Marvelous Maple Recipes For Dessert, Dinner And Beyond

If you have a sweet tooth, adding maple syrup to your food might be one of the best decisions you can make. Besides being delicious, maple syrup — the real stuff, anyway — is a non-refined sugar, which means that it retains its minerals and nutrients making it kinda, sorta healthy — or at least a good alternative to refined granulated sugar.

We all know it's common for people to drizzle this delicious liquid gold all over their waffles, pancakes or French toast. But maple syrup is also a great addition to drinks, savory meals and more any time of day. Here are some of our favorite creative ways to make use of that jar of maple syrup.

This side dish is one thing you definitely need on your dinner table. Upgrade your usual roasted sweet potato recipe by tossing in some cranberries and using maple syrup to help caramelize the potatoes.

For the Roasted Maple Sweet Potatoes and Cranberries recipe, click here.

Love drinking margaritas? Well, mix in maple syrup to add a little complexity to this classic cocktail that will remind you of fall — but can, and should, be enjoyed yearround.

For the Maple Margarita recipe, click here.

Cookies for breakfast? Absolutely! When they use nutritious ingredients like oats, dried cranberries and more there's no reason not to. For extra sweetness, this recipe calls for you to make your own maple syrup glaze to drizzle on top.

For the Maple-Glazed Breakfast Cookies With Dried Cranberries and Pepitas recipe, click here.

Grilled cheese is a classic lunchtime favorite that's easy to riff on. Bacon is always a popular addition, but try balancing the salty meat with maple syrup and apple slices to create a sweet and savory spin on a classic grilled cheese.

For the Maple Apple Grilled Cheese recipe, click here.

This spiked coffee recipe will definitely beat your normal cup of joe. This cold brew is spiked with Irish whiskey and flavored with maple syrup. Serve it with ice and top it off with some coffee beans.

For the Irish Cold Brew recipe, click here.

There is no excuse for salads to be boring once you start incorporating maple into your dressings. Add some textural interest to your meal by tossing in some apple slices, pomegranate and pistachios. Then drizzle a homemade dressing made up of maple syrup, orange juice and mustard to finish off your stellar salad.

For the Kale and Apple Salad With Maple Mustard Dressing recipe, click here.

This scrumptious pie recipe uses maple in a variety of ways. The filling includes a variety of nuts mixed with maple syrup, brandy and vanilla. But it doesn't stop there; the recipe also calls for homemade pie crust flavored with a hint of maple syrup extract.

For the Maple Syrup 'n Mix Nut Pie recipe, click here.

When it comes to making the perfect turkey, knowing how to properly cook and carve it are helpful skills. But if you want to make sure the meat stays juicy and tender, brining is essential. Get that meat you love with this sweet brine made out of brown sugar and maple syrup. If you don't want to cook a whole turkey, you can halve the recipe and use the same technique with chicken.

For the Turkey with Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup Brine recipe, click here.

Forget the hit-or-miss store-bought granola — make your own using ingredients that you know you like. This recipe calls for dried strawberries, but you can also incorporate dried blueberries and raspberries for a mixed berry version. Add this granola to your yogurt or smoothie bowl to start your day off right.

For the Strawberry Maple Granola recipe, click here.

Eating corned beef doesn't have to include hash or cabbage. This recipe adds a sweet twist by using a peppery maple syrup glaze on top of the meat. The corned beef is roasted with orange slices and stout beer for even more flavor.

For the Maple-glazed Corned Beef With Orange and Stout recipe, click here.

This is the perfect cocktail for maple fans. The maple syrup pairs well with the Irish whiskey and balances that strong alcohol flavor with a sweet touch.

For the Proper Maple Smash recipe, click here.

If you're vegetarian or vegan, you will love this alternative to breakfast sausages. Tempeh adds a nutty flavor to your food rather than the plain neutral taste you may experience from its soybean counterpart, tofu. With this recipe, it's easy to mold the tempeh into patties that are mixed with different seasonings and, most importantly, maple syrup.

For the Tempeh Breakfast Sausage Patties recipe, click here.

French toast is probably one of the best ways to finish off a loaf of bread, but don't just settle for ordinary French toast — make it into a syrup-soaked casserole. Don't forget to add extra maple syrup on top once it's done.

For the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Casserole recipe, click here.

This is the perfect cocktail to drink any time, but especially when you're having breakfast for dinner. The maple syrup mixed in with rye whiskey, amaro liqueur and more would be great on the side of some bacon and eggs or French toast. If you need tips on selecting the right drinks to go along with your meals, try looking at this guide for some cocktail and dinner pairings.

For the Maple and Rye Cocktail recipe, click here.

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