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70+ Unexpected Ways to Use Maple Syrup

70+ Unexpected Ways to Use Maple Syrup

October 08, 2019

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Limiting maple syrup to the breakfast hour is selling it way short. Our best maple syrup recipes come drizzled over pork, whisked into salad dressings, and melted into decadent pies. When buying maple syrup, do your homework. Grade B is preferred for many recipes, and pancake syrup, which is made from corn syrup and maple flavoring, can be left off your list entirely.

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Maple-Butternut Puree

Caitlin Bensel

Maple-Butternut Puree Recipe

Instead of sweet potatoes, try equally starchy, carotene-rich butternut squash for your next mash. A food processor will get the mixture silky smooth. You can also change the profile by swapping maple syrup and fresh ginger for a little ground cinnamon and curry powder or minced fresh sage and grated Parmesan cheese.

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Baked Brie with Pumpkin Maple Sauce

Sara Tane

Baked Brie with Pumpkin Maple Sauce Recipe

Your friends will be astonished at the ease and delight that baked brie brings to the table before dinner is served. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty with benefit of a warm, gooey inside and a crispy, flaky crust on the outside. Store-bought puff pastry wraps around the entire wheel of brie, and it’s finished with a drizzle of the pumpkin-spiced maple sauce that’s decadent and sweetened with maple syrup. With a sprinkle of a few sliced almonds for a crunchy texture and a rich, nutty flavor, this starter is ideal menu item to any fall themed meal.

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Orange Maple Balsamic Salmon

Photographer: Gina DeSimone; Prop Stylist: Kashara Johnson; Food Stylist: Briana Riddock

Orange Maple Balsamic Salmon Recipe

The balance of sweet and tangy flavors coat salmon fillets, infusing them with a delicate brightness. This simple recipe features a mixture of fresh orange juice and zest, deliciously complimented by balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. Half of this orange-balsamic blend acts as a marinade, while the other half simmers into a thick sauce to drizzle over the fish fillets as they come out of the oven. This easy salmon entree is best served with hearty side dishes such as roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, brown rice, or quinoa.

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Fried Lobster Tails with Sweet Corn Waffles and Spicy Maple Syrup

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer.

Fried Lobster Tails with Sweet Corn Waffles and Spicy Maple Syrup Recipe

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Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks

Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Hugh Acheson, Longtime Cooking Light Friend

"This dish is an example of the synergy of my Northern and Southern roots. My Canadian veins are partially full of maple syrup, and I adore the Southern staple crop of the sweet potato."

The gastrique, a tangy-sweet glaze, is Thanksgiving worthy but also simple enough to pull off on a weekday.

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Waffle-Crusted Buffalo Chicken Tenders with the Best Sauce Ever

Photos by Teresa Sabga

Waffle-Crusted Buffalo Chicken Tenders with the Best Sauce Ever Recipe
You are welcome, America

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Pumpkin Butter

Photo: Antonis Achilles, Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton and Sarah Epperson; Prop Styling: Prissy Le

Pumpkin Butter Recipe

The maple syrup in this pumpkin butter recipe really darkens up the spread and adds some good depth of flavor. This easy recipe makes a lot, but you can easily cut the recipe in half for a small yield.

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Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

Linda Pugliese

Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies Recipe

Know someone who doesn’t love chocolate? Make them these Blondies instead of brownies. Choose use high-quality 100% pure maple syrup for these bar cookies; the fake stuff doesn’t have the same richness and aroma. The darker the syrup, the stronger the flavor.

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Honeycrisp-Maple Sipper

Photography: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Thom Driver.

Honeycrisp-Maple Sipper Recipe

Autumn's apple abundance is well worth raising a glass to. Honeycrisp apples are sweet with a touch of tartness that lends an invigorating crisp flavor, giving this boozy beverage plenty to buzz about. Maple syrup bolsters the warmth of the bourbon.

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Quick Barbecue Sauce

Caitlin Bensel

Quick Barbecue Sauce Recipe

The ingredient list for this sauce is short and practical—you likely have most of the ingredients on hand. Smoked paprika and maple syrup round out the tang from the ketchup and add depth. Use as a glaze for pan-seared pork tenderloin or toss with shredded chicken for sandwiches.

