Peking Duck, An Easy Home Version (北京烤鸭)

Name: Peking Duck, An Easy Home Version (北京烤鸭)
Prep time: 26 h
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 27 h 15 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 duck (about 2.5kg/5.5lb); 2 tbsp fine salt; 2 tbsp maltose (see note 1); 120 ml hot water (about ½ cup); 1 tsp vinegar (see note 2); 2 stalks scallions; 1 head garlic; 2 apples ( quartered); 4 star anise; 4 bay leaves; 2 pieces cassia cinnamon; 3 tbsp sweet bean sauce (Tian Mian Jiang/甜面酱) (see note 3); 1 tsp sugar; Peking duck pancakes (homemade or shop-bought ); Scallions (julienned); Cucumber (peeled and seeds removed, cut into sticks)