Canadian Bacon Querie

[SoCalBuilder]

I want to try to make some Canadian bacon using Habenero Smoker's dry cure recipe from the recipe site. I ordered my #1 cure and while nosing around the website I came upon some maple flavoring. I don't recall if it dehydrated maple syrup or not and I may not want to know. My question is if anyone has tried this stuff or not. In Hab's recipe, he calls for brown sugar, so I figured I might try replacing some or all of it with this maple stuff. The loins I spotted at Costco are huge, so I'll probably whack it down to about four pieces and try both.

Any insight would be appreciated!

[GusRobin]

When I make it I just throw in real maple syrup.

[FLBentRider]

When I make it I just throw in real maple syrup.

I've done that, I was wishing the maple flavor was stronger.

[SoCalBuilder]

Just read through Hab's entire recipe and he mentions replacing the brown sugar with sugar or maple crystals. I'lll do a little wet finger test on the powder and see how strong it tastes. I'm thinking I'll get at least four good size pieces out of the one loin, so I can play around a little bit ;D

[Habanero Smoker]

Maple powder or maple crystals will work, but depending on where you purchase it, it can be expensive and this time of year sometime it gets a little hard to find; until the next sap run.

I have also tried maple flavoring (liquid); using ≈1/2 teaspoon per cup of cure mixture. I didn't get much flavor out of it. Maybe because it was a liquid and did not evenly distribute through our the mixture. The 1/2 teaspoon per cup was twice the recommend amount that was on the bottle.

[Smokin Soon]

I use the regular Habs formula and after a couple of days in the fridge I baste it with Honey. Pretty good flavor.

[smokeNcanuck]

No matter what you do or how you "slice it" that CB is tasty sh#*!!
Bet ya you can't just make it once! ;)

[Quarlow]

I will second that. I have made 4 batches and just love the stuff. I end up eating it by it's self. Just slice pieces off and munch away. I won't be without some in the freezer ever. Thanks Habs. This literally is my fav recipe.

[Smokin Soon]

I do think the flavor is more intense after being vac sealed and frozen.