• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
My Sauce Recipes
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
×

Home » All Sauce Recipes » Dipping Sauces

Balsamic Glaze

May 18, 2023 by Tayler 5 Comments

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe

This homemade balsamic glaze recipe is a simple combination of balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and a touch of salt, but this sweet reduction tastes so complex. 

spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze with text overlay for facebook

You can use this sauce in so many ways. Drizzle it on top of salads (especially a Caprese salad) instead of balsamic vinaigrette or over meats like pork chops or chicken breasts. You can also toss it with veggies like Brussels sprouts or asparagus.

We love to serve this at our house alongside aged cheeses (or a soft one like fresh goat cheese). It’s also a surprising addition to morning egg dishes and a flavorful topping for vanilla ice cream.

Once you make this simple balsamic glaze recipe, you’ll be going back to the kitchen to make a large batch!

Table of Contents

  • What is Balsamic Glaze?
  • Why You’ll Love Balsamic Glaze
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Balsamic Glaze
  • What To Serve With Balsamic Glaze
  • Variations
  • Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing
  • Common Questions About Balsamic Glaze
  • Other Savory Sauces
  • Balsamic Glaze
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Nutrition

What is Balsamic Glaze?

Balsamic glaze (which is also known as balsamic reduction) is a sauce with a syrupy consistency that’s made from balsamic vinegar that has been cooked down. It has a thick and glossy consistency and a complex flavor that is sweet, tangy, and slightly acidic. 

This syrupy glaze is simmered on the stove until it has thickened and reduced. The natural sugars in the vinegar caramelize, resulting in a rich and flavorful sauce. Brown sugar is added to balance out the acidity of the vinegar.

This glaze’s flavor profile complements so many ingredients, making it a perfect addition to any dish. Balsamic glaze can also be used as a garnish to elevate any dish.

overhead shot of jar of balsamic glaze

Why You’ll Love Balsamic Glaze

If you love the unique flavor of balsamic vinegar, you’ll fall head over heels for this glaze. 

  • Versatile – Use this glaze in tons of dishes to add depth as well as complexity to the flavor profile. It can be used as a topping for meats, vegetables, and even desserts.
  • Easy – With only a few simple ingredients, and a little bit of time, this sauce comes together easily and quickly. 
  • Customizable – Use this glaze for anything from a dressing for salad, a marinade, or a dipping sauce.
  • Convenient – All of the ingredients are either easily accessible at the grocery store or possibly already in your pantry. 
overhead shot of salad drizzled with balsamic reduction

Ingredients

Three simple ingredients are all you need to stir together this flavorful sauce.

  • Balsamic vinegar: This key ingredient adds a distinctive tangy and sweet flavor to the glaze.
  • Brown sugar: With its molasses-style flavor, a little brown sugar helps to offset the acidity of the vinegar. It also provides a subtle sweetness, giving the glaze the perfect balance.
  • Fine sea salt: Salt enhances the other flavors in the glaze and provides a slight savory note, helping to bring out the sweetness of the brown sugar and the tangy flavor of the balsamic vinegar.
spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze

How to Make Balsamic Glaze

With only two simple steps and 15 minutes, you’ll have this glaze ready in no time!

  1. Combine ingredients. Stir both ingredients together in a small sauce pan. Allow to simmer on low and reduce by half.
  2. Allow to thicken. Mixture will thicken when cooling, should coat the back of a spoon. It will not appear thick while still hot, allow it to cool to get the right consistency.
  3. Add salt. Stir in dash of fine sea salt.

What To Serve With Balsamic Glaze

Balsamic glaze is commonly used in Italian cuisine as a dressing for salads, a topping for grilled meats (think: steak, turkey, or pork), or a dipping sauce for bread. You can drizzle it over veggies or even fresh fruit, like grilled watermelon or peaches or a bowl of fresh strawberries.

This sauce is also a unique topping for fresh foods. Place the tangy glaze on the side of cheese plates and charcuterie boards to bring intense flavor that other condiments can’t compete with.

salad drizzled with balsamic glaze

Variations

There’s no shortage of ways to make this delicious glaze even saucier.

