Tangy, rich, and sweet Maple Vinaigrette! This quick and easy salad dressing is ready in a snap and made with everyday pantry staples. It's naturally vegan, gluten-free, and processed sugar-free and perfect for drizzling on green salads, roasted veggies, wraps, and more!
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Enjoy one of fall's best flavors in this maple vinaigrette dressing recipe. Made with pure syrup, olive oil, shallots, herbs, and apple cider vinegar, this vinaigrette is balanced, sweet, tangy, and dang near perfect! 💃
Enjoy it drizzled on your usual suspects, like a green salad or roasted vegetables, or amp-up sandwiches, wraps, or even grilled meats and seafood! This maple dressing is made in just a few simple steps and has a long storage life, making it an easy and delicious way to add flavor to everyday meals.
If you want more maple-forward savory recipes, check out my Mashed Butternut Squash, Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, and Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
Ingredients
Maple Syrup - Pure maple syrup adds the purest signature caramel flavor. You will need ¼ cup.
Olive Oil - Extra virgin olive oil has smooth, peppery notes and is ideal for salad dressing. If needed, virgin olive oil also works.
Apple Cider Vinegar - For zing and zip! Use filtered or unfiltered (also known as "raw") vinegar. You will need ¼ cup.
Dijon Mustard - For a light peppery finish! Smooth Dijon mustard is best, though 1 ½ teaspoons of whole grain can work in a pinch.
Shallots - These aromatics add light garlic and onion flavor without adding an unpleasant aftertaste. Mince it finely.
Dried Herbs & Spices - Dried rosemary adds woodsy herbal notes to the maple vinaigrette recipe, the perfect complement to its sweetness. Add a pinch of smoked paprika for an optional touch of smoke; for some heat, add a pinch of cayenne. You will also need a large pinch of sea salt.
How to Make Maple Vinaigrette
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Crush the dried rosemary between your fingers and add it to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the minced shallots and Dijon mustard and mash with the back of a spoon until combined.
Step 2: Whisk in the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika (if using), and salt until combined.
Step 3: Very slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continually mixing the maple syrup vinaigrette mixture. Whisk until smooth and emulsified.
Step 4: Enjoy maple syrup salad dressing on fall salads, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, and more!
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Storage directions: This maple salad dressing keeps covered in an airtight container -- such as a Mason jar -- in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. If the dressing solidifies upon storage, run the closed jar under warm water or let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Slowly drizzle in the oil. The secret to a well-emulsified dressing is slowly adding the oil while continually whisking. Alternatively, you can blend the apple cider and maple syrup in a high-speed blender while drizzling the oil through the lid's vent and whisk in the Dijon and shallot mixture and seasonings later.
- Mason jar shaking alternative. For a super simple prep, just add all the ingredients to a Mason jar, close the lid, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds or until combined.
- Add smoked paprika or cayenne if desired. These ingredients are optional but encouraged for smoke or spice.
Save this Maple Syrup Dressing Recipe for Later on Pinterest
Tools Needed to Make This Recipe
More Salad Dressing & Vinaigrette Recipes
- Strawberry Vinaigrette
- Blueberry Vinaigrette
- Tomato Vinaigrette
- Miso Vinaigrette
- Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing
Recipe Card
Maple Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon smooth Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 large pinch cayenne pepper or smoked paprika optional
- 1 large pinch salt
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Crush the dried rosemary between your fingers and add it to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the minced shallots and Dijon mustard and mash with the back of a spoon until combined.
- Whisk in the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, cayenne or smoked paprika (if using), and salt until combined.
- Very slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continually mixing the maple syrup mixture. Whisk until smooth and emulsified. Enjoy!
Notes
- Slowly drizzle in the oil. The secret to a well-emulsified dressing is slowly adding the oil while continually whisking. Alternatively, you can blend the apple cider and maple syrup in a high-speed blender while drizzling the oil through the lid's vent and whisk in the Dijon and shallot mixture and seasonings later.
- Mason jar shaking alternative. For a super simple prep, just add all the ingredients to a Mason jar, close the lid, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds or until combined.
- Add smoked paprika or cayenne if desired. These ingredients are optional but encouraged for smoke or spice.
