Jack Wax

"from www.syracuse.com; posted for Zaar World Tour. When poured on fresh snow, maple syrup becomes a taffy that can be scooped by hand or with a fork. This syrup-snow taffy is called "jack wax." Traditionally, this treat was the feature of the "sugaring off" party held at the sugar house to celebrate the end of the syrup harvest. If it's not snowing in your community, use crushed ice. The above is taken from the web-site where I found the recipe (if it can be called that!)"
 
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photo by MsBindy photo by MsBindy
photo by MsBindy
photo by MsBindy photo by MsBindy
photo by MsBindy photo by MsBindy
Ready In:
25mins
Ingredients:
2
Serves:
4
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ingredients

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directions

  • Fill up a 9X13 cake pan with clean snow, and pack it down.
  • Heat maple syrup to 230 degrees F. This is the soft ball stage if using a candy thermometer. If you don't have a candy thermometer, let the syrup gently boil for about 20 minutes. (If you don't get the syrup heated to the softball stage, you will end up with jack wax that is more like a slushy (see the picture of the little girl with her hand reaching for the jack wax. If you get it to the softball stage, the syrup will turn to taffy when it hits the snow. Either way taste good -- just different!).
  • While syrup is hot, slowly pour over snow in a back-and-forth motion. The syrup will turn in to a taffy-like candy, and you can eat it with your fingers.

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Reviews

  1. I was just trying to explain "sugaring off" and "jack wax" to a co-worker! I grew up 30 minutes south of Syracuse, NY and spent many snowy days making & eating jack wax with my grandparents...what great memories...ice skating on the frozen creek & ponds then bringing in the metal tub of fresh snow!! Thank you for bringing back such great memories. I am going home and getting out my maple syrup to share this with my kids!
     
  2. This brought back alot of great memories. I grew up in Rome, NY. I skied at a small place called Woods Valley near Rome. When I was in grade school, the owner of Woods Valley tapped the trees and made Jack Wax at the ski place. It was terrific. I made this for my family. They loved it. Update: Right now we are in the middle of a Noreaster storm. It is snowing like crazy. I just had to make this today. It was great!! We can't do too much today anyway. All the schools are closed.
     
  3. I am a huge fan O the Little House series and believe that was the first place I found this...thank you Bunny mom for publishing it. My eleven yr old wants to make it now!!!
     
  4. This is a treat that my mom made with us while I was growing up near Syracuse, NY. We would boil the syrup and pour it on fresh snow. It uses two ingredients that you can always count on in that region - maple syrup and snow! I made this for my kids when it last snowed (with maple syrup my folks brought us from central new york) and they were thrilled! Thanks for bringing back great memories and creating new ones!
     
  5. I grew up in Vermont so this recipe brings back many fond memories. It was always served with donuts and cider. One word of caution though - make sure you dig deep for the snow and of course beware of yellow snow!
     
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