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Japanese Turnips with Maple-Miso Butter

Thomas J. Story

Japanese Turnips with Maple-Miso Butter Recipe

Mona Johnson, co-owner of Tournant catering in Portland, Oregon, created this dish for a Thanksgiving dinner. She cooked mild white Japanese turnips (Tokyo or Hakurei varieties) in white miso and butter for savory richness, and added a touch of maple syrup for sweetness. If you can't find Japanese turnips, use a combination of small radishes and mustard greens--regular turnips are too strong for this delicate dish.

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Sour Cherry Breakfast Parfait

Photo by Con Poulos / Styled by Simon Andrews and Paige Hicks

Sour Cherry Breakfast Parfait Recipe
Pucker up for a seasonal treat from Maria Rodale’s new cookbook Scratch

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Maple Mustard-Glazed Ham

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro-Levine

Maple Mustard-Glazed Ham Recipe

For a classic flavor profile, you absolutely can't miss with this sweet glazed ham. The combination of Dijon mustard and real maple syrup beats anything you'll get from a flavor packet. Plus, this crowd-pleasing ham is made in the slow cooker, saving you effort and oven space.

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Maple Syrup Snow Candy

Photo by Gina DiSimone

Maple Syrup Snow Candy Recipe
DIY candy is snow big deal

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Baked Oatmeal Apples

All Photos by Teresa Sabga

Baked Oatmeal Apples Recipe
Your personal bliss may include walnuts, caramel, or ice cream

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Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Stylist: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts Recipe

Yet another way to enjoy pumpkin spice this season. Gift these to friends as a festive treat, or enjoy them yourself with an autumnal beer. Make sure to use pure maple syrup, as pancake syrup will taste artificial and will likely overwhelm the spiced flavor.

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Sticky Toffee Cinnamon Rolls

All photos by Teresa Sabga

Sticky Toffee Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
All the icing-drenched pleasure, minus the trip to the mall

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Szechuan-Style Breakfast Biscuits

Abby Hocking

Szechuan-Style Breakfast Biscuits Recipe

This is a riff on the classic sausage biscuit, China style. Or as I call it in the restaurant, “This Little Piggy Went to China.” I slather a cheddar-scallion biscuit with hoisin mayo (because it makes everything better), top it with a nice big Szechuan sausage patty, add a fried egg, and drown the whole thing in Szechuan Chile Sauce that’s been sweetened with a little maple syrup (you know, for breakfast). Then I finish it off with some blackberries to bring that bright acidity. Don’t be shy about picking this guy up to eat it, but a knife and fork can be useful. Reprinted from Gather & Graze: 120 Favorite Recipes for Tasty Good Times. Copyright © 2018 by Stephanie Izard, Inc. Photographs copyright © 2018 by Galdones Photography. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.

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Sweet Corn Oatmeal with Peaches

photo by Victor Protasio

Sweet Corn Oatmeal with Peaches Recipe
Peach shortage be damned

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Smoky Chipotle Baked Beans

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Smoky Chipotle Baked Beans Recipe

You might be surprised to learn that baked beans often contain a good bit of sugar--usually from brown sugar, molasses, and/or ketchup. A classic recipe might have 15g total sugars per 1/2-cup serving; ours contains just 5g (only 2g added from a little maple syrup), allowing the smoky flavors of bacon, chipotle, and smoked paprika to pop.

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Oat Topping

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Oat Topping Recipe

This classic casserole often straddles the line between side and dessert (indeed, we've enjoyed the leftovers both ways). We dial down the sugar to steer the dish back to savory territory, and add a crunchy oat and nut topper for texture. A final drizzle of maple syrup just before serving gives the casserole a lovely sheen. While we call for a ricer in our master mashed potatoes, a potato masher is perfectly acceptable here since the spuds will be bound with an egg, topped, and baked.

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Hot Toddy

Time Inc. Video Studio

Hot Toddy Recipe

The hot toddy truly is the perfect cold weather cocktail. We opted for maple syrup to sweeten the drink, but feel free to use honey if you prefer. Same goes for the type of tea you use; we love the subtle orange spice flavors matched with the bourbon for a toasty holiday vibe, but lemon-ginger tea would work great too.

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Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Greg DuPree

Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Recipe

Madras curry powder adds warmth and earthiness to the otherwise sweet butternut squash, apple, and maple syrup in the soup. It has a bit more heat than regular curry powder, though either can be used here. Frozen, precooked squash will save time; you can also roast 1 (1 1/2-lb.) peeled, diced butternut squash ahead and refrigerate for later in the week. We opt for a sweet, Golden Delicious apple to contrast the tangy Greek yogurt; you can also use a Fuji or Braeburn apple.

