Featured Review
5 from 2 reviews

What a delicious recipe! Perfect for all my winter salads. Simple ingredients and so much better than anything I could have found in the store. Thank you, Jess!

Emma
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A Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette So Creamy, You’ll Wonder Why You Ever Bought It From the Store

Plays Well With Butter is well-loved for simple yet stunning salads, and I’d go so far as to say that this maple balsamic vinaigrette recipe is my ✨signature salad dressing.✨ I first shared it back in 2018, and it has been loved by thousands of readers ever since. 

It’s everything you love about a classic savory-sweet balsamic vinaigrette, made with just 6 ingredients. The balance of tangy aged balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, and punchy Dijon and garlic is absolutely perfect – then I add a few simple twists to make it super special.

A close-up shot of maple vinaigrette, topped with fresh herbs, in a glass jar atop a white surface. Sprig of rosemary and thyme and a bowl of pepper sit in the background. this Recipe for Later!
This creamy balsamic vinaigrette is a PWWB favorite for a reason! It’s deliciously savory-sweet and an easy recipe that works with anything from simple mixed greens to roasted meats.

Rather than shaking up the sweet and tangy vinaigrette, I use an immersion blender, which gives it a gorgeous creamy texture you can lick right off a spoon. Trust me, it’s worth breaking out the blender for! 🤤 I then add a generous amount of chopped rosemary and thyme – a trick I learned from the Italian restaurant where I worked after college.

It’s way better than any store-bought maple balsamic salad dressing, and you end up having much more control over what goes into it, without a ton of extra work. You’ll never buy the bottled stuff again.

An overhead shot of ingredients displayed on a white marbled surface and a wooden cutting board: dishes of balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.
The key to a great homemade balsamic vinaigrette is pretty simple: you need to use good ingredients! Grab your favorite aged balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, real-deal maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, and hardy fresh herbs.

High-quality aged balsamic vinegar is a must here! Aged balsamic (vs. non-aged) has a more complex, fruity tang and is very lightly sweet. You don’t have to break the bank, but it’s the backbone of the dressing’s tangy-sweet flavor, so resist the temptation to grab the cheapest one on the shelf.

The same goes for maple syrup – pure and fresh is best! In my experience, maple’s naturally caramelly sweetness complements the vinegar without overpowering its bold flavor (vs. another sweetener like honey, which can taste overwhelmingly floral here).

Jess’ Simple Salad Dressing Essentials

How to Make a Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette 

The secret to a luscious balsamic vinaigrette is using a high-speed blender to emulsify the oil and vinegar. It’s the best way to get a thick and creamy texture (and much easier than shaking or whisking!). A silky-smooth dressing also clings better to fresh greens, making any salad taste totally restaurant-worthy.

A side angle shot of unmixed vinaigrette ingredients in a glass jar atop a white surface. Fresh herbs, a pepper mill and several small bowls sit in the background.
Add the olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper to a wide-mouth jar…
A side angle shot of vinaigrette being mixed with a hand blender in a glass jar atop a white surface. Fresh herbs, a pepper mill and several small bowls sit in the background.
…then mix with an immersion blender until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can also combine the ingredients in a food processor.
A shot of a spoon drizzling maple balsamic vinaigrette into a glass jar. The jar sits atop a white marbled surface alongside fresh herbs.
Finish the vinaigrette by stirring in the freshly chopped rosemary and thyme. Oregano, sage, and any other hardy herbs also work great!

🧑🏻‍🍳Important! Be sure to wait until after blending to add the fresh herbs. Bigger pieces have a great texture, creating little pops of herbaceous flavor throughout the dressing. Blending pulverizes the herbs, making their flavor too overpowering. 

An overhead shot of a woman's hand drizzling vinaigrette onto a salad of kale, pistachios, dried cranberries, parmesan, and shallots in a large wooden bowl atop a white surface.
This creamy maple balsamic vinaigrette is so easy to make and just so freakin’ pretty. Get ready to drizzle it over everything!

