Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Take your salad game to the next level with this homemade Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette. Made in less than 5 minutes and filled with simple, wholesome ingredients – you’ll never want to spend money on store bought salad dressing again!

 

You know that one pair of shoes that just seems to go with everything?

This dressing = those shoes.

Much like my favorite pair of Sperry’s, this Homemade Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette has been a staple in my life for several years now. In fact, this salad dressing was one of the first recipes that I posted on the blog (and believe me, you can tell by the pictures. oooof.) Through the years, I’ve made some minor adjustments to the original recipe, but the foundation has remained the same. (Like they say.. if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!)

 

If the thought of making your own salad dressing intimidates you, you are not alone. Up until about 5 years ago, I never would have even CONSIDERED making my own salad dressing. I mean, that’s what those bottles on the supermarket shelves are for, right?!

But then.. something changed. I graduated college, moved into my own apartment, and started paying a lot more attention to my grocery bills. And it didn’t take long for me to realize that my habit of hitting the bottle was starting to take a toll on my bank account.

Not only is making your own salad dressing cheaper in the long run, but it also helps to ensure that you’re getting every bit of your money’s worth. Most salad dressings on the market these days are loaded with preservatives, fillers, and cheap ingredients.. none of which belong on your big ol’ bowl of luscious greens.

Fortunately, making your own salad dressing is far less complicated than it sounds. All it takes is a few simple ingredients (many of which you probably already have sitting in your pantry) and about 5 minutes (or less!) of your time.

What you need to make your own Homemade Creamy Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Maple Syrup
• Dijon Mustard
• Ground Cinnamon
• Salt & Pepper
• Food Processor or High-Speed Blender

I will say that if you have a food processor or blender, it’s definitely worth pulling it out for this recipe. While this step is not necessarily required (I went several years without ever blending my salad dressing), I can assure you that it is 100% worth it. Blending helps to emulsify the ingredients, making the end result suuuuper creamy. Not to mention, I find that the dressing tends to last better once it’s blended; you can make a big batch of this salad dressing over the weekend and easily store the leftovers in the refrigerator for at least a week or so without it separating. (It probably lasts even longer, but mine never makes it that far!)

I like to buy some of the pricier ingredients (EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup) at Costco in order to get the best bang for my buck. As a point of reference, you can get 2 liters (yes, LITERS!) of EVOO for just over $15! Talk about a steal.

Whether you’re looking for a way to spruce up your leafy green salads or just trying to cut down on your grocery bill, this Homemade Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette is for you. I promise, once you give it a try you will not want to go back to store bought dressing again!

Looking for ways to use Creamy Maple Balsamic Dressing? Might I recommend…

Strawberry Basil Spinach Salad

Caramelized Peach Arugula Salad

Did you make this recipe? Tag @rootstorisenutrition on instagram so I can see your creations!