13 Unconventional Uses For Maple Syrup That Go Beyond Pancakes

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Maple syrup is such an underrated topping. Its warm amber color, comforting taste, and potential health benefits make it a superior yet often overlooked sweetener. 

Not convinced? Though not typically included as a component to many non-breakfast recipes, maple syrup is incredibly versatile and can be used to enhance almost everything from savory meats to desserts. And while most will reach for granulated cane sugar for their sweetening needs, maple syrup contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fewer calories (in some cases), making it an overall better choice. 

Ready to unlock the full potential of that bottle of store-bought high-quality maple syrup you have stored? In this article, we're unveiling some of our favorite ways to use it, most of which span far beyond the limits of breakfast. Remember, we're talking about pure maple syrup here; pancake syrup is another thing entirely. With that out of the way, allow us to sweeten up your day with the following 13 unconventional uses for maple syrup.

Adding maple syrup to salad dressing is a naturally sweet way to add depth and flavor to your leafy greens when used as part of a homemade recipe. While store-bought dressings often contain refined sugars, dyes, and additives (check out these ways to spot a better, higher-quality store-bought salad dressing), a homemade maple-infused dressing allows you to control what goes in, all while you reap the fullness of maple syrup's tasty benefits. 

When using maple syrup as an ingredient in salad dressing, replace any refined sugar in your recipe with maple syrup at a 1-to-1 ratio. Watch for changes in consistency, though — since maple syrup comes in liquid form, it may cause certain homemade salad dressing recipes to become runnier than usual. Don't have a salad dressing recipe on hand? Consider whisking together maple syrup, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and a few seasonings in a small bowl. The results? A creamy, tangy, sweet concoction you'll look forward to topping your salad with. Also, feel free to experiment with ratios — we recommend using mayonnaise as the salad dressing base and adding maple syrup to taste, according to your preference for sweetness. Enjoy!

Granulated sugar is a staple in many baking recipes, but that shouldn't deter you from exploring other options. If you're looking for alternatives to traditional sugar that can add sweetness and robust flavor to cookies, bread, and muffins, look no further than pure maple syrup. 

Maple syrup works wonderfully as a substitute for table sugar when baking, but you'll need to use it mindfully. Ingredients used in a baked good recipe often come down to science, which means one wrong move could send its taste and texture plummeting. Thus, when swapping granulated sugar with maple syrup, it's important that you account for its liquid-like consistency — to do this, try cutting back on the liquid in your recipe. This means that recipes that call for 2 tablespoons of sugar should be swapped with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, minus 2 tablespoons of milk or water. 

If you find that the texture of your baked foods is suffering as a result of your alterations, simply adjust as needed. That said, if you are attempting to swap maple syrup for sugar in a baked good that doesn't require milk or water in the first place, you should do so with an abundance of caution. Too much liquid in a baking recipe may yield undesirable results — when in doubt, try searching for a recipe that already uses maple syrup as an ingredient to ensure the best results.

We get it — using maple syrup as a meat glaze sounds kinda weird. Still, it makes sense given that most people resort to adding brown sugar to glazes — maple syrup is a similar, yet different flavor that stands to put a unique spin on your next cut of meat. 

Maple syrup can be used on meat in a number of ways. The first is to brush it on before broiling, grilling, or pan-searing. As the meat cooks, the syrup works to add flavor and encourage browning. If, on the other hand, your goal is to add a hint of sweetness without charring, simply add maple syrup in combination with other ingredients to use as a sauce or glaze. We love whipping up a mixture of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup to make an unexpectedly delicious glaze for meatloaf, and we've seen people mix the likes of bourbon, maple syrup, and soy to make an awesome pan sauce for topping steak. It may be a little unconventional, but trust us; a maple syrup-infused meat glaze is bound to be delish. 

Out of the many deliciously bizarre ways to enhance the flavor of coffee, maple syrup has to be one of the best. This sweet condiment adds a deep caramel-like flavor to coffee that, when combined with milk or cream, can turn your morning brew into something truly magical. But the fun doesn't stop there — while most will reach for a bottle of honey to boost the flavor of tea, the truth is that maple syrup can serve much the same purpose. And though its flavor is different, you may find that you like it better, as its robust maple essence intertwines with unique tea flavors to produce a comforting drink you'll reach for many times over. 

