However, this can be omitted if sour cream, sour milk, buttermilk or cream of tartar are in the recipe. Finally remember that maple syrup does have a high sugar content and so tends to caramelize faster than other sugars. Thus, you may need to decrease the oven temperature accordingly. Once you understand these basic principles it's easy to experiment with maple syrup in baked goods. Muffins, breads, doughnuts, cakes, cookies and pies, particularly apple, pumpkin or pecan pie all can benefit from a sweet touch of maple flavor.
Fruits too have a natural affinity to maple, especially blueberries, strawberries and peaches.
As a marinade or rub on pork, ham, beef, turkey or poultry, mix maple syrup with fresh herbs like thyme and sage or marjoram. It is also excellent, paired with smoked or fresh salmon. In fact, almost any fish can do well from the sweet taste of maple. In a sauce combine maple with dried cherries or raisins, for some heat add smoky chile peppers. Mix with mustard for a mustard-maple rub on pork roasts or serve up as maple chutney.