Storage Tip: Another big bonus of blending this 5-minute salad dressing is that it won’t separate in the fridge! Make it ahead and you’re set for salads all week – no shaking required.

Quick Serving Suggestions

This dressing is endlessly versatile, but my go-to pairing is with my 15-Minute Kale Salad with Cranberries (the tangy-sweet vinaigrette is *chef’s kiss* with hearty greens and tart dried fruit!). It’s also a classic match for fresh berries, like in this Herbed Chicken Strawberry Salad. 

🍁For a cozy autumn twist, swap the fresh herbs with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Paired with the maple and balsamic, it adds a layer of warmth that makes this vinaigrette a perfect fall salad dressing for Thanksgiving and beyond.

An overhead shot of a spoon lifting maple balsamic vinaigrette from a glass jar. The jar sits on a white marbled surface alongside fresh herbs and a bowl of salad.
This quick homemade vinaigrette makes any plain ‘ol greens taste fancy – but don’t stop at salads! It’s just as good drizzled over roasted veggies, grilled chicken, or even a fruit and cheese plate.
An overhead shot of a jar of maple balsamic vinaigrette topped with fresh herbs on a white marbled surface alongside a bowl of fresh herbs and a dish of black pepper.
This maple balsamic vinaigrette has been on regular rotation in the PWWB House for years – and I’m sure it’ll be a staple in your kitchen too!

I can’t wait for you to try this Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!

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A shot of a spoon drizzling maple balsamic vinaigrette into a glass jar. The jar sits atop a white marbled surface alongside fresh herbs.

5-Minute Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1/2 cup 1x
  • Category: Sauces & Condiments
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This perfectly tangy-sweet Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette is my go-to homemade dressing for leafy green salads!

Ready in 5 minutes, simply blend olive oil with maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic until smooth and silky.

Then add a handful of chopped rosemary and thyme for an herbaceous finish that tastes totally restaurant-worthy. A longtime PWWB reader favorite!

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Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped hardy fresh herbs, such as oregano, rosemary, sage, or thyme (can substitute 1 teaspoon dried herbs)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Prep the maple balsamic vinaigrette: There are 2 approaches you can take, depending on your desired consistency:
    • For an especially thick and creamy maple balsamic vinaigrette, emulsify with the help of an immersion blender*. To a wide-mouth jar, add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Insert the immersion blender in the jar, submerging it into the vinaigrette mixture. Blend until emulsified into a beautifully thick and creamy vinaigrette. Stir in the chopped herbs. (*Note, using a personal blender or mini food processor also works really well. If using a full-sized blender or food processor, you may want to double the recipe to ensure there is enough liquid to emulsify in the larger bowl—use the “Scale” buttons next to the Ingredients List, above, to easily double the recipe).
    • For a drizzly maple balsamic vinaigrette, combine all listed ingredients in a small bowl or jar, seasoning with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Whisk or shake to combine.A side angle shot of unmixed vinaigrette ingredients in a glass jar atop a white surface. Fresh herbs, a pepper mill and several small bowls sit in the background.
  2. Finish the maple balsamic vinaigrette: Once mixed, taste and season the maple balsamic vinaigrette with additional kosher salt or ground black pepper as desired. Use immediately as desired—this Kale Salad with Cranberries and this Strawberry Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese are my personal favorite pairings. Enjoy!An overhead shot of a jar of maple balsamic vinaigrette topped with fresh herbs on a white marbled surface alongside a bowl of fresh herbs and a dish of black pepper.

Notes

Storage instructions: Maple balsamic vinaigrette will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks. If the vinaigrette separates and solidifies in the refrigerator, simply warm it slightly in the microwave until it’s liquid again, then whisk to combine well and serve as desired.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
  • Calories: 151
  • Sugar: 5.4 g
  • Sodium: 192.1 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6.7 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 0.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Course: , Recipe Length: , Method: Diet: , , ,