How To Make Maple Syrup

4.91 from 10 votes
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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?

Jar pouring homemade maple syrup over waffles topped with cream and berries.
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 scratchhomemade 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.
Ingredients to make Maple Syrup including brown sugar, sugar, water and maple extract.


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.

Overview of a jar with Homemade maple syrup, butter and a stack of pancakes with syrup.

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.
Wooden spoon over a pan pot of boiling Maple Syrup.

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

What is imitation maple syrup?

Imitation maple syrup has certain ingredients that make the

What are the main ingredients in imitation maple syrup?

Homemade maple syrup has brown sugar, water, and imitation maple extract for the flavor. Combined together it makes a sweet and savory syrup!

Is imitation maple syrup the same as real maple syrup?

Yes and no! The imitation maple syrup does not contain sap from a tree which makes it an authentic maple syrup recipe. This imitation syrup is from pantry staple ingredients that look and taste like maple syrup.

Does imitation maple syrup taste like real maple syrup?

Authentic maple syrup has a rich, thick, and delicious flavor that is above the rest. With this imitation syrup, it has the same great flavor and texture using just a few simple ingredients.

Jar of Homemade Maple Syrup next to a stack of pancakes, butter and berries.

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.

READ NEXT: 33+ Breakfast Ideas

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. 

How To Make Maple Syrup

Jar of Homemade Maple Syrup with a stack of pancakes and butter. Strawberries and blueberries on the side.

How to Make Maple Syrup

4.91 from 10 votes
This maple syrup recipe is way better than the store-bought stuff and is perfect over pancakes or waffles. Only 4 ingredients!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling Time 20 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 32 servings

Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine brown sugar, sugar, and water in a heavy saucepan.
    Pan of brown sugar and white sugar to make Maple Syrup.
  • Heat over medium-high heat, stirring often, until sugars dissolve and the mixture begins to boil.
    Boiling pan of How to Make Maple Syrup with a wooden spoon.
  • Reduce heat to low and add imitation maple extract. Simmer for 2 to 3 more minutes, stirring constantly.
    Bottle of Imitation Maple Extract over the pan of boiling maple syrup.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool 20 minutes or until thickened into a syrup texture.
    Wooden spoon over a pan pot of boiling Maple Syrup.
  • Pour over pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
    Homemade Maple Syrup pouring over a tall stack of pancakes with butter. Berries on the side.

Notes

You will know when your maple syrup is done when:
  • 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 2-3). You can use a candy thermometer to determine when it’s done simmering.
  •  Then allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes to thicken up.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 14mgSugar: 13gCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. Hi mine is liquidy then regular syrup after the 20min cool down I followed the recipe what could I have done wrong or is that ok considering it’s homemade???

  2. 4 stars
    Can we replace maple extract with vanilla, or if we do that it will taste horrible. It is fine with me because I will be needing this for my French toast. Please and thank you.

  3. 5 stars
    I will follow your Best Maple Syrup Recipe, but how much does it yield, and what is your “serving” size?
    Thank you and Happy New Year 023

    1. It ultimately yields about 2-3 cups. A serving size is 1/8 cup but realistically it is about 1/4-1/3 cup depending on how much syrup you prefer on your pancakes.

  4. Mom always made our pancake syrup. This recipe appears to be how she made it. I haven’t done it yet, but will.
    I’m 83 and remember how good it was.

  5. 5 stars
    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!

    1. You can store this in an air-tight jar or container in your refrigerator. You will want to re-heat it before serving. Since it is made with sugars instead of corn syrup, it will crystalize a bit after cooling but re-heating it should get it back to the right consistency. Hope this helps!