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Sweetened with pure maple syrup, this rich-tasting Maple Balsamic Dressing is a great way to amp up your salad. It’s tangy, sweet, and goes wonderfully with so many salads—especially those that incorporate fruit! It’s a cinch to make, too. Just a few ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
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A good homemade dressing makes all the difference. And since this maple balsamic dressing calls for just 7 ingredients and a blender to blend them in, it’s totally worth making whenever you’ve got a salad it will suit. Usually one that includes fruit, like this winter crunch salad or my apple pecan farro salad.
Looking to expand your homemade salad dressing recipe collection? Check out my Green Goddess Dressing with Greek Yogurt, or this delicious Dill Pickle Buttermilk Ranch! I’ve also got a great Homemade Caesar Dressing (because who doesn’t love a good Caesar salad).
Why You’ll Love This Dressing
- Simple Ingredients—There’s a good chance you already have everything you need to whip this lip-smacking dressing up!
- Easy prep—No chopping necessary, and if you don’t feel like dragging out your blender, you don’t even have to. You could just pop everything into a glass jar with a lid and give it a good shake. I like to blend it in a blender because it makes the dressing really nice and smooth!
Ingredients for Maple Balsamic Dressing
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Maple syrup—Be sure to get yourself a quality maple syrup! I’m spoiled and get pure maple syrup from Quebec, thanks to my Canadian family. Syrup from Vermont is also a great choice.
- Garlic powder—I tend to use garlic powder in my dressings since it allows for more refrigeration time. Fresh garlic that is chopped but left uncooked only lasts in the fridge for 1-2 days, and I need my dressings to last longer than that.
Recipe Variations & Modifications
- Fresh garlic—You can throw a clove of fresh garlic into this dressing if you prefer, but you will want to definitely blend it in a blender in this case, rather than just shake it up in a jar or whisk it.
Recipe Tip
For an extra smooth dressing that doesn’t separate, you can create an emulsion by blending all of the ingredients except the olive oil together either in a stand up blender or by whisking them into a bowl. Once well blended, slowly drizzle the olive oil into mixture. If using a blender, you can pour the olive oil in through the opening on the top of the lid. If in a bowl, pour it in as you whisk vigorously.
Storage
This homemade maple balsamic dressing will keep in the fridge in an airtight dressing bottle or glass jar for up to a week!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and that’s exactly what this recipe entails. The sweetness from the maple syrup and the tang from the balsamic vinegar work beautifully together.
If you have a bottle of balsamic that’s been kicking around in your pantry for a while and you’re wondering if it’s still good to use, the first (and obvious) step is to see if the bottle has a best before date. If it doesn’t, or if it’s illegible, rest assured that balsamic vinegar doesn’t necessarily “go bad”, but it loses quality overtime. You usually have a 3-5 year window, depending on the quality of the vinegar to being with (which brand, etc.)
More Homemade Dressings to Try…
Dressings and Spices
Green Goddess Dressing With Greek Yogurt
Dressings and Spices
Dill Pickle Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Dressings and Spices
Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe
Dressings and Spices
Feta Lemon Vinaigrette With Honey
Maple Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TBSP balsamic vinegar (not glaze)
- 2 TBSP pure maple syrup
- 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions
If using a stand blender:
- Put all of the ingredients except the olive oil into the blender. Blend until smooth, then pop open the top of the lid on the blender (the hole in the lid) and slowly pour the olive oil in as the mixture blends. This will emulsify the dressing and help prevent separation. When done, transfer it to a dressing bottle or jar with a lid.
If using a whisk and a bowl:
- Put all of the ingredients into a bowl except for the olive oil. Whisk until smooth, then slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl while continuing to whisk vigorously until the dressing is smooth and creamy, then transfer it to a dressing bottle or jar with a lid.
If using a jar or a small bullet-style blender:
- Put all of the ingredients into the jar and secure the lid. Shake it real well to mix it up. The dressing can remain stored in the jar.
If using a bullet-style blender:
- Put all of the ingredients into the bullet and blend until smooth. You can leave the dressing in the bullet for storage since it comes with a lid, or you can transfer the dressing to a jar or a dressing bottle.
