The Simple Ingredient That Upgrades Breakfast Sausage Is Already In Your Pantry

Sausage and syrup seem to go hand-in-hand and not just because of their proximity on the breakfast plate. The fatty, savory flavor of sausage is beautifully contrasted by the pleasant sweetness of the syrup, which is why most folks don't mind when a bit of the sweet stuff makes its way onto their breakfast meat. If you're one of these people, why not take the pairing a step further and incorporate syrup into the cooking process when preparing sausage? There are lots of ways you can go about this, but if we're talking frozen sausage links or patties, making a syrup glaze is simple and straightforward. 

Once your sausage is nicely browned, add about a cup of maple syrup to the pan. When bubbling commences, decrease the heat and continue cooking the breakfast meat until it develops a glossy sheen. Mixing in some brown sugar can amplify the sweetness of your glaze, or you can create a multi-faceted flavor by adding seasonings such as cinnamon. If you prefer savory flavors, fresh rosemary also complements the sausage and syrup. For a hint of heat, mix some cayenne pepper into a bowl of maple syrup and let the mixture rest for about two hours to get the full flavor infusion.

Not all syrup is the same, so it's worth considering which type will pair best with your breakfast sausage. Consider that there are some key differences between maple syrup and pancake syrup that may influence your choice. Maple syrup consists of a single ingredient (boiled tree sap), while the pancake variety includes lots of additional elements like sugary corn syrup. Accordingly, pancake syrup is often incredibly sweet with few additional flavor notes, while maple syrup offers a more complex sweetness with underpinnings of vanilla and dried fruit. If you prefer more savory flavorings for your breakfast sausage, maple syrup may be the better selection. 

If you're wondering how to serve your syrup-glazed sausage, a simple yet delicious scrambled eggs recipe is a classic pairing. You can also wrap the sausages in flaky crescent rolls for an early morning spin on pigs-in-a-blanket. In this case, be sure to keep some of your seasoned or spiced syrup on hand for dipping. If you're a fan of French toast casserole, adding in a few chunks of maple-glazed sausage can also make for quite the upgrade.