  • Sweetness: Add honey or maple syrup to the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar mixture to give the glaze a slight sweetness. Or, simply add extra sugar.
  • Garlic: Crush a few cloves of garlic and add them to the pot while the vinegar is reduced to infuse the glaze with a savory and garlicky flavor.
  • Thyme: Add a sprig or two of fresh thyme to the pot during the reduction to give the glaze an earthy and herbal flavor.
  • Black pepper: Grind fresh black pepper into the glaze for a subtle kick of heat that will balance out the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar.
  • Citrus: Add a dash of lemon zest or orange zest to the glaze for a bright and citrusy flavor that will complement the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar.
  • Soy sauce: Add soy sauce to the mixture for a touch of umami and saltiness.
spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze

Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing

This glaze will last for a while in the fridge or freezer.

Make Ahead: Balsamic glaze can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer until needed. 

Refrigerator: After it has cooled to room temperature, store balsamic vinegar glaze in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container. A clean glass jar with a tight lid (like a mason jar) works perfectly.

Freezer: Balsamic glaze can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. 

angled shot of jar of balsamic reduction

Common Questions About Balsamic Glaze

What is balsamic glaze?

Balsamic glaze is a thick, syrupy sauce made from balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. It’s often used as a finishing sauce, drizzled over roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or ice cream.

What are the benefits of eating balsamic glaze?

Balsamic vinegar is a good source of antioxidants and has been shown to have a number of health benefits. These include reducing the risk of heart disease and lowering blood pressure. It can also help boost your immune system.

What is the best way to make balsamic glaze?

All you need to do to make this simple sauce is reduce the balsamic vinegar until it thickens. You can add sugar or honey to the glaze to make it sweeter, and you can also add herbs or spices to give it more flavor.

collage of balsamic reduction for pinterest

Other Savory Sauces

  • Cherry Balsamic Sauce
  • Mustard Cream Sauce
  • Salsa Macha
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
Authentic Chimichurri Sauce is easy to make and doubles as a marinade and sauce. Traditional chimichurri ingredients will flavor any dish!
Check out this recipe
bowl of green dipping sauce with calamari
Blue Cheese Sauce
This delicious Blue Cheese Sauce recipe brings together slightly tangy Greek yogurt with the pleasant funk of aged blue cheese!
Check out this recipe
angled shot of blue cheese sauce drizzled on steak
Honey Sriracha Sauce
Sticky, hot and sweet, this EASY Honey Sriracha Sauce is about to be your new favorite condiment. Put it on any of your favorite foods!
Check out this recipe
angled shot of honey sriracha sauce
spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze with text overlay for pinterest
spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze

Balsamic Glaze

This homemade Balsamic Glaze recipe is a simple combination of balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and salt, yet it tastes so complex. So EASY!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: balsamic glaze
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 270kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Dash of fine sea salt

Instructions

  • Stir both ingredients together in a small sauce pan. Allow to simmer on low and reduce by half, approximately 15 minutes. Mixture will thicken when cooling, should coat the back of a spoon. It will not appear thick while still hot, allow it to cool to get the right consistency.
  • Stir in dash of fine sea salt.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments and ratings!

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 302mg | Sugar: 50g | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2mg

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erik

    May 22, 2023 at 9:38 pm

    5 stars
    Really enjoyed the flavor of this. Can’t wait to use it in everything!

    Reply
  2. Sara Welch

    May 22, 2023 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    This was such an easy sauce that does not disappoint! Turned out perfectly smooth and flavorful; way better than any store bought brand, indeed!

    Reply
  3. dina and bruce miller

    May 22, 2023 at 11:24 pm

    5 stars
    We used this sauce on grilled chicken tonight. Wow. Can not believe how easy this is! And tasty!!

    Reply
  4. Kathleen

    May 22, 2023 at 11:45 pm

    5 stars
    I had no idea balsamic glaze is this easy to make. No more buying and wasting it for me. I will be making this perfect balsamic glaze myself from now on.

    Reply
  5. Sandhya S

    May 22, 2023 at 11:53 pm

    5 stars
    Drizzled the simple 3-ingredient balsamic glaze over our dishes – it elevated the flavors to new heights!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

My Sauce Recipes provides a wide array of savory and dessert sauces perfect for any level of home cook. Jessica is a cookbook author and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School certified recipe developer. See her work in Parade Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Mashed, AllRecipes AllStars and The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

For all things savory, make sure to visit our sister site, SavoryExperiments.com.

savory experiments logo

Trending Now

coleslaw dressing poured into coleslaw mix

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

spoon dipping into jar of balsamic glaze

Balsamic Glaze

bowl of green dipping sauce with calamari

Chimichurri Sauce

hand pouring mustard sauce onto steak

Mustard Cream Sauce

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • About

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 My Sauce Recipes

↑ back to top