Sometimes the simple homemade condiments, like this balsamic glaze, are the ones that will make a meal seem like it was cooked by a pro chef!

This glaze is made with just two ingredients, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. These are cooked down to make a sweet and thick syrupy sauce.

A homemade balsamic glaze recipe is great for sprucing up all kinds of dishes, from burgers to chicken, vegetables, and even roasted veggies or cheese!

balsamic in a small jar with a spoon

What is Balsamic Glaze?

A balsamic glaze is a thick syrupy sauce (also called balsamic reduction) that is made by simmering balsamic vinegar (and a bit of brown sugar). The taste is sweet and tangy, perfect for drizzling on everything from meats to caprese salad.

  • A balsamic glaze needs just two ingredients, there isn’t much prep time.
  • The brown sugar gives the sauce a delicious sweetness, while the balsamic vinegar gives it slightly tangy flavor.
  • Versatility is the name for this sauce. Because it is so sweet and mild, it can be drizzled over so many dishes.
ingredients assembled to make balsamic glaze, including balsamic vinegar and brown sugar

Ingredients & Variations

Vinegar – Unlike the lighter generic varieties of vinegar, balsamic is a dark and robust vinegar with a deep flavor.

When buying vinegar for this recipe, use the balsamic vinegar of Modena which comes from Italy. It is more suited for cooking and reducing. (Check out the ingredients on the bottle; grapes will be listed as the first ingredient, not wine vinegar.)

Sweetener – Brown sugar is the sugar of choice for this recipe. However, don’t hesitate to replace it with some honey, a little bit of molasses, or maple syrup.

How to Make Balsamic Glaze

Simplicity and sweetness are everything for this glaze!

  1. Combine sugar and vinegar in a saucepan.
  2. Bring to a simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
  3. Cool and enjoy!
spoon stirring balsamic glaze

How to Use Balsamic Glaze

It won’t be hard to use up this glaze!

How to Store Balsamic Glaze

The great thing about balsamic vinegar is that it does not need to be stored in the fridge. Store in glass jars in the cupboard for about a year!

That being said, it can be refrigerated but this will affect its consistency, making it thick and less easy to drizzle.

Favorite Flavor Boosters

Did you enjoy this Balsamic Glaze? Leave us a rating and a comment below!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
balsamic in a small jar with a spoon
5 from 9 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Balsamic Glaze

This deliciously sweet and tangy balsamic glaze recipe is a simple recipe that will elevate any dish.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8

Equipment

buy hollys book

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions 

  • Combine balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a small saucepan.
  • Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon.
  • Cool completely and store at room temperature.

Notes

Do not thicken too much, the glaze will continue to thicken as it cools.
Store Balsamic Glaze in a clean glass jar with a lid at room temperature for up to 1 year.
5 from 9 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 79 | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 0.3g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 79mg | Sugar: 15g | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dressing, Sauce
Cuisine American
spoon stirring balsamic glaze with text
balsamic glaze in a jar with a spoon with text
balsamic glaze with text
balsamic glaze and ingredients with text

Categories:

,

Recipes you'll love

About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

Follow Holly on social media:

pinterest facebook twitter instagram

Free eBook!

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

5 from 9 votes (8 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

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

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Your creamy macaroni salad was delicious. I was getting e-mails of your recipes but all of a sudden they dropped off my e-mail. I tried to resubmit and it looked like it went through but I am still not getting any. I am going to sign up for the e-mails again. Hopefully I will start getting them again.5 stars