While we're on the topic, it's worth noting that using maple syrup to sweeten drinks reaches far beyond the scope of warm beverages. Because of its consistency, maple syrup is easier to dissolve in cold drinks than honey, making it a prime candidate for virtually any drink. Lemonade, smoothies, maple syrup milkshakes, you name it. Thus, this humble breakfast topping indeed proves more useful than you'd imagine — try pouring it in your next unsweetened beverage and you'll see what we mean!

One of our favorite ways to use maple syrup is as a base in a delectable fruit sauce. Juicy fruit flavors swirl with the luscious notes of vanilla and caramel in maple syrup to create a sauce that'll make your taste buds sing. ​

To make a maple syrup fruit sauce, start by gathering your fruit. Though you could technically use any fruit you wish, we've had major success using fresh or frozen summer berries. Combine your maple syrup and fruit in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the fruit and syrup mixture to a boil before reducing the heat and stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken as it cooks, and those irresistible fruit flavors will begin to permeate the sauce. 

Strain the cooked berries and replace them with fresh ones (whole or sliced) before serving. If you're looking for a thicker purée-like consistency similar to coulis, follow the same approach but allow the fruit syrup to cool before blitzing the mixture in a blender. ​Serve this healthier rendition of fruit syrup over ice cream or cheesecake; heck, you could even ladle a couple of tablespoons of it into your lemonade. The possibilities are endless, and its flavor? Out of this world.

Anyone who's ever had the pleasure of sampling warm sugar-dusted pecans already knows their comfort, but did you know you can create much the same effect using maple syrup? Because of its bold, buttery, and rich taste, maple syrup acts as a sweet alternative to the usual brown sugar coating.

Craving specifics? Start by selecting the types of nuts you wish to use. The variety of nuts you opt for doesn't tend to matter much, though we find that cashews, almonds, and pecans work beautifully. Grab a pan and add your nuts along with maple syrup, an optional dash of cinnamon, and salt (use the extra salt only if nuts are unsalted). Gently simmer the mixture until the nuts begin to crystallize — this could take up to 25 minutes or even longer, depending on how many nuts you're candying at once. Once your maple syrup appears as a grainy texture over the nuts, turn off the heat and pour them onto foil, wax paper, or even parchment paper like this Amazon Basics Non-Stick Parchment Paper, making sure to separate the clumps as you go. Allow your freshly candied nuts to cool before enjoying. Easy, right?

Maple caramel dip is an incredible way to enjoy the flavor of caramel while reaping the many benefits of maple syrup. ​And while these flavors work seamlessly together to provide warm and cozy flavors we often associate with autumn, the sauce is a delectable treat that can easily be enjoyed year-round. 

To make maple syrup caramel, start by grabbing a saucepan. Add the amount of maple syrup you desire and bring to a boil. Once the surface begins to bubble, turn off the heat, remove the saucepan from the burner, and add a knob or two of butter. Add heavy cream to the mixture until the maple caramel sauce appears the correct consistency — 6 tablespoons of heavy cream per 1 cup of maple syrup used tends to be the sweet spot. 

Add a pinch of salt to your maple caramel sauce if desired and allow to cool; this decadent dip can be used over fresh apple slices or as a topping for your favorite dessert. Sweet!

Maple syrup isn't the first ingredient most people think of when it comes to whipping up a tasty marinade, but believe it or not, this uncommon component is an awesome way to add flavor to steak, chicken, and other meats. Several ingredients are crucial when it comes to making a basic steak marinade: oil, a form of acid, and salt usually top the list. Still, there's something to be said for adding a little sweetness to the mix, which is why maple syrup can make a great replacement for the refined sugars often found in certain recipes.​ 

When including maple syrup as a part of a marinade, the amount you add will depend on personal preference. Some recipes require as few as a couple of tablespoons, though the amount added is really up to you. Remember — the goal isn't to make your meat sickly sweet; aim to use maple syrup as a balancing component that serves to complement other flavors. 

Once you've made your maple syrup marinade, add a cut of meat and allow it to sit. When it's ready to cook, drain the meat and dab any excess marinade before cooking. Keep in mind that grilling, sautéing, or baking meat that has been marinated in maple syrup (or any form of sugar, for that matter) will likely char faster — keep an eye on it, and, as always, and lower cooking temperatures as needed.

Looking for a fun, creative, and indulgent way to enjoy vegetables? Try a drizzle of maple syrup. You'll likely find that it imparts just the right amount of sweetness while playing off other flavors you add (like salt, pepper, and garlic) for a dynamic taste that'll actually make you look forward to eating your veggies.

When adding maple syrup to vegetables, start by combining the syrup with olive oil and a bit of minced garlic in a small bowl. Chop the vegetables of your choice (we love using root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and onions) and place them on a baking sheet. Pour the maple syrup mixture over the veggies just before dousing them with salt and pepper or whatever other seasonings you have on hand. Bake the prepared vegetables in the oven until tender; once finished, remove from the oven and allow to cool. Serve alongside your choice of grain or protein — or feel free to enjoy them on their own!

BBQ sauce usually features a mixture of tomato, vinegar, and brown sugar as its core ingredients, but in most cases, a good homemade version of the tangy topping can be made using maple syrup in place of brown sugar. The results? A delicious, naturally sweet way to enjoy all your favorite BBQ dishes with next to no effort involved.

Making maple-infused BBQ sauce is simple — start by whisking maple syrup, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Add to the mixture your choice of spices — salt, pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes are great options. Want even more flavor? Consider a touch of molasses — though maple syrup packs plenty of sweetness on its own, a high-quality blackstrap molasses (like Brer Rabbit Unsulphured Molasses) often works to take the flavor up and over the edge. 

Serve the maple syrup BBQ sauce over your choice of chicken, pulled pork, burgers, or ribs. Don't forget the Wet Wipes – you're gonna need 'em.

Maple syrup is a tasty way to upgrade beans, and honestly, it makes sense. Layered with all sorts of yummy flavors, baked beans benefit from the richness maple syrup offers, especially when combined with other sundry ingredients, such as tomato paste, molasses, spices, and onion. And while we totally think you could try sweetening baked beans with maple syrup alone, you could also use it in tandem with brown sugar for even more satisfying flavor. 

​When making maple syrup baked beans, you'll first need to decide if you're whipping them up fresh or from the can; using canned beans is certainly the quicker route, but making the beans from scratch is feasible as long as you're willing to put in the time and effort. Like so many other suggestions on the list, the amount of maple syrup you add to baked beans is up to you to decide; the amount will vary depending on the amount of baked beans you're preparing, how sweet you want them, and what other ingredients you add. Either way, adding maple syrup to the baked beans is an unexpected yet viable way to put a subtle twist on the familiar side dish — and given that some brands like Busch's Best Maple and Cured Bacon Baked Beans already have this flavor on store shelves, you know the inclusion of this ingredient's gotta be a good thing.

Believe it or not, maple syrup tends to pair with umami flavors quite well. Its warm, rich taste proves the perfect companion to common Asian ingredients like soy sauce, making it a wonderful sweetening option that boasts multiple health benefits.

One thing we love about adding maple syrup to stir-fry is that, because the sauce used in stir-fries tends to be thin, not much adjusting needs to be done when swapping granulated sugar for maple-y goodness. That said, because maple syrup has a slightly different flavor profile than traditional sugar, you may find it helpful to taste as you go, adding more or less depending on your preferences.

Making maple-infused stir-fry sauce is simple — combine soy sauce, garlic, minced ginger, red pepper flakes (or sriracha), and maple syrup in a skillet and simmer before tossing in cooked meat and veggies. If you do find the sauce a little thin, go ahead and thicken it with a cornstarch slurry — the combination of cornstarch and water will give your sauce a lusciously glossy appearance that's sure to make your mouth water. 

Fan of chocolate milk? If so, it's time to rejoice. There's an easy way to enjoy the smooth, creamy decadence of chocolate milk without having to reach for Hershey's Syrup to do it. Enter, maple syrup chocolate sauce. The recipe is super easy to accomplish, though we recommend using a saucepan to get the job done effectively. 

Start by heating maple syrup in a small pot over medium heat. Once warmed, add a bit of cocoa powder and whisk until the clumps of cocoa dissolve. That's it! Use the mixture immediately or allow it to cool for use over ice cream or other treats. Note that this chocolate syrup will be quite concentrated in terms of flavor — feel free to add water to dilute the mixture as needed. Also, if you're up for it, feel free to experiment with add-ins; a few splashes of vanilla extract or even a sprinkle or two of coffee grounds can add dynamic flavor to this healthier version of chocolate syrup for a taste more deliciously flavorful than you'd ever imagine.