Maple Cream Simply Wonderfuls

 A friend introduced me to the wonder of maple sugar as a sweetener, and we never tire of exchanging new ways to showcase its delicate flavor. It is the closest counterpart to Bengal’s exquisite nalin gur, an ingredient rarely found outside of the west Bengal. The confection is equally delicious sweetened with date sugar or date puree, all of them available at health food stores or mail order suppliers. 

 

Preparation time (after assembling ingredients): 10 minutes

 

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, at room temperature – ½ cup (120 ml) 

• Sieved and lightly packed maple or date sugar Or 1/3 cup (80 g) seeded and pureed soft dates, Or ½ cup (85 g) light brown sugar with 4 drops of maple extract – ½ cup (75 g) 

• Coarsely crushed cardamom seed – ½ teaspoon (2 ml) 

• A pinch of freshly ground white pepper

• Non-fat skim milk powder, or as needed – 1 2/3 cups (205 g) 
 

Preparation

1. Cream the butter and sweetener in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
2. Add the cardamom seeds, pepper and milk powder and work into a medium-soft dough.
3. Wash and dry your hands and roll the fondant into 24 round balls.
4. Place the balls in paper a candy cases and refrigerate, well sealed. They will keep for up to 4 days.
 

Makes
24 peras
 

By Yamuna Devi Dasi