrup is just fabulous, Sam! Perfect...

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  48. What a tasty way to start the day in sunny Florida. I know that the pancakes must have been great.

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  49. Sam, your pancakes would rock on the holiday breakfast table (or any day). I never thought of a cranberry maple syrup-I need to expand my horizons.

    As always, beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Velva

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  50. GIrl, these look divine, but I don't do pancakes and a lot of other baking stuff like that. I'll just lick my computer screen! :)
    V

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