Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

This deliciously creamy Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette is so easy to make and takes less than 5 minutes to whip up! Tangy, sweet, and packed with flavor, this dressing is perfect for salads, pastas, or even marinades! (vegan & gluten-free)

Absolutely in love with this Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette! It’s completely dairy free, deliciously creamy, and perfectly balanced between tangy and sweet from the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. It’s packed with flavor from the garlic, herbs and cinnamon and my favorite part is that you hardly need to use any because it’s so flavorful, which means less calories!

The Best Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

I also love this homemade Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette because it’s super versatile. You can drizzle it over something sweet like a spinach and fruit salad, or something savory like a quinoa bowl with sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and rotisserie chicken. We love it on salads, pasta, or even as a marinade for meats. Seriously I can’t think of anything at the moment that this dressing wouldn’t taste good on haha. Okay, maybe not ice cream 🙂

But in all seriousness.

My dreams are made of this stuff…

I mean, just look at that yummy goodness drizzled all over this Blackberry Mango Chicken Salad! (Recipe Coming Soon)

Oh, and did I mention that this dressing is ridiculously easy to make? It takes less than 5 minutes to whip up in a blender, and only a handful of ingredients! I store it in my fridge for a few weeks, or freeze leftovers if I know I won’t be using it. Then just pull it out and let it thaw on the counter for an hour or two before using again!

Tips for making Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Use high quality olive oil. I especially love Carapelli EVOO.
• Use good-quality aged balsamic vinegar. Make sure it contains no added sugars! You want pure vinegar (thin), not the thick syrupy balsamic reductions.
• Use real, 100% pure maple syrup. This is NOT the cheap syrup you buy for pancakes (Log Cabin, Mrs. Butterworth, Aunt Jemima, etc.) although you can usually find it next to these items in grocery stores.
• Fresh herbs – yes, I know it’s a little more pricy and a hassle chopping it up, but it’s SO worth it. Trust me.

My Favorite Salad Dressings

Looking for other awesome salad dressings or marinades? Check out these!

• Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing
• Best Greek Salad Dressing
• Chipotle Ranch Dressing with Honey from my friend Tania at Cooking For My Soul

So without further ado, here is my absolute favorite balsamic vinaigrette.

Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

This deliciously creamy Cinnamon Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette is so easy to make and takes less than 5 minutes to whip up! Tangy, sweet, and packed with flavor, this dressing is perfect for salads, pastas, or even marinades! (gluten free & vegan)

• Author: Chelsey @ The Saucy
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons chopped thyme
• 2 teaspoon chopped rosemary

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients (except the fresh herbs) in a blender or food processor.
2. Blend until the ingredients until emulsified and creamy.
3. Pour the vinaigrette into a mason jar (or whatever container you are going to store/serve it in), add the fresh herbs and stir to combine.
4. Refrigerate in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks or freeze.

Notes

• To thaw frozen dressing, just place it on the counter at room temperature for 2-3 hours before serving. If needed you can microwave in 10 second intervals (stirring in-between) till just thawed.

Keywords: dressing, salad dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, maple balsamic vinaigrette, cinnamon maple balsamic vinaigrette

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