While sugar makers are busy tapping, boiling and bottling syrup, Baystaters are also keeping busy — eating liquid gold, that is.
So-much-so, that about 50,000 to 60,000 gallons of maple syrup are produced in Massachusetts annually, according to Mass.gov.
From seasonal sweet-creams to cookies and candies, there is no denying the demand for fresh-tapped, New England-maple syrup at the peak of maple season, which is well underway.
According to the Massachusetts Maple Producer Association, Massachusetts’ maple demand supports more than 100 sugar houses throughout the state.
Whether sugar makers are maintaining a small backyard operation, larger “back-in-the-woods” operations or sugar shacks with complete restaurants, operators share a common goal: to make maple syrup.
Some sugar makers may keep their offerings “short and sweet,” serving up hot samples of their syrup and sugar shack tours, while others may indulge in the “maple-madness” – offering both the hot syrup and an entire pancake breakfast.
Here is a list of sugar shacks offering pancake breakfasts in Massachusetts.
Maple sap boils down into syrup at High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse in Worthington.Deer Meadow Farm
Davenport Maple Farm, Shelburne Falls
Davenport Maple Farm, located at 111 Tower Road, Shelburne Falls, is a small, family-farm that has been in the Davenport family since 1913.
Davenport Maple Farm breakfasts offer guests pancakes, waffles, French toast with homemade bread, Finnish pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon. View the menu here.
While maple products are sold at the farm year-round, the restaurant is open seasonally on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The restaurant will close for the season March 30.
Other products available at the farm include granulated maple sugar, maple candy, maple coated nuts, maple cream and syrup.
March is Massachusetts Maple Month. Sugar makers such as Brian Lowe of High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse in Worthington offer a variety of treats including maple cotton candy and maple candies.Courtesy of High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse
Hager’s Farm Market, Shelburne Falls
Hager Bros. Farm, located at 1232 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, is a fifth-generation family farm, offering maple products in addition to fresh vegetables, herbs, seasonal fruits and grass-fed pork and beef at Hager’s Farm Market.
Hager’s Farm Market is open daily, year-round, serving breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
However, pancakes and breakfast are only served from 8 a.m. until noon throughout the week and from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekends.
Breakfast options include pancakes and waffles served with fresh Hager Bros. maple syrup. View the menu here.
Other maple products offered at this location include bulk sales, maple candy, maple coated nuts, maple cream, maple syrup, maple ice-cream, maple popcorn, maple jelly and maple sugar.
High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse is at 1132 Huntington Road, Worthington.High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse
High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse, Worthington
High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse, located at 1132 Huntington Road, Worthington, has been family-owned and operated by the Rowe family since 1991.
This sugarhouse features a breakfast buffet as well as a rustic gift shop stocked with maple products and local artisan crafts.
The buffet includes pancakes, French toast, bacon, ham, sausage, home fries, beverages and farm fresh maple syrup, served from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The buffet costs $16.95 for adults.
High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse is open for the 2024 season through April 7, and will be closed on Easter Sunday. During the off-season, visitors interested in purchasing maple products are encouraged to call ahead or email to arrange a meeting time.
Other maple products available at this location are bulk sales, granulated sugar, maple candy, maple cream and maple syrup.
A bucket collects sap from a maple tree at North Hadley Sugar Shack at 181 River Dr. in Hadley on Feb. 25, 2024.Dallas Gagnon/MassLive
Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
Ioka Valley Farm, located at 3475 Rte 43, Hancock, is a family-owned and operated working farm that harvests hormone-free beef, squash, holiday trees and maple products.
The Ioka Valley Farm café, “Calf-A,” is open on weekends for the 2024 season, Feb. 10, until April 7, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
At the Calf-A, visitors can expect homemade pancakes, waffles and French toast meals served with pure maple syrup and specialty maple products.
The sugarhouse will also be open for tours and tastings during Calf-A hours.
Specialty items offered at this location include maple BBQ sauce, maple mustard, maple candy, maple butter, maple lemonade, maple granola and maple cotton candy.
While maple products are sold year round, pick-up is by appointment or by chance. View online ordering options here.
Maple cream, shown here at High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse in Worthington, is a popular maple-based spread, similar to butter. Many people use it to sweeten bread or as a dipping base.High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse
Maple Corner Farm, Granville
Maple Corner Farm, located at 794 Beech Hill Road, Granville, is an eighth-generation family farm that has been making maple syrup since the early 1800s.
Visitors are invited to tour the Maple Corner Farm sugarhouse or have breakfast during sugaring season every Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., until April 7.
Maple Corner Farm breakfasts offer guests the option of dining on pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon, ham, hash and eggs, served with fresh-maple syrup.
Other maple products offered at Maple Corner Farm include cream, cotton candy, jam, jelly and fruit butters.
Farm-fresh, grass-fed beef and pork are also available for purchase.
Deer Meadow Farm in Warren will offer hot syrup samples and sugar shack tours, March 16, and 17, as part of a state-wide maple celebration, a.k.a maple weekend. Courtesy of Deer Meadow Farm, Warren Ma
North Hadley Sugar Shack, Hadley
North Hadley Sugar Shack, located at 181 River Dr., Hadley, is a family-owned and operated sugarhouse that has served pure maple syrup and seasonal breakfasts for more than two decades.
North Hadley Sugar Shack “sugarin’ breakfast(s)” options include pancakes, waffles, French toasts, eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries. Check out the menu here.
Sugarin’ breakfasts are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m., until April 7.
Visitors also have the option of visiting the North Hadley Sugar Shack farm market, which is open daily from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The farm market features a complete bakery and deli, serving farm-fresh fruit, homemade pies, cider donuts, maple lemonade, seasonal apple cider, craft beer, Boar’s head deli meat and various maple products.
Maple products available for purchase include bulk sales, granulated sugar, candy, coated nuts, cream, ice-cream and syrup.
March is Massachusetts Maple Month. Sugar makers such as Brian Lowe of High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse in Worthington offer a variety of treats including maple cotton candy and maple candies.Courtesy of High Hopes Farm Sugarhouse
Steve’s Sugar Shack, Westhampton
Steve’s Sugar Shack, located at 34 North Road, Westhampton, is a maple sugar house restaurant open for breakfast seasonally Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m from Feb. 24 until April 14.
Breakfast options include homemade pancakes, French toast, bacon and fresh-maple syrup.
In addition to breakfast, Steve’s Sugar Shack offers a variety of maple products including maple candy, maple cream and syrup.
Did we miss one? Email the name and Massachusetts location of more sugar shacks that offer pancake breakfasts to dgagnon@masslive.
