A gift as good as gold

It's traditional to stuff a clementine in the toe of a Christmas stocking (said to represent a gift of gold from St. Nicholas), but in my house it's just as common to find a jar of maple cream instead. This stuff is so good, we've called it gold in a jar.

Despite its name — and its incredibly creamy texture — there's no dairy in maple cream.

Maple cream jar with closed lid — Move over, peanut butter. There's a new spread in town.

To make it, pure maple syrup is heated to 235°F, cooled to 100°F, then whisked until fine crystals form, turning the amber syrup into a dark spread that's rich with maple flavor. but of light quality.

As a third-generation Vermonter, I grew up eating maple syrup, spreading it on pancakes, as well as sneaking it out of the jar, letting it slowly melt on my tongue. But not everyone was fortunate enough to grow up in the Green Mountain State, and although maple syrup is common, many people haven't tried maple cream. This makes it a great gift for a foodie friend, and I say this from experience, because I've sent dozens of jars to people over the years. I have given jars of maple syrup and buttermilk pancake mix to my kids' teachers, I've mailed it to friends and family as far away as Oregon and Amsterdam, and always keep a few jars on hand for a last-minute hostess gift (or, you know, to eat yourself).

Inevitably, recipients ask me how it is meant to be eaten. I tell them to spread it on slices of good toast, English MuffinsOR cookiesto pour over ice cream, to dip apple slices in, to sprinkle scones or waffles, stir it in oatmeal or tea and, of course, to eat it, spoonful upon spoonful of golden, ambrosial, until they scrape the bottom of the jar.