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    Home » Recipes » Sauces, Spreads & Dips

    Homemade Sweet Maple Balsamic Dressing

    Published: Apr 7, 2023 by Emily Toshiko · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    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!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Dressing
    • Equipment Notes
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Related Recipes You'll Love:
    • 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! You can also try using a balsamic glaze instead of 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.

    Related Recipes You'll Love:

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

    • Close up of beet and butternut squash salad with forks and pomegranate seeds.
      Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad
    • Peach watermelon summer salad
      Peach Watermelon Summer Salad
    • Fall harvest pasta salad on a large plate with wooden spoons and a napkin.
      Healthy Fall Harvest Pasta Salad
    • tahini drizzled over roasted root vegetable bowl
      Roasted Root Vegetable Bowl

    P.S. I love hearing from you! If you make this recipe please leave a star rating and comment below. To catch the latest recipes subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

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

    Homemade Sweet Maple Balsamic Dressing

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Emily Toshiko
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 6 oz 1x
    • Category: Dressing
    • Method: Shake
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This homemade sweet maple balsamic dressing takes less than 5 minutes to make! It only requires 5 simple ingredients using basic pantry staples.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 
    • ¼ cup pure maple syrup 
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 2 tbsp dijon mustard
    • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar with a tight fitting lid. If you don't have a jar simply add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
    2. Make sure the lid of the jar is on tight. Shake well until combined. If using a bowl, whisk all ingredients together until combined.

    Notes

    • Store homemade dressing in the fridge for up to two weeks.
    • Remove the dressing from the fridge 20 minutes before serving. Shake well before using.

    Keywords: maple balsamic dressing

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      April 07, 2023 at 12:15 pm

      I make this all the time! It is so good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Emily! Welcome to my table! I enjoy creating easy to make recipes that inspire you to eat more veggies! While I don't claim to be vegan or vegetarian, I find that I feel my best when eating a plant forward diet. Give one of these recipe a try, I dare you!

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