Have you ever found yourself reaching into your pantry for the maple syrup only to find that you've run out of it? No need to fret! I've got the best maple syrup substitute options for you, whether you're baking or serving pancakes.
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Maple syrup is a delicious plant-based/vegan sweetener that's also very versatile. It's most commonly used to add sweetness to a fresh stack of 3 ingredient pancakes, waffles, or banana french toast.
It's also an excellent alternative when you need to add sweetness & moisture to baked goods, like black bean cookies and biscuits.
But what to do if you run out of maple syrup? No need to worry, because there are several easy options to use.
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The Ins and Outs of Maple Syrup
In its purest form, maple syrup is quite thin and watery. It's made from the sap of maple trees, which is extracted and boiled down to create a thicker, sweeter liquid with a more concentrated flavor.
Pure maple syrup tastes woodsy, earthy, buttery, and slightly flowery. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of pure maple syrup, which is why it's so expensive.
Pancake Syrup vs. Maple Syrup
Pancake syrup is primarily corn syrup with a tiny amount of maple syrup added for color and flavor (usually less than 5%), which is why it's so much cheaper than maple syrup. If you're looking for real maple syrup, avoid pancake syrup.
Honey
Honey is one of the best maple syrup substitutes, as it has a similar flavor, consistency, texture, and moisture content.
Therefore, it can be used interchangeably for maple syrup in most recipes. This is especially true when you need a maple syrup alternative in baking.
What sets honey apart is its bright floral notes and slightly sweeter taste. However, because honey is made by bees, it's not considered vegan-friendly.
Use it to make easy peanut butter cookies with almond flour or sourdough cornbread.
Substitute using a 1:1 ratio.
Molasses
The second best substitute for maple syrup is molasses. Thick and rich, with deep and complex flavor, it has a more robust flavor. It's another excellent substitute for maple syrup when baking.
It can be used to make homemade brown sugar (by mixing it with granulated sugar), and it adds a chewy texture to baked goods, like vegan pumpkin cookies and chewy ginger snap cookies. Or use it to make bbq chickpeas for a tasty healthy snack.
Substitute using a 1:1 ratio.
White and Brown Sugar Syrup
Brown sugar syrup has a similar flavor and consistency to maple syrup, making it an excellent alternative. White sugar syrup is another great option, but lacks the deeper flavor provided by brown sugar.
You can easily transform white and brown sugar into liquid by making a quick sugar syrup: Add equal parts sugar and water to a medium saucepan, bring mixture to a boil, and let it simmer for a few minutes, until sugar is dissolved.
Let it cool slightly before adding it to your morning waffles or pancakes.
After cooling it completely, store it in the refrigerator for up to one month. Use it as a maple syrup replacement in homemade coconut granola, dairy free hot chocolate, and peanut butter balls.
Substitute sugar syrups using a 1:1 ratio.
Agave Nectar
With a flowery taste and similar texture, agave nectar makes for a great maple syrup substitute as it has a lower glycemic index. Use it to sweeten this vegan peanut butter pie.
Substitute using a 1:1 ratio.
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is another great option when you need a liquid sweetener for baking. It has a neutral flavor, with a thick and sticky consistency, and is often used for candy-making.
To give it a flavor similar to maple syrup when baking, add a dash of maple extract.
Substitute using a 1:1 ratio.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener made from the sap of coconut palm flowers, and is another excellent choice when looking for an alternative to maple syrup.
The process of removing coconut sugar is similar to that of maple syrup extracted from trees. It has a toasty, caramely flavor that is similar to brown sugar.
For baking purposes, I recommend making coconut sugar syrup using equal parts coconut sugar and water (follow the same instructions provided for brown sugar syrup below).
Substitute coconut sugar syrup using a 1:1 ratio.
Brown Rice Syrup
With its mildly nutty flavor, this vegan and gluten-free liquid sweetener makes a fantastic substitute for maple syrup when you want a toasted flavor, along with a thick consistency. It's derived from brown rice and is traditionally used in Asian foods.
However, in recent years, it has grown in popularity by those looking for plant-based alternatives to honey and refined sugar.
Try it in my kung pao Brussels sprouts in place of granulated sugar.
Barley Malt Syrup
With a similar nutty flavor to brown rice syrup and deeper notes like that of molasses, barley malt syrup is a delicious unrefined sweetener that works great as a maple syrup substitute.
It's made from malted barley, which gives it a "malted" flavor that can be likened to hoppy beer (like IPAs).
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, honey makes a fantastic substitute for maple syrup, whether to top your breakfast waffles or to use when cooking or baking.
Although brown sugar has a similar flavor to maple syrup, you need to be careful when substituting one for the other when baking due to the difference in moisture. The easiest thing to do would be to make brown sugar syrup and use that as an alternative using a 1:1 ratio.
Depending on what you are making, you can sometimes leave it out if it's an additional sweetener. However, if it's the only ingredient providing sweetness in a recipe, I would use a substitute for it.
Due to the difference in moisture, I would not recommend using white sugar. Instead, make a sugar syrup using equal parts sugar and water, which would contain similar levels of moisture as maple syrup.
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Maple Syrup Substitute (Brown Sugar Syrup Recipe)
Equipment
- small saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
- After it begins to boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, and cook for around 4 minutes, until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat and let syrup cool slightly before using. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Barb Haner says
Very interesting article. I did not know you could make brown sugar syrup or coconut sugar. With grocery prices skyrocketing and maple syrup purchases being costly these are good alternatives to be aware of. I also did not think of molasses as a substitute for maple syrup. Thank you for your continuing education - it is very helpful!
MaryAnne says
So glad you found it helpful! 😍