A Taste of the Family: Four Favorite Maple Recipes from Glenna Farms

Food has a special way of bringing people together. A favorite recipe can become part of a family tradition, remind us of a special season, or simply give everyone another reason to gather around the table.

At Glenna Farms, family and maple syrup go hand in hand. Our pure maple syrup starts with Wisconsin maple trees and is carefully made into the rich, natural syrup our family loves to share. And while pancakes and waffles will always be classics, maple syrup can do much more.

We wanted to share some of our family’s favorite maple recipes that we would bring to the table. Rick chose a warm side dish, Kristine picked dessert, Rachel brought the cocktail, and Nicole selected a salad dressing.

Together, their picks create a maple-inspired menu that is perfect for fall dinners, holidays, or any gathering with family and friends.

Rick’s Pick: Maple Roasted Butternut Squash

Rick’s choice is a simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash from Skinnytaste.

Butternut squash already has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Adding pure maple syrup helps bring out that natural sweetness while giving the squash a beautiful caramelized finish.

The Skinnytaste recipe keeps things simple with butternut squash, oil, pure maple syrup, salt, and pepper. The squash is tossed with the seasonings and maple syrup before roasting until tender. The result is a warm side dish that feels right at home beside roasted chicken, turkey, pork, or your favorite holiday meal.

Want to make it even more seasonal? Skinnytaste suggests additions such as cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, or a little crushed red pepper.

Rick’s recipe: Maple Roasted Butternut Squash from Skinnytaste

Kristine’s Pick: Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies

Every family meal needs dessert, and Kristine has that covered.

Her choice is Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies from Taste of Home. These buttery cookies bring maple flavor into both the cookie and its sweet glaze.

The shortbread starts with classic ingredients like butter, sugar, cornstarch, flour, and maple flavoring. After the dough chills, it is rolled out, cut into shapes, and baked until the edges are lightly browned. Once cooled, the cookies get their finishing touch: a glaze made with confectioners’ sugar and maple syrup.

These cookies would be especially fun for a fall gathering. Use a maple leaf cookie cutter to make them fit the season, or choose holiday shapes later in the year. Serve them with coffee, hot chocolate, or a cold glass of milk.

For the maple glaze, try using Glenna Farms pure maple syrup to bring a taste of Wisconsin to every bite.

Kristine’s recipe: Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies from Taste of Home

Rachel’s Pick: Maple Leaf Cocktail

Rachel’s pick proves maple syrup belongs behind the bar, too.

The Maple Leaf Cocktail from Allrecipes combines blueberries, maple syrup, lime, whiskey, and ice for a drink filled with fall flavor. The blueberries, maple syrup, and lime are muddled together before the mixture is shaken with whiskey and ice.

Maple syrup works well in cocktails because it does more than add sweetness. Its rich flavor can add depth to a drink while pairing well with bold spirits like whiskey.

This cocktail would be a fun signature drink for a fall dinner, football party, or holiday gathering. For an extra Glenna Farms touch, use pure maple syrup when mixing each glass.

Rachel’s recipe: Maple Leaf Cocktail from Allrecipes

Please enjoy alcoholic beverages responsibly. This recipe is intended for adults of legal drinking age.

Nicole’s Pick: Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Nicole rounds out the family menu with something fresh: Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette from Allrecipes.

This easy dressing combines balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil. The ingredients are blended until the dressing becomes smooth and well combined. The original recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

The combination of maple and balsamic gives you a balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Allrecipes recommends the vinaigrette for salads and notes that it can also work as a marinade for pork tenderloin.

Try it over mixed greens with apples, dried cranberries, nuts, goat cheese, or other seasonal favorites. It is an easy way to turn a basic salad into something that feels special.

Nicole’s recipe: Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette from Allrecipes

One Ingredient, So Many Possibilities

What do all four family favorites have in common? Maple syrup.

It can caramelize roasted squash, add rich flavor to a cookie glaze, sweeten a cocktail, and balance the acidity in a vinaigrette. That versatility is one reason we love keeping pure maple syrup in the kitchen.

At Glenna Farms, our maple syrup comes from Wisconsin maple trees and is crafted with care. Our pure maple syrup contains no added sugar, giving you the real maple flavor that comes straight from the source.

The next time you reach for your bottle, think beyond breakfast. Try Rick’s side dish for dinner, Kristine’s cookies for dessert, Rachel’s cocktail for your next adult gathering, or Nicole’s dressing on a fresh fall salad.

You may just discover a new family favorite.

Visit GlennaFarms.com to explore Glenna Farms maple products and bring pure Wisconsin maple flavor to your own kitchen.

Pure. Local. Delicious. That’s Glenna Farms.