How To Boost Store-Bought Peanut Butter With This Sweet Ingredient

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If you're bored with plain peanut butter, allow us to float an idea that will rock your culinary world: Maple syrup. Everyone knows that sweet-and-salty is a combination made in flavor heaven, but most folks opt for staid, boring jelly, jam, or preserves to pair with their PB. We're here to tell you that, if you're craving a unique, sugary spin on your store-bought peanut butter, you want to reach for that reliable pancake topping hiding in your pantry. 

The caramel, vanilla, and subtle floral notes of pure maple syrup complement the earthiness of peanut butter in a way that may seem unexpected, but actually makes perfect sense when you taste it. There's a natural harmony to this combination that will make you wonder why you haven't tried it before.

Quebec is the Canadian province that produces most of the world's maple syrup, and it's likely that the bottle(s) you own came from north of the border. The addition of maple syrup makes for a versatile sweetener: You can drizzle it on waffles (obviously!) for a nutty twist, stir it into your coffee, top an ice cream sundae, or use it to jazz up recipes that use regular peanut butter, like cookies or chicken satay. Maple syrup infused peanut butter is one way to amp up your pancakes.

The easiest way to mix maple syrup into peanut butter is to gently heat them together in a pan. If you are unsure about how to melt peanut butter, know that low heat is the best bet, along with lots of stirring to make sure that the PB doesn't burn. Once the mixture cools, you can store it in an airtight container to use down the road. An important thing to keep in mind is that the maple syrup's liquidy consistency will loosen the peanut butter considerably, making a condiment that may be rather thin for spreading on toast or a sandwich. In this state, the mixture is best used as something to stir in or drizzle.

Some social media users have suggested that, to better maintain the thickness of peanut butter while enjoying the taste of maple, maple sugar is the way to go instead of maple syrup. Pure, graded maple sugar from Canada will provide you with the concentrated essence of maple without thinning things out. Speaking of concentrated flavor, when choosing a maple syrup, avoid the light amber variety you usually choose for breakfast. A dark syrup features stronger, more pronounced flavors that will lend richer taste to your peanut butter. Looking to go a little wild with a savory recipe? We love the idea of Sugar Bob's smoked maple syrup mixed with peanut butter for a delicious, subtly-sweet stir fry topper.