Making homemade maple baked beans, cooking from scratch, how to

maple syrup

🥗Healthier: agave syrup

💰Cheaper: corn syrup

Agave syrup provides sweetness with fewer calories.

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Turkey bacon reduces fat while maintaining flavor.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: coconut sugar

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Coconut sugar is less processed and has a lower glycemic index.

vinegar

🥗Healthier: apple cider vinegar

💰Cheaper: white vinegar

Apple cider vinegar adds a fruity note.

Soak 2 pounds of Great Northern beans overnight, then drain and rinse them.

Add the soaked beans to a large pot and cover them with 2 quarts of water.

Chop 1 onion into eighths and add it to the beans, or use a bag of dehydrated onions.

Add 1 bay leaf, a few peppercorns, 1 teaspoon of ground bay leaves, and 0.5 teaspoon of salt to the pot.

Turn the heat to medium and bring the pot to a simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

After an hour, check the beans for tenderness, then strain them and reserve the liquid.

In a separate pot, combine 1.5 cups of the reserved bean liquid, 1 cup of maple syrup, 0.5 cup of ketchup, 0.5 cup of light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, and 2 teaspoons of hot sauce (if using).

Turn the heat to low and whisk the sauce together, heating until it thickens slightly (about 5 minutes).

If using bacon, chop it into small squares and fry it up until crispy.

Preheat the oven to 285 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add the strained beans to a bean pot, and if using, add the cooked bacon.

Pour the thickened sauce over the beans and stir well to combine.

If the mixture seems dry, add a bit of the reserved bean liquid to moisten it.

Cover the bean pot and place it in the center rack of the oven.

Bake at 285 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 6 hours, checking on it after 3 hours.

After 6 hours, check the beans for doneness; they should be well-cooked and flavorful.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens