We Found the Best Maple Syrups for Every Recipe (2024)

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If you’re looking for the perfect maple syrup, Anderson’s has you covered. The Anderson family has been making maple syrup since 1928, and their expertise and dedication are apparent in its grade A very dark amber maple syrup. The Wisconsin-sourced maple syrup has a perfectly balanced flavor that’s robust, somewhat smoky, and full, making even just a little bit ideal for a pancake or oatmeal topping to a sweetener for your yogurt or savory dishes. Basically, it checks all the boxes for what you think of when you think of maple syrup: thick, flavorful, sweet, aromatic, sticky, and deep in color.

Be mindful when pouring from the jug, though. It weighs 2 pounds and may be hard to pour from for some, as the handle is small and only allows for a finger or two to grip it.

Some pure maple syrup can be an investment, and Anderson syrup is no exception. It is more expensive than some brands at your local grocery store, but we call it "a luxury that is worth having." Plus, because of its size, it will last longer. If 2 pounds isn't enough, however, there is a 1-gallon jug available, too!

Size: 32 ounces | Grade: Grade A Very Dark | Made in: Wisconsin

NOW Foods is a leader in the organic food market, and it lives up to its name with its certified organic maple syrup. The grade A amber maple syrup is distilled from the sap of sugar maple trees to create a light, delicate flavor that’s truly versatile and can be used on pancakes, in coffee, or as part of a grilling marinade. In addition to being organic, the maple syrup is also non-GMO certified.

This option is great for stocking in the pantry. There are two jug sizes to choose from—1 and 2 pounds, with the larger variety being the best deal. Maple syrup should last for up to two years, so even if you go for the larger sizes but don't use it quickly, you have lots of time. If you’re looking for a darker maple syrup that’s a little more robust, NOW Foods also offers an organic grade B maple syrup that has a deeper, richer flavor.

Size: 16 and 32 ounces | Grade: Grade A Amber | Made in: Illinois

There’s no doubt that pure maple syrup is delicious, but some of the higher-end options can be cost-prohibitive, especially if you’re someone who likes to drench your pancakes. That’s where Butternut Mountain Farm’s maple syrup comes in. Located in Vermont, the Marvin family has been producing and selling local syrup for forty years. Butternut Mountain found a way to provide the rich taste of its 100 percent pure Vermont amber-color maple syrup that won't ruin any kind of flapjack—without sacrificing quality.

We love that it comes in a convenient squeeze bottle so any and/or every inch of pancakes are covered, and there won't be any huge messes to clean up. However, the bottle design may be slightly difficult to maneuver for children's hands or those with low grip strength. Be sure to angle it directly up and down instead of an angle and squeeze with both hands firmly but cautiously to prevent any shots from not landing on your plate.

Size: 12 ounces | Grade: Grade A Amber Rich | Made in: Vermont

Since it takes so much sap to make pure maple syrup, it's no surprise that some options come with a hefty price tag. For a high-quality, inexpensive option, try Maple Grove Farms Organic Maple Syrup. It's not as thick as very dark varieties but still has a good maple flavor. It also comes in a glass bottle with a screw top and pours easily—but can be runny if you are not paying attention. We love this option because of its consistency—it's great for baking, cooking, or marinating since it isn't as thick.

The company has been tapping into Vermont maple trees for a century, and it has since started offering companions to its syrup, like pancake and waffle mixes.

Size: 8.5 ounces | Grade: Grade A Amber | Made in: Vermont

Runamok's Sparkle Syrup is a great gift for kids and adults alike, because who can resist something sweet and glittery? We haven't seen anything like this maple syrup on the market and would love to get it as a gift ourselves.

Although it contains sparkles, the syrup is smooth with no graininess. The glitter is sustainable, edible, and flavorless, so the pure Vermont maple syrup taste shines (literally and figuratively). It isn't as thick as other maple syrups, but we overlooked this after pouring it on freshly cooked pancakes and watching it glisten. Be aware that the glitter is fine and settles at the bottom of the bottle, so it takes a lot of shaking to evenly distribute it throughout the bottle. It is relatively small, so we found it easy to shake with one hand.

As an added bonus, Runamok is big on sustainability; all of its syrups are certified organic by the Northeastern Organic Farmers Association and bird-friendly by the National Audubon Society.

Size: 8.45 ounces | Grade: Not indicated | Made in: Vermont

The extra-rare maple syrup is Escuminac’s best-selling flavor, and it’s easy to see (or taste) why. The organic maple syrup, which has a light delicate flavor that makes you want to drink it straight from the bottle, comes from a single forest and is harvested and bottled at a maple farm in Escuminac, Quebec. It’s truly pure and never blended with any other maple syrup or any artificial ingredients. The bottle is slightly expensive for its size, but is aesthetically pleasing, with the top sealed in wax and a minimalistic logo design, and a small label.

