Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Oct 07, 2021, Updated Feb 22, 2024

5 from 10 votes

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This maple balsamic vinaigrette dressing is made in 2 minutes with 5 ingredients. It’s the most delicious dressing and it’s so much better than store-bought (with no artificial ingredients). Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free & vegan.

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2)

Today I’m sharinghow to make this healthy & delicious Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe! This dressing literally takes 3 minutes to make and only contains five ingredients. It’s a healthy and delicious way to make any salad taste amazing.

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (3)

Why Should you Make Homemade Salad Dressing?

  • No Chemicals.We eat a lot of salad in this house. As a result, I make this dressing all the time. It adds richflavor to your salad while skippingall the chemicals & sugars found in many store-bought dressings.
  • Nutritious.This Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette is made using healthy oil, natural sweetener, and high-quality balsamic vinegar. It is completely dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan & paleo.
  • Easy & Convenient.Once you give this a try & see just how easy it is to make your own dressing at home…you will never have to worry aboutrunning to the store for the bottled stuff ever again.
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Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette: Ingredients & Substituions

This Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette is my favorite dressing. However, I do have to pause for a moment to implore you to use high-quality ingredients when making this recipe.

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  • Balsamic Vinegar.Thereis a differencebetweenexcellent balsamic vinegar and your run-of-the-mill varieties. As I’ve discussed before, traditional balsamic vinegar should be so thick that it pours like syrup. It should be dark brown and taste sweet.It should most definitelyNOTbe thin, watery, or sour-tasting.My absolute favorite balsamic vinegar in the entire world can be found here. If you haven’t tried true, aged, high-quality balsamic vinegar yet, please please give it a whirl. You will NOT be disappointed.
  • Olive oil.The same holds true for high-quality olive oil. One way I enjoy mixing this recipe up is using flavor-infused olive oils instead of plain. They really add an extra special flavor.
  • Mustard.Any variety of mustard works well in this recipe.
  • Maple syrup.Pure maple syrup is my favorite way to sweeten this homemade salad dressing recipe, because it really imparts a beautiful flavor. However honey is also a great choice.

How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette

This recipe is really easy to make. Simply put the ingredients in a glass jar, secure the lid and shake it up. Here are the steps, don’t forget to watch the video, too.

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Begin by putting the ingredients into a glass jar with a lid.

In these photos I used a regular glass jar, however I have thisSalad Dressing Mixer Jar and I love it! It is almost always sitting in my fridge with some variety of homemade dressing (like this Greek dressing or pomegranate dressing) or another (usually this balsamic vinaigrette).

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One the ingredients are in the jar, secure the lid and shake it up. The ingredients will separate as it sits so you’ll need to shake it up before serving.

Store

Store this balsamic vinaigrette in a glass container in the refrigerator. It keeps for up to a month in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure to remove it from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving, then give it a good shake to re-incorporate all the ingredients (which can separate when chilled).

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Serve

There is not resting or waiting time needed between mixing and serving. You can pour this balsamic vinaigrette over your favorite salad right away, or store it to serve later. Here are some of our favorite salads:

  • Balsamic caprese quinoa salad
  • The best kale salad.
  • Brussels sprouts salad – so yummy.
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Recipe FAQs

Is balsamic vinaigrette healthy?

Yes! Balsamic vinaigrette contains very little sugar and fats.

Is there a difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette?

Yes! Balsamic vinaigrette has more ingredients and is sweeter.

Does balsamic vinegar need to be refrigerated?

Store this balsamic vinaigrette in one of the aforementioned glass containers in the refrigerator. It keeps for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, although it never lasts that long in my house.

Can I double or triple the recipe?

I find that this recipe makes enough for a medium-sized crowd. But if you are serving more people, it is very easy to double or even triple this maple balsamic vinaigrette recipe.

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Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (11)

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (12)

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Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Laura

This maple balsamic vinaigrette dressing is made in 2 minutes with 5 ingredients. It's the most delicious dressing and it's so much better than store-bought (with no artificial ingredients). Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free & vegan.

Course condiment, Salad

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8 servings

Calories 77.4

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Total Time5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add ingredients into a glass container or jar (with a lid) in the order listed.

  • Shake jar vigorously until completely combined.

  • Serve on your favorite salad or store in the refrigerator to use later!

Video

Notes

Ingredients Substitutions

  • Balsamic Vinegar. Good balsamic vinegar is thick and it pours like syrup. It should be dark brown and taste sweet. It should notbe thin, watery, or sour-tasting.My absolute favorite balsamic vinegar in the entire world can be found here.
  • Olive oil.The same holds true for high-quality olive oil. One way I enjoy mixing this recipe up is using flavor-infused olive oils instead of plain. They really add an extra special flavor.
  • Mustard.Any variety of mustard works well in this recipe.
  • Maple syrup.Pure maple syrup is my favorite way to sweeten this homemade salad dressing recipe, because it really imparts a beautiful flavor. However honey is also a great choice.

Store

Store this balsamic vinaigrette in a glass container in the refrigerator. It keeps for up to a month in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure to remove it from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving, then give it a good shake to re-incorporate all the ingredients (which can separate when chilled).

