What Is Maple syrup and How Can I Use It?

Maple syrup is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 570 recipes to get you started.

What is maple syrup?

Maple syrup  is a  sweetener  made from the sap of sugar maple or black maple trees.

In cold climate areas, these trees store starch in their stems and roots before the winter, which when converted to sugar, rises in the sap in the spring.

Maple trees can be tapped and the exuded sap collected and concentrated. Quebec, Canada, produces most of the world's supply of maple syrup. The United States is the only other major producer and the leading consumer.

Maple syrup is most often eaten with waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, crumpets and French toast. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in baking, the making of candy, preparing desserts, or as a sugar source and flavoring agent in making beer. Sucrose is the most prevalent sugar in maple syrup.

Maple syrup is very high in calories, but is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, with 2 tbs (13.33 grams) containing about 0.44 mg or 22% of the FDA Daily Value (DV%) of 2 mg. It is also a good source of zinc with 2 tbs (13.33 grams) containing 0.55 mg or 3.7% of the FDA Daily Value (DV%) of 15 mg.

Nutrition

Where found

Maple syrup is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Maple syrup is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does maple syrup weigh?

Related

Sweets

Recipes using maple syrup

There are 570 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Blueberry French Toast Sandwiches

Golden French toast stuffed with warm blueberry-maple compote and dusted with powdered sugar. Make weekend brunch feel special with this sweet sandwich.

Breakfast Sourdough Maple Pancakes

Sourdough maple pancakes: tangy, fluffy pancakes built on active sourdough starter and sweetened with real maple syrup. The classic discard recipe that turns yesterday's starter into Sunday breakfast.

Maple Acorn Squash No. 1

Sweet and buttery squash with a hint a maple and bacon; enjoyable and easy to make! A Christmas and Thanksgiving favourite.

Coffee & Orange Granita

Served either as a dessert, or perhaps a morning energizer in the summer months, this recipe took inspiration from the great combination that chocolate and orange offers, pairing the wonderful flavour of (good quality) coffee with the fresh citrus flavour of orange. Orange you glad there’s now a fat-free option that is sure to give you your much needed caffeine kick?

Light & Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

Light and fluffy whole wheat pancakes are vegan and egg-free: soy milk and cider vinegar make a buttermilk-style batter that puffs up tender, with whole wheat pastry flour, cornmeal and cinnamon. A wholesome breakfast.

Very Yummy Granola

Homemade granola with rolled oats, sliced almonds, shredded coconut, wheat germ, and cinnamon, lightly bound with maple syrup and oil. Bakes in 10 minutes flat. Toss in golden raisins or dried cranberries after toasting.

Maple Muffins with Apples

Hearty oat and grated apple muffins sweetened with pure maple syrup. Yogurt keeps them moist, walnuts add crunch, and they're done in 40 minutes start to finish.

Yummy Pumpkin Biscuits

Vegan pumpkin biscuits use silken tofu and pumpkin puree instead of butter for a tender, whole-wheat morning bake spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. No dairy, no eggs, ready in 25 minutes.

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes with Banana Cream

Whole wheat buttermilk pancakes with strawberries, egg whites, and cottage cheese, topped with mashed banana cinnamon cream. A healthier high-protein breakfast that doesn't sacrifice flavor.

Plum Ice Cream Souffles with Spiced-Plum Sauce

A great summer time dessert, lots of ripe and sweet plum give the souffles delicious flavor!

Low-Fat Brownies

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this scrumptious low-fat snack which is perfect for dessert.

Cinnamon-Raisin Breakfast Biscuits

Cinnamon-raisin breakfast biscuits use silken tofu in place of butter for a vegan, dairy-free quick bread sweetened with apple juice and maple syrup. Whole wheat, walnut-studded, brushed with syrup glaze.

Easy Whole Wheat Pancakes

Whole wheat pancakes sweetened naturally with banana, applesauce, and maple syrup. A no-fat, high-fiber breakfast that comes together with one egg and pantry staples.

Easy Maple Pecan Pie

Dark amber maple syrup and toasted pecans create a rich, gooey pie with deep caramel notes perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Easy Sweet & Sour Veggie Salad

Sweet, sour and slightly spicy. Cucumber, sweet bell pepper, carrots, wood ears and smoked tofu are tossed with rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, soy sauce and Korean chili pepper. A very tasty side dish that goes well with all your favorite Korean dishes or most of the main courses.

Blueberry, Roasted Corn, Soy Bean & Arugula Salad

Fresh blueberries, roasted sweet corn, soy bean, red bell pepper and peppery arugula are tossed with a white wine vinegar-olive oil vinaigrette. It's a light and tasty summer salad that accompanies well with any barbecued dishes.

Avocado, Radish & Edamame Salad

A simple salad with big health credentials: avocados are an excellent source of good fats, and more recently have been shown to also inhibit inflammation when eaten in combination with foods that typically trigger it. They are also a rich source of potassium (which balances sodium to keep blood pressure levels stable) and vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

Bohemian Apple Waffles

Bohemian apple waffles with chopped fresh apples folded into a cinnamon-spiced batter and lifted by whipped egg whites. Crisp on the outside, cloud-tender inside, served with maple syrup.

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Maple Candied Pecans & Tropical Fruit

Have these delicious yet healthy whole wheat pancakes for breakfast, topped with maple candies pecans, fresh pineapples and kiwi fruit.

Pumpkin Pie with Ginger Cookie Crust

Pumpkin pie with ginger cookie crust trades pastry for crushed gingersnaps and lightens the filling with applesauce, maple syrup, and egg whites. A holiday pie with serious spice and a leaner profile.

Maple Acorn Squash

Maple acorn squash bakes halved squash filled with brown sugar, butter, and pure maple syrup until fork-tender. Four-ingredient New England side dish for Thanksgiving and fall dinners.

Delicious Berry Breakfast Pancakes

Whole wheat berry breakfast pancakes made light with fluffy egg whites and skim milk, sweetened with a little honey, then topped with creamy ricotta, fresh berries and maple syrup. Ready in about 20 minutes.

Breakfast Whole Wheat Waffles

Whole wheat waffles with a make-ahead overnight yeast batter for deep flavor and a crisp, golden crust. Buttermilk, oats, and whipped egg whites keep them light and high in fiber. Just drizzle with maple syrup.

Marie's Best Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes with vanilla and maple syrup whisked right into the batter for fluffy, lightly sweet stacks. Two leaveners and tangy buttermilk give them serious lift without going dense.

Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Maple Soup

Nothing is better than a warm pumpkin soup at your Thanksgiving menu.

All 570 recipes