If you like darker maple syrup, Escuminac also offers Great Harvest, which is harvested in the same way but later in the year to give it a richer, more robust flavor.

Size: 16.9 ounces | Grade: Grade A Amber Rich | Made in: Quebec, Canada

Vermont is a leading producer of maple syrup, and the Ackermann Maple Farm does the state proud with its pure maple syrup. The maple syrup, which is boiled using a natural wood fire, comes from over 6,400 trees on a family farm in Cabot, Vermont. Each bottle of syrup is poured and personally sealed by the co-owners, Caitlin and Ian Ackermann, to ensure strict quality control.

Their original maple syrup comes in amber rich, dark robust, and golden delicate grade A varieties, and each one has a smooth and perfectly sweet flavor that can please a crowd. They also offer aged and infused maple syrups, like bourbon-aged and cinnamon-infused which contain real cinnamon sticks.

In addition to the cost of the liter of maple syrup, the company charges for shipping it to your door, so be prepared for the total to go up. However, we don't mind since the money is going directly to Ackermann Maple Farm.

Size: 33.8 ounces | Grade: Grade A Dark Robust | Made in: Vermont

If you’re not really sure what kind of maple syrup you like—or you’re looking for a great gift for someone—your search ends with the Runamok Maple Pantry Favorites Collection. The set includes four 2-ounce bottles of Runamok’s best-selling organic Vermont maple syrups: ginger root–infused, bourbon barrel-aged, cinnamon- and vanilla-infused, and its traditional amber color syrup, which is called Sugarmaker’s Cut. While we don't love that the bottles are small, they are packed with flavor, are fun to sample, and the syrup is nice and thick.

The company also offers more outside-the-box sets that include flavors like coffee-infused, hibiscus flower, and elderberry-infused.

Size: 8 ounces (4 2-ounce bottles) | Grade: Grade A Amber | Made in: Vermont

If you like your maple syrup like you like your bourbon—aged—then you’re in luck. Two worlds collide with this Crown Maple bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, which is aged in oak bourbon barrels; as the organic syrup sits, it soaks up all of the different flavor profiles. The end result, which comes from a sugar house in Dover Plains, New York, is a multilayered, rich maple syrup that’s infused with flavors of bourbon, oak, graham cracker, brown butter, and vanilla.

In addition to its aged syrup, which can contain up to 2 percent of alcohol, Crown Maple also offers other organic syrups, including applewood smoked, cinnamon-infused, and Madagascar vanilla.

Size: 8.5 and 12.7 ounces | Grade: Grade A Robust | Made in: New York

Maple is a very distinct flavor in and of itself but still pairs well with savory things like bacon and other meats, as well as sweet things like fruit. Stonewall Kitchen, which is known for all kinds of treat mixes and sauces, took the idea of combining its maple syrup with something fruity to a whole new level with fresh blueberries grown in Maine. Although it comes in a small bottle, the flavor is strong and the consistency is thick, making it a perfect topping for pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, yogurt, or ingredient in baking, lattes, or marinades.

Size: 8.5 ounces | Grade: Not indicated | Made in: Maine

Pure maple syrup doesn't contain any added sugar, so to get sugar-free maple syrup you'll have to settle for an option that is less natural. This one from Livlo only contains two ingredients, though, while others use quite a few to mimic the original taste. Two tablespoons of the allulose and natural maple flavor mixture has 15 calories and 1 gram of net carbs for anyone following a keto diet. This sugar-free maple syrup isn't as thick as the real thing but certainly gets the job done if 0 grams of sugar is the target.

Size: 8 ounces | Grade: Not applicable | Made in: Not indicated

You can make your own maple butter at home, but this one from Nova Maple Syrup is made with Grade-A syrup from Northwest Pennsylvania that has not touched any herbicides, pesticides, or artificial preservatives. Once the sap is harvested, it is boiled and then stirred by environmentally friendly solar-powered equipment. It is then bottled in plastic tubs that are 100 percent BPA-free.

There is no dairy or other additives, and you can spread this smooth maple butter on pancakes, toast, or on things like sweet potatoes or pork. Although it is thicker than regular maple syrup, it still is a bit runny, so keep that in mind when adding it to recipes and more.

Size: 1 pound | Grade: Grade A | Made in: Pennsylvania

The Final Verdict

Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup checks all the boxes when it comes to both taste and price. It's bold, balanced, and just the right amount of sweet. If you want something more unique, go with the Runamok Sparkle Syrup—it is glittery, sugary, and makes a great gift for kids or kids at heart.

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