Grand-pères au sirop d'érable (Sweet Dumplings) (Canadian)

1. Pour water and maple syrup into large pot. Cover and simmer while preparing dumplings.
2. Sift flour with baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in butter. Make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients; add milk and stir slightly. Drop large spoonfuls of batter into the boiling syrup. Sprinkle nuts over dumplings. Cover and simmer, without removing cover, for 15 minutes. Serve hot.