How To Make Maple Syrup

What if I told you that you could make your maple syrup at home? And that it would be way better than the store-bought, and you could use it on pancakes or waffles in minutes?

Featured with this recipe

1. Homemade Maple Syrup Ingredients
2. Pure Maple Syrup vs. Imitation Maple Extract
3. What are Fenugreek Seeds?
4. Maple Extract Substitutions
5. How to tell if the Maple Syrup is Done
6. Ways to Use Maple Syrup
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Storing Homemade Maple Syrup
9. More Homemade Syrup Recipes
10. How To Make Maple Syrup
11. How to Make Maple Syrup Recipe

Making homemade maple syrup is easy and it tastes way better than what you will find in the store. We are going to show you how to do it with no special equipment required! All you need is four ingredients, a pot, and a little time. You can start drizzling on tasty with our easy waffles from scratch, homemade pancakes, or our Hawaiian French toast. Explore our breakfast ideas for even more recipes where you can use this syrup!

I love this homemade syrup recipe because it is quick, easy to make, and tastes amazing. Unlike store-bought syrup, this recipe has no high fructose corn syrup or any other weird random ingredients. No need to collect sap or search for maple sap. This recipe has low sugar content and a natural sweetness that tastes so yummy.

Homemade Maple Syrup Ingredients

This easy recipe only has 4 ingredients and you probably have most of them on hand right now. It is made with sugar, brown sugar, water, and imitation maple extract! There is no high fructose corn syrup, which is why I love this recipe so much. You know exactly what is going into it.

• Brown sugar – Using darker brown sugar will add more depth to the color and flavor instead of lighter brown sugar.
• Sugar – Added for sweetness and balances out the flavors.
• Water – As your water boils down the color will get darker too.
• Maple extract – Imitation maple syrup is always the best flavoring and gives that rich flavor.

Pure Maple Syrup vs. Imitation Maple Extract

Pure maple syrup is simply made from sap from a sugar maple tree. It is one ingredient that is boiled down into a syrup consistency. The boiling sap evaporates as the water boils in a pot on the stove, filtering the honey-like consistency. It is difficult to produce large amounts, which is why pure maple is so expensive.

Making real maple syrup takes ten gallons of sap to produce just four cups of maple syrup! Maple “extract” isn’t made like, say, vanilla extract. People don’t usually infuse the bark of a maple tree in alcohol to get the maple flavor. Instead, it is common to use fenugreek seeds as the maple flavoring agent.

What are Fenugreek Seeds?

Fenugreek seeds are in no way related to maple trees, but when combined with alcohol, they smell very similar to pure maple. Fenugreek seeds are a natural flavoring and have some great health benefits. It isn’t one of those “natural flavors” with big “air quotes” around it. It’s simply the seed of an herb that happens to smell like maple.

When concentrated into an extract, the liquid can be combined with a small amount of sugar or sugar sand and the taste is similar to pure maple syrup. Maple syrup that is made with this type of maple extract is much easier to produce, thus making it much cheaper than pure maple syrup. Most pancake syrups at the grocery store are made with this maple extract.

Maple Extract Substitutions

If you don’t have maple extract on hand, you can try using 1 Tablespoon of butter and ½ tablespoon of vanilla extract as a substitute. The flavor won’t be the same as maple, but it will still taste great over pancakes and waffles. You can also try using rum extract, butter extract, walnuts, or almond extract. If you want to go for something different, you can try any of the syrup recipes below.

How to tell if the Maple Syrup is Done

After you combine your brown sugar, white sugar, and water in a heavy pan, make sure that the water boils over medium heat until the sugars are dissolved. Then simmer and stir constantly for a couple more minutes (at least 2 to 3). You can use a candy thermometer to determine when it’s done simmering. You’ll want it roughly between 200 to 400 degrees. Then allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes to thicken up.

1. Stir – Combine brown sugar, sugar, and water in a heavy saucepan.
2. Boil – Heat over medium-high heat, stirring often, until sugars dissolve and the mixture begins to boil.
3. Simmer – Reduce heat to low and add imitation maple extract. Simmer for 2 to 3 more minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Cool – Remove from heat and allow to cool 20 minutes or until thickened into a syrup texture.
5. Serve – Pour over pancakes, waffles, or French toast.

Ways to Use Maple Syrup

You can’t go wrong with having the best syrup for breakfast, desserts, meat, and even dressing! It is simple to add a little here and there of syrup. The options are endless and work so well together!

• Breakfast – Pour this over top pancakes, waffles, french toast, or German pancakes! All great ways to enhance breakfast recipes!
• Oatmeal and cereal – Add a little extra sweetness with some syrup over the top of your oatmeal or certain types of cereal.
• Ice cream – This is a great way to top your ice cream with a sweet and savory combination!
• Baking – When making muffins or cookies that call for a liquid sweetener, maple syrup is a great substitution. It is full of sweetness but also gives it a natural sweetener to the baking dessert.
• Meat – Combine it with Dijon mustard or soy sauce for a delicious glaze mixture to pour over ham, chicken, or beef. The combination is delicious and enhances all your meat flavors!
• Dressing – It is always a favorite when adding balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and Dijon mustard. Whisk together for an amazingly delicious dressing!
• Drinks – Pour a little into your drink to sweeten a cold or hot drink!
• Smoothies – This is a great way to add a little sweetness without the granulated sugar.

“This syrup is fabulous! I had no idea how it easy it was to make my own, not to mention how much better it tastes. I won’t be buying store bought again!”

-Wilhelmina

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Homemade Maple Syrup

This imitation maple syrup is great to have on hand! Breakfast is made easier and more delicious with a sweet and savory maple syrup on the table. Make this ahead of time and store it for long periods of time for several breakfast meals!

• Refrigerate – Normally when using store-bought maple syrup you leave it out at room temperature. With this imitation syrup, you are welcome to store it in the fridge.
• Label – Be sure to label the outside of the syrup bottle or jar with the date and time you are using it. This will help know when it will expire and how long you have had it open.
• Room temperature – Store the maple syrup in an airtight container or mason jar in the pantry where it is dark and cool.
• Reheating – If stored in the fridge, place the syrup in a saucepan to slowly warm it up.

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More Homemade Syrup Recipes

Here are some more of our very favorite syrup recipes. You can easily mix and match any of these syrups with the breakfast dishes they are associated with. Store them in jars at room temperature. 

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Gluten Free Pancakes

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Orange Pancakes with Orange Syrup

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Eggnog French Toast

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Strawberry Syrup

How To Make Maple Syrup