Homemade Sweet Maple Balsamic Dressing

Name: Homemade Sweet Maple Balsamic Dressing
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¼ cup balsamic vinegar; ¼ cup pure maple syrup; 1 clove garlic, minced; 2 tbsp dijon mustard; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

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This homemade sweet maple balsamic dressing takes less than 5 minutes to make! It only requires 5 simple ingredients using basic pantry staples. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and vegan!

Sweet maple balsamic dressing in a jar on two wooden coasters with a jug of maple syrup and bowl of spinach.

You may already be familiar with this quick vegan dressing from my roasted beet and butternut squash salad. It is easily my favorite, homemade dressing recipe. It pairs well with spinach or kale salads with fruit, creamy cheeses and nuts!

This versatile dressing also doubles as marinade or it can be drizzled on top of roasted vegetables such as this harvest pasta salad or even on top of a grain bowl!

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Why You'll Love This Dressing
Equipment Notes
Ingredient Notes
Substitutions
Variations
Step by Step Instructions
Storage
Top tip
Frequently Asked Questions
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Homemade Sweet Maple Balsamic Dressing

Why You'll Love This Dressing

It is quick and easy to make! This recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make using only 5 ingredients.
Homemade sweet maple balsamic vinaigrette is much healthier than store bought dressing. It is free of unnecessary chemicals and additives. It is also lower in fat!
This dressing is so versatile! Put in on salads, roasted root vegetables or use it as a marinade for tofu or meat!
It's easy to double or triple the recipe for a crowd!

Equipment Notes

The easiest way to mix up dressing is in a mason jar with a lid. Simply add all the ingredients to the jar and shake well until combined.

If you don’t have a jar with a tight fitting lid, you can also use a bowl and whisk or fork to mix everything together.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead view of small bowls containing maple syrup, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard.

Balsamic vinegar - use high quality balsamic vinegar if possible.
Pure maple syrup - use real maple syrup, not the fake stuff! I love using Vermont maple syrup.
Dijon mustard - I recommend using Grey Poupon mustard! This add a creamy element to the dressing and helps the texture be more cohesive.
Garlic - one small clove is all you need! You can also use garlic powder or dried minced garlic instead.
Extra virgin olive oil - use high quality olive oil if possible. Olive oil in addition to the mustard, helps emulsify the dressing.

See recipe card for quantities. See below for substitutions and variations.

Substitutions

There are several substitutions available for this recipe depending on your diet and taste preference.

Vinegar - you can substitute in a different vinegar such as red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar!
Maple syrup - you can use honey, agave syrup or even molasses in place of maple syrup.
Mustard - use any mustard you want. I love using smooth dijon, but you can use yellow mustard, honey mustard or stone ground mustards.
Garlic - you can omit the garlic if isn't not your thing. You can also swap in garlic powder, dried minced garlic or fresh shallots.
Oil - swap in a flavor infused oil. I think a fruit flavored olive oil such as blood orange or fig would work really well.

Variations

There are endless possibilities when it comes to homemade sweet maple balsamic dressing! Try out these variations below and let me know what your favorite is.

Creamy - for a thicker, creamy maple balsamic dressing add in 1-2 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Note that this will add dairy to the recipe.
Tahini - for a thick and creamy, dairy free dressing add 1-2 tablespoon of tahini or try this maple miso tahini recipe!
Honey - use honey in place of maple syrup for a sweet honey balsamic dressing.
Ginger - add 1 tbs of freshly grated ginger for a maple ginger dressing!
Spicy - add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes!
Oil free- omit the olive oil for an oil-free dressing. The mustard will help emulsify the dressing and keep it together.
Herbs - add fresh or dried herbs such as oregano, basil or smoked paprika!
Fruity - mix in 1 tbs of fruit jam such as strawberry, blueberry or raspberry!

Step by Step Instructions

A small mason jar on a wooden coaster containing balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic, maple syrup and oil.

Add the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, garlic and oil to a mason jar.

A small mason jar with a lid on a wooden coaster containing homemade maple balsamic dressing.

Make sure the lid is on tight. Shake well until combined and emulsified.

Hint: If you don't have a jar with a tight fitting lid use a bowl and whisk to mix the dressing together!

Storage

Store sweet maple balsamic dressing in an airtight container in the fridge. You can keep this dressing for up to two weeks!

The olive oil will coagulate while in the cold, so you want to bring it back to room temperature before serving. Make sure to remove the dressing from the refrigerator about 15-20 minutes prior to serving. Shake well again before using.

I do not recommend freezing this dressing.

Homemade balsamic dressing in a jar on two wooden coasters with a jug of maple syrup and bowl of spinach.

Top tip

The dressing will thicken up and coagulate while in the cold refrigerator. Make sure to pull it out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature about 20 minutes before serving. Shake well before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is balsamic dressing healthy?

Homemade balsamic dressing is much healthier than store bought dressings. This recipe contains less oil and has options to eliminate it completely if desired!

Does maple balsamic dressing need to be refrigerated?

I recommend storing homemade dressing in the refrigerator with an airtight lid. Store the dressing for up to two weeks!

Why did my homemade dressing solidify?

Olive oil will coagulate or thicken when it is cold. When dressing is stored in the fridge it will start to solidify. This is completely normal! To get the dressing back to a pourable consistency simply remove it from the fridge about 20 minutes before serving. Shake well before using.

These are my favorite dishes to serve with homemade sweet maple balsamic dressing:

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