Double/Tripling the Recipe

I find that this recipe makes enough for a medium-sized crowd. But if you are serving more people, it is very easy to double or even triple this maple balsamic vinaigrette recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 77.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 0.1mg | Sugar: 3.3g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Panzanella Salad Recipe

Greek Salad Dressing

Kale Salad Recipe

Burrata Salad

Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette)

Ranch Dressing Mix (Ranch Seasoning)

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do you do with maple balsamic vinegar? ›

You can use Vermont Maple Balsamic Vinegar almost anywhere you use maple syrup. Think pancakes, waffles yogurt, and oatmeal. Drizzling it over ice cream or bread pudding, use it in cakes and frosting, toss fruit in it, glaze pork (especially bacon, pork chops, and ham), and more!

How many calories are in a maple balsamic vinaigrette? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
165Calories
16gFat
5gCarbs

What is the standard recipe for a basic vinaigrette group of answer choices? ›

For a traditional vinaigrette, you'll need to mix about 3 tablespoons of oil to 1 tablespoon of vinegar. You'll also want to add some salt and pepper to taste. Of course, for all four ingredients, the better the quality you use, the better your vinaigrette will taste.

What are the rules for balsamic vinegar? ›

The “standard” aging time is twelve years and that which is aged over twenty–five years is adorned with the words “Extra Vecchio.” It must be contained in a special 100ml bottle adorned with a seal of authenticity from the Consortium of Producers of Traditional Balsamic Vinegars from Modena.

Can I use maple syrup instead of balsamic vinegar? ›

Red Wine Vinegar and Maple Syrup

While red wine vinegar by itself doesn't make the best substitute for balsamic, sweetening it with a bit of maple syrup can achieve a near-equivalent flavor.

Why is balsamic vinaigrette so high in calories? ›

Typically the healthiest salad dressings are those that are oil-based, because they are made with heart-healthy fats such as olive oil, nut oils, and canola oil. However, because the standard ratio to making a vinaigrette is three parts oil to one part vinegar, even the healthiest salad dressings are high in calories.

Is balsamic vinaigrette healthy to eat? ›

Improves digestion and gut health

The enzymes in balsamic vinegar help with digestion and absorption of nutrients, making this an excellent addition to any diet plan. Protein – Balsamic vinegar helps with protein digestion by breaking down the amino acids and making them more absorbable by your body.

Is balsamic vinaigrette dressing healthy? ›

The polyphenols found in balsamic vinegar have antioxidant properties that multiple studies show may help improve cardiovascular health. While not a substitute for medication, incorporating balsamic vinegar into a heart-healthy diet could be a small but flavorful step toward maintaining healthy blood pressure.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when making vinaigrette? ›

12 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Making Homemade Vinaigrette
  • Estimating measurements for all ingredients. inspiredbyart/Shutterstock. ...
  • Using the wrong oil. ...
  • Using the wrong vinegar. ...
  • Leaving out the emulsifier. ...
  • Skipping the mustard. ...
  • Forgetting to check expiration dates. ...
  • Not using fresh herbs. ...
  • Using vinaigrette only on salad.
Aug 18, 2022

What's the difference between balsamic dressing and vinaigrette? ›

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

Which vinegar is best for vinaigrette? ›

In addition to white wine vinegar, red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

What is the formula for vinaigrette dressing? ›

The French have decided that the perfect ratio for a vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. For my personal taste, that's a little too oily — but it's totally up to you. My simple system is: In a small screw-top jar, place vinegar and a pinch of salt; cover and shake (this helps to dissolve the salt).

What is the ratio of oil to vinegar in a vinaigrette? ›

Here is a perfect example of a culinary ratio, one that's fairly standard: The 3-to-1 vinaigrette, or 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar.

What is the best oil for salad dressing? ›

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO):Best for Salad Dressings: Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality and is obtained from the first cold pressing of olives.

What is maple vinegar? ›

A dose of sugar (such as maple syrup, which lends a haunting sweetness here) helps the process along: it is converted into alcohol, which then ferments into the softer acetic acid. The result is like balsamic vinegar but rounder and more syrupy.

Can I eat balsamic vinegar by itself? ›

People use it as a low-fat additive and part of a heart-healthy diet. Some people believe that balsamic vinegar is good for you all by itself. It's been suggested that balsamic vinegar can contribute to weight loss, low cholesterol, and even a glowing complexion.

How do you eat fancy balsamic vinegar? ›

​Here are 5 ideas to use Balsamic in your home cooking.
  1. Balsamic on Gelato. Vanilla Gelato at Osteria Francescana. ...
  2. Salad with Balsamic. Roasted Radicchio, Speck and Balsamic Salad. ...
  3. Risotto Parmigiano and Balsamic. Risotto with Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic vinegar. ...
  4. With Parmigiano Reggiano. ...
  5. Balsamic Vinegar as a Digestive.
Feb 5, 2018

What to do with balsamic vinegar after opening? ›

Balsamic vinegar is shelf stable even after opening. Oxygen exposure generally does not cause it to deteriorate due to the high amounts of acid. Thus, it can be stored in a cool, dark place such as a pantry or cabinet at room temperature.

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