As the leaves begin to paint the world in hues of amber and gold, the crisp air carries the comforting scents of autumn. Pumpkin spice season is already in full swing with some companies announcing their products as early as August.
As apples come into season, their flavors are celebrated in many different ways from pies to cider to apple cinnamon lattes.
Among the myriad of ingredients that celebrate fall’s bounty, one stands out for its versatility and rich, sweet flavor: maple. It’s best known in its syrup incarnation but maple is not just a sweetener but a woodsy flavor, a multi-tasker that’s still working hard even after the last PSL has been poured.
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Maple syrup: nature’s golden elixir
Maple syrup has been cherished for centuries not only for its delightful sweetness but also for its myriad of uses in cooking and baking. Originating from North America, particularly regions such as Vermont, Quebec, and Ontario, maple syrup is derived primarily from the sap of various maple tree species, each contributing unique characteristics to the final product.
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The most prized source is the sugar maple (Acer saccharum), renowned for producing sap with a high sugar content, resulting in a smooth and sweet syrup ideal for delicate applications such as pancakes and waffles. Other species, such as the red maple (Acer rubrum) and black maple (Acer nigrum), also contribute to syrup production, offering slightly different flavor profiles that can range from light and floral to robust and smoky.
Maple syrup varieties are typically categorized by their color and taste, with Grade A syrups further divided into Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark grades. Golden syrup is light and mild, perfect for drizzling over breakfast items, while Amber and Dark syrups have more pronounced flavors suitable for baking and glazing.
Very Dark maple syrup, with its intense taste, is often used in recipes that require a strong maple presence akin to molasses.
Maple: the multi-tasker
The process of making maple syrup is a labor of love, involving the careful tapping of maple trees, collecting the sap, and then boiling it down to the rich, viscous syrup we adore.
Its natural sweetness pairs beautifully with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—spices that are quintessential to fall cooking. Whether it’s adding a glossy sheen to roasted vegetables, glazing tofu for a sweet-savory contrast, or sweetening beverages and desserts, maple syrup enhances the flavor profile of any dish it graces.
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Additionally, its complex flavor notes, which can range from light and floral to deep and robust, make it adaptable to a wide array of applications.
Beyond its taste, maple syrup brings a host of health benefits. It contains antioxidants that help combat free radicals in the body and essential minerals such as manganese and zinc, which are vital for bone health and immune function.
Unlike refined sugars, maple syrup offers a more nutritious alternative, making it a smarter choice for those looking to sweeten their meals without compromising on health. Plus, it stands in for honey if you’re avoiding animal products, lending a complex flavor profile without harming any bees.
Maple recipes for fall
Fall is a celebration of bold and comforting flavors. Seasonal pumpkin, squash, root vegetables, apples, and pears bring exciting flavor possibilities to the table and maple acts as a bridge between sweet and savory flavors, adding its caramel-like taste to enhance the natural sweetness of fall’s favorite vegetables.
When used in marinades, maple syrup balances the savory and acidic components, resulting in perfectly glazed proteins. In baked goods, it provides moisture and sweetness, ensuring treats such as muffins, pies, and breads are irresistibly delicious.
Here are 13 recipes that showcase maple, fall’s go-to multitasker.
Shanika Graham-White
1Overnight Vegan Maple Apple Cinnamon Rolls
The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls is enough to get even the heaviest sleepers out of bed and adding a little maple makes these even more irresistible.
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2Vegan Maple-Pecan French Toast
For a Sunday brunch that is sure to impress, whipping up a batch of maple-pecan French Toast might just become the way you start every weekend.
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3Vegan Strawberry Shortcake With Maple Creme
The créme filling for these decadent shortcakes is made by blending tofu with maple syrup, which provides just the right amount of sweetness and complexity.
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4Easy Vegan Maple-Herb Glazed Carrots
Roasting carrots takes them from crudité to a holiday-worthy side dish elevated here with a maple and herb glaze.
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5Vegan Sweet Potato Salad With Tempeh and Maple-Mustard Dressing
Sweet maple and tangy mustard balance each other out in this toothsome dish which delivers greens, carbs, and protein, all with a fall flare.
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6Vegan Maple-Glazed Tofu Musubi
Maple helps tofu transform into Spam for this vegan take on classic musubi.
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7Decadent Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Maple Bars
For a noteworthy, homemade dessert, these decadent chocolate peanut butter bars get an extra something special from a touch of maple extract.
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8Warm Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potatoes
A memorable salad must hit on multiple flavor notes and this one achieves the feat with a maple vinaigrette.
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9Creamy Vegan Apple-Cinnamon Rice Pudding
There’s something so comforting about a rich rice pudding, especially when it is sweetened with caramelly maple.
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10Vegan Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash Breakfast Bowls
Squash for breakfast? Yes! A roasted acorn squash serves as both bowl and filling with a bit of maple syrup to bring it into morning meal territory.
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11Vegan Maple Sandwich Cookies With Maple Cream Cheese Filling
Visually, this recipe is the most maple-forward of the bunch, with maple leaf-shaped cookies sandwiching a filling of maple-flavored dairy-free cream cheese.
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12Vegan Whole Wheat Pecan and Maple Pie
This recipe shows that maple can elevate a classic pecan pie, making it a little sweeter and stickier while amplifying its nutty notes.
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13Easy Vegan Maple Peanut Butter Pancakes
These pancakes feature maple in two ways—as a sweetener inside the batter and as a syrupy topping—showcasing maple at its multitasking best.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
