The first time I heard about Sugar on Snow was one day at work during the maple harvest season when everyone I knew was leaving to go to a Sugar on Snow Party. I knew this event had something to do with the maple syrup harvest, but it did not sound overly appealing and without inquiring further I opted not to attend. I was a fool!
Sugar on Snow Parties started long ago during the maple syrup harvest season when avid maple sap gatherers returned to the fire pit to reap the reward of their labor. It isn't hard to imagine how the first snow became sugared - probably purely by accident when a bit of hot syrup was spilled on the snow during the gatherers' 'taste'.
When hot maple syrup is drizzled over snow, it results in a remarkably delicious candy-like substance that northern New Englanders crave. You must be very precise with your drizzle and the temperature of the syrup - too hot a syrup and the snow melts too fast - too cool a syrup and it becomes watery, straining through the snow to the bottom of the pot. The perfectly heated syrup will form a lace-like pattern across the top of the snow and quickly harden to be gobbled up by eager sugar-eaters.
Following is a recipe for Sugar on Snow. The party happens naturally just by telling your family and friends you'll be sugaring snow this weekend!