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Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies

Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell

Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies Recipe

These adorable cutout cookies are flavored with maple syrup and classic fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Walnuts provide a delicious crunch.

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Maple Pecan Latte Rolls

PHOTO BY DANIEL AGEE

Maple Pecan Latte Rolls Recipe
Move over, pumpkin spice

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Spanish Chorizo Corn Cakes

Caitlin Bensel

Spanish Chorizo Corn Cakes Recipe

Is there any time of day when a pancake isn't welcome at the table? These sweet and savory cakes are a scrumptious choice for breakfast, dinner, or a quick snack on the go. Keep warm and toasty by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven for up to 30 minutes. Reheating is as easy as popping frozen cakes in the toaster, making them ideal for quick weekday meals.

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Bourbon and Bacon Jam

All photos by Teresa Sabga / Styled by Jiselle Basile

Bourbon and Bacon Jam Recipe
No fakin’—bourbon and bacon make the best spread ever

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Buckwheat Crepes

Photo by Chris Court

Buckwheat Crepes Recipe
A fiber-packed breakfast that rivals what you'd find in Paris

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Roasted Pumpkin Grits

Photo by Johnny Autry

Roasted Pumpkin Grits Recipe
Grits for PSL addicts

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No-Bake Granola Bars

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

No-Bake Granola Bars Recipe

Granola bars are probably a pantry staple in your kitchen for quick snacks and filling lunchboxes, but you’ve probably never made a batch from scratch. Start with this easy no-bake recipe made with rice cereal, oats, almond butter, maple syrup, and a touch of cinnamon.

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Cranberry-Apple Granola Muffins

Photo: Greg DuPree; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Cranberry-Apple Granola Muffins Recipe

These caramel- and granola-topped muffins may look and taste like a fancy coffeehouse treat, but they're easy to whip up any fall morning. Serve with our Sticky Maple-Caramel Sauce for the ultimate wake up call. It is like grabbing an apple pie to go with baked in dried cranberries, cinnamon granola and Pink Lady apples. You can sub any apples you prefer; Granny Smith for added tartness or Honeycrisp for more sweetness.

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Maple-Peach Milk Shake

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Maple-Peach Milk Shake Recipe

Blend maple syrup, peaches, low-fat frozen yogurt, and low-fat milk to make this flavorfull milkshake.

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Maple-Walnut-Banana Bread

Photo: Oxmoor House

Maple-Walnut-Banana Bread Recipe
This gluten-free quick bread features a harmonious blend of bananas and walnuts wrapped in the sweetness of pure maple syrup. It makes an easy breakfast treat or an after-school snack.

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Maple-Apple Upside-Down Cake

Con Poulos

Maple-Apple Upside-Down Cake Recipe

This is one of the best upside-down cakes ever—the maple syrup infuses both the apples and the cake, making the dessert taste like a stack of apple pancakes.

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Tropical Fruit Pudding

Photo: Quentin Bacon

Tropical Fruit Pudding Recipe
Mangoes, pineapple, and maple syrup add sweetness to this super-satisfying tropical pudding made from silken tofu and coconut. To serve, spoon pudding into bowls and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

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70+ Unexpected Ways to Use Maple Syrup

1 of 72

Maple-Butternut Puree

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Baked Brie with Pumpkin Maple Sauce

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Orange Maple Balsamic Salmon

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Fried Lobster Tails with Sweet Corn Waffles and Spicy Maple Syrup

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Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Gastrique

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Waffle-Crusted Buffalo Chicken Tenders with the Best Sauce Ever

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Pumpkin Butter

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Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

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Honeycrisp-Maple Sipper

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Quick Barbecue Sauce

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Japanese Turnips with Maple-Miso Butter

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Sour Cherry Breakfast Parfait

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Maple Mustard-Glazed Ham

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Maple Syrup Snow Candy

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Baked Oatmeal Apples

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Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts

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Sticky Toffee Cinnamon Rolls

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Szechuan-Style Breakfast Biscuits

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Sweet Corn Oatmeal with Peaches

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Smoky Chipotle Baked Beans

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Oat Topping

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Hot Toddy

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Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

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Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies

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Maple Pecan Latte Rolls

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Spanish Chorizo Corn Cakes

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