There’s no better time to make use of maple syrup than in late winter and early spring, when the trees are tapped and the sap is boiled and bottled throughout the Northeast and Canada. We love the woody sweetness it adds to crêpes, bread pudding, and pie, but maple syrup isn’t just for desserts—it also pairs well with roasted meats and vegetables (especially those that are orange). Here are our best recipes starring the liquid gold.
Maple-Marinated Mustard Seeds
Montreal-based chef Laurent Dagenais likes to call this punchy, savory-sweet condiment “mustard caviar.” Use it to up the luxe factor on your next cheese plate or charcuterie board. Get the recipe >
Maple Parsnip Soup
Maple syrup brings out the natural sweetness of parsnips in this silky soup topped with crunchy, homemade garlic-thyme croutons. Get the recipe >
Maple Pork Shank With Buttered Cabbage
Transform a pork shank into a flavorful, company-worthy centerpiece by braising it with maple syrup and serving it on a bed of bacon-studded greens. Get the recipe >
Spicy Maple Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potato Oven Fries
Maple syrup sweetens the spice paste—fragrant with cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon—used to marinate a whole bird in this hearty supper from British Indian chef Romy Gill. Get the recipe >
New England-Style Baked Beans
Maple syrup adds sweetness and depth to these beans slow-cooked with smoky bacon or salt pork. Serve with plenty of brown bread to mop up all that luscious sauce. Get the recipe >
Molly O’Neill’s LongHouse Granola
The recipe for this life-changing granola comes from the late chef and food writer Molly O’Neill. It’s chock-full of oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, and raisins and is sweetened with a combo of maple syrup and honey. Get the recipe >
Canadian Butter Tarts
Maple syrup is integral to the gooey, runny interior that these beloved sweet treats are known for. We highly recommend eating them over a plate to catch any filling that pours out. Get the recipe >
Cast Iron Squash Pudding
In this cakelike dessert from legendary Montreal restaurant Joe Beef, maple syrup brings out the earthy sweetness of the two types of squash—butternut and delicata. Get the recipe >
Crêpes With Maple Sugar and Syrup
It’s no surprise that these thin pancakes are layered and rolled with both maple syrup and sugar, as the dish comes from Bas-St-Laurent, Quebec’s second-largest maple syrup-producing region. Get the recipe >
Apple and Kale Salad With Black Sesame-Maple Cashews
Coated with maple syrup and black sesame seeds, crunchy cashews not only elevate this simple salad, but they also make an excellent snack on their own. Get the recipe >
Maple and Mustard-Glazed Ham
Celebrated chef Hugh Acheson balances out the sharpness of Dijon mustard and tanginess of cider vinegar with maple syrup in the glaze for this showstopping fresh ham. Get the recipe >
Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce
Maple syrup enriches the batter for this bread pudding redolent with cinnamon and studded with raisins. Get the recipe >
Maple Syrup Milkshake
Vanilla ice cream is the perfect partner for maple syrup in this four-ingredient milkshake. Get the recipe >
Maple Pumpkin Brûlée Pie
Maple syrup is folded into the warmly spiced filling of this riff on the classic dessert. A dramatic caramelized top serves as the perfect finishing touch. Get the recipe >
Carrots Vichy
In the traditional version of this French side, carrots are cooked in water with sugar and butter to create a glaze. Here, chef Hugh Acheson swaps out the sugar for maple syrup and adds fresh marjoram and chiles, yielding an earthier dish with just the right amount of heat. Get the recipe >
Maple Syrup-Roasted Tomatoes
Transform humdrum cherry or grape tomatoes into flavor bombs by cooking them low and slow in the oven with maple syrup, thyme, and garlic. Get the recipe >
Wild Rice Soup With Maple Syrup
Sweet maple syrup plays nicely with earthy mushrooms and thyme in this rich, creamy soup. Get the recipe >
Maple Syrup Dumplings
Spoonfuls of buttery dough are cooked in a pot of boiling maple syrup for these rich dumplings. Get the recipe >
Maple-Glazed Carrots With Hazelnut Crumbs
Juicy orange segments cut through the sweetness of maple syrup in this colorful, beautifully balanced side dish finished with fresh cilantro. Get the recipe >
Maple Squares with Walnuts
This one’s for the real maple heads: these chewy dessert squares call for both maple syrup and maple sugar. Serve them in shallow bowls with a splash of cream on top. Get the recipe >
Wet Nuts
This popular sundae topping gets its gooey sweetness from a mixture of maple syrup and light corn syrup. Get the recipe >
The post 21 Sweet and Savory Ways to Make the Most of Maple Syrup appeared first on Saveur.
