Maple syrup powder is a versatile ingredient used for many purposes in cooking and baking. It adds sweet maple flavor to recipes while being easier to measure, transport, and store than liquid maple syrup. Some key uses for maple syrup powder include:
Baking
Maple syrup powder can substitute for some or all of the granulated sugar or liquid maple syrup in recipes for baked goods like cookies, muffins, breads, pancakes, waffles, scones, cakes, pies and more. It provides moisture, tenderness and maple flavor. Start by substituting maple powder for up to half the sugar. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup sugar, use 1/2 cup sugar + 1/4 cup maple powder. For liquid maple syrup, substitute an equal amount of maple powder by volume.
Maple Powder for Diabetic Baking
Maple syrup powder contains less concentrated sugars than regular maple syrup, so it has a lower glycemic index. This makes it a useful replacement for sugar in recipes for people with diabetes. The maple flavor comes through even when using less maple powder than regular syrup or sugar.
Maple Powder in Vegan Baking
Since it contains no animal products, maple syrup powder is popular for vegan baking. It provides a natural sweetness, moisture and binding capabilities often provided by eggs and dairy in traditional baking. Maple powder can replace up to half the regular sugar in vegan cookie, cake, muffin and bread recipes.
Gluten-Free Baking
Maple syrup powder works well in gluten-free baking recipes. It helps provide moisture and texture in the absence of gluten. Try using maple powder to replace 25-50% of the sugar in your favorite gluten-free recipes.
Smoothies and Drinks
Adding maple syrup powder to smoothies is an easy way to lightly sweeten and add maple flavor. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per serving. Maple powder can also sweeten and add flavor to coffee, tea, milk and plant-based beverages. Keep maple powder handy to stir into any hot or cold drink for a touch of natural sweetness.
Yogurt and Oatmeal Toppings
Maple syrup powder makes an ideal topping for yogurt, oatmeal and other breakfast foods. Sprinkle it on plain yogurt or stir it into oatmeal in place of brown sugar. Maple powderdissolves easily and adds sweetness and maple taste.
Salad Dressings and Sauces
Maple powder infuses saladdressings and sauces with maple flavor. Whisk it intovinaigrettes, yogurt sauces, marinades, barbecue sauces, teriyaki sauces, Worcestershire sauce and more. Start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per serving and adjust to taste.
Maple Flavored Butter
Mixing maple powder into butter or non-dairy butter spreads makes a delicious maple-flavored condiment for pancakes, waffles, biscuits and cornbread. Beat 2 tablespoons of maple powder into 1 cup of room temperature butter. Spread on anything that could use a touch of maple sweetness!
Fruit Dip
Maple powder adds flavor to yogurt or cream cheese-based fruit dips and curds. Beat in 1-2 tablespoons maple powder per cup of dip. It’s great for dipping strawberries, apple and pear slices, bananas and other fruits.
Sweetened Whipped Cream
For lightly maple-sweetened whipped cream, dissolve 1-2 tablespoons maple powder in 1 cup heavy cream or non-dairy whipped topping before whipping. Sweeten to taste. Maple whipped cream pairs perfectly with pie and other desserts.
Maple Nut Clusters
Make maple-flavored nut clusters by tossing nuts in maple syrup powder mixed with a small amount of water. Start with 1/4 cup each maple powder and water for 2 cups of nuts. Spread coated nuts on a baking sheet and bake 10-15 minutes at 300°F until lightly browned. Let cool completely before breaking into clusters.
Sweet Potatoes
Maple syrup powder makes flavorful sweet potatoes. Toss cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons maple powder. Roast at 400°F until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes. The maple powdercaramelizes slightly as the potatoes cook.
Popcorn Topping
Drizzle popped popcorn with melted butter blended with maple syrup powder for a sweet, salty snack. Melt 4 tablespoons butter and stir in 2 tablespoons maple powder. Pour over 6 cups freshly popped popcorn and toss to coat evenly.
Granola and Energy Bars
Maple powder works well as part of the sweetener in homemade chewy granola bars and granola cereal. Mix it into the wet ingredients to help bind the bars. Maple pairs well with nuts, dried fruit, oats, seeds, coconut, chocolate, peanut butter and more.
Maple Flavored Applesauce
Stir maple syrup powder into plain unsweetened applesauce for a naturally flavored dipping sauce for chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, apple fritters and more. Start with 1/2 to 1 tablespoon maple powder per cup of applesauce.
Dry Seasoning Rub
Blend maple syrup powder into dry seasoning rubs for meat, tofu or tempeh before grilling or roasting. The maple powder adds sweetness and helps the seasoning adhere. Mix 2 tablespoons maple powder with 1 tablespoon each paprika, salt, pepper and brown sugar.
Teriyaki Jerky
Use maple powder to add sweet maple flavor to homemade teriyaki jerky. Mix 2-3 tablespoons maple powder into the teriyaki sauce before marinating thinly sliced beef, turkey, chicken or tempeh. Dehydrate or roast until dried.
Maple Candied Nuts
Make candied nuts with maple syrup powder for a sweet snack or salad topping. Stir 1/4 cup maple powder into 1 egg white until blended. Toss 2 cups raw almonds, pecans or other nuts in the maple mixture. Bake at 250°F for 25-30 minutes, stirring once.
Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Soup
Swirl maple syrup powder into the tops of bowls of sweet potato or pumpkin soup. The maple flavor complements the other spices. Start with 1/2 teaspoon or more maple powder per serving.
Dessert Toppings
Use maple syrup powder as part of streusel, crumble or crunchy toppings for pies, crisps, ice cream sundaes and other desserts. Mix maple powder into flour, oats, nuts and butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit fillings or ice cream before serving.
Waffles and Pancakes
For ultra-convenient maple flavored waffles or pancakes, simply add 2-3 tablespoons of maple powder to the dry ingredients in your regular recipe. Great for camping trips or busy mornings! No need for actual syrup.
Oatmeal Cookies
Boost the maple flavor in chewy oatmeal cookies by using maple powder instead of sugar. Substitute 1/2 to 1 cup maple powder for an equal amount of the sugar. Add raisins or chocolate chips if desired.
Banana Bread
Maple powder adds moisture and flavor to banana bread. Replace 1/4 cup of the sugar with maple powder. Optionally add walnuts or chocolate chips for more texture and flavor.
Shortbread Cookies
For tender, lightly maple sweetened shortbread, use 1/4 cup maple powder and 1 cup sugar instead of 1 1/4 cups sugar. Cut into wedges and sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.
Caramel Sauce
Maple powder infuses traditional butter, brown sugar and cream caramel sauce with maple flavor. Use 1/4 cup maple powder in place of 1/4 cup brown sugar. Heat until bubbling and thickened.
Biscuits
Substitute maple powder for up to 1/4 cup of the sugar when making fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Brush the tops with melted butter after baking for extra flavor and shine.
Energy Bites
Stir maple powder into the sticky base for homemade energy bites made from ingredients like oats, nut butter, seeds, coconut and dried fruit. Maple complements both sweet and savory add-ins.
Hummus
Whisk a teaspoon or two of maple powder into the olive oil before drizzling it over hummus. Garnish with a dash more maple powder and paprika.
Hot Chocolate
Add a spoonful of maple powder when making hot cocoa from mix or melted chocolate. Top with whipped cream and maple sprinkles if desired.
Maple Syrup Substitute
In a pinch, maple powder can substitute for maple syrup. For 1 cup syrup, use 1/3 cup maple powder blended with 2/3 cups water until smooth. Bring to a boil and simmer to thicken before using.
Macarons
For maple macarons, replace 1/4 cup powdered sugar with maple powder in the shell recipe. Fill with maple buttercream made with maple powder instead of some of the powdered sugar.
Homemade Larabar Alternatives
Make energy bars at home using maple powder as the sweetener instead of syrup or sugar. Mix maple powder into dates, nuts, oats, seeds, coconut, cocoa, nut butters or dried fruit.
Puppy and Dog Treats
Maple powder can naturally flavor homemade puppy and dog treats. Substitute maple powder for up to 1/3 of the flour in treat recipes. Cut out shapes and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
DIY Protein Bars
Whip up homemade protein bars with maple powder for sweetness instead of syrup, sugar or honey. Blend maple powder into protein powder, nut butter, oats, puffed rice, chocolate chips, nuts and seeds as desired.
Breakfast Sausage Patties
For maple flavored breakfast sausage patties, use maple powder instead of sugar in the seasoning mix before forming into patties. Maple goes great with sage, fennel, garlic, black pepper and other breakfast sausage spices.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Make a maple sweet potato casserole by stirring maple powder into the mashed sweet potatoes before topping with streusel and baking. Start with 2-3 tablespoons maple powder per 3 pounds sweet potatoes.
Fruit Leathers
Sweeten homemade fruit leather with maple powder instead of sugar. Puree fruit with 1-2 tablespoons maple powder per 2 cups of puree before dehydrating into chewy fruit leathers.
Graham Crackers
For maple graham crackers, substitute 1/4 cup maple powder and 1/4 cup brown sugar for 1/2 cup white sugar. Cut into cracker shapes and bake until lightly browned.
No Bake Cookies
In no bake chocolate cookies, swap the white sugar for an equal amount of maple powder for deeper flavor. The maple nicely complements the cocoa and peanut butter.
Pumpkin Pie
Substitute 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the sugar in pumpkin pie with maple powder. Sprinkle a pinch of maple powder over the top crust before baking for extra maple taste.
Pecan Pie
Reduce brown and white sugar by 1/4 cup each and add 1/2 cup maple powder for maple pecan pie with deeper flavor. Optionally add chocolate chips too.
Cinnamon Rolls
For maple cinnamon rolls, add 2-3 tablespoons maple powder to the dough. Top the rolled and cut dough with maple frosting made with powdered sugar and maple powder.
Pretzels
Boil pretzels in water with 1 tablespoon maple powder added for a hint of sweetness. For maple coated pretzels, brush boiled pretzels with maple powder dissolved in water or milk before baking.
Conclusion
Maple syrup powder is a versatile pantry item with many uses beyond just pancake topping. A touch of maple powder can add moisture, binding power and sweet maple flavor to all kinds of baked goods, drinks, cereals, sauces, dressings, snacks and more. Keep maple powder on hand for an easy way to infuse recipes with natural maple sweetness and taste.
