In this article, we will answer the question “Can you substitute syrup for honey?”, and what are the other substitutes for honey?

Can you substitute syrup for honey?

Yes, you can use syrup instead of honey. It could be a simple sugar syrup or corn, maple, golden syrup, etc. you could also prepare honey into a thin syrup if it feels too thick to be incorporated into marinades and sauces.

Read on if you want to know how and when to substitute honey for different types of syrups and other sweeteners.

Other substitutes for honey

Brown rice syrup

Brown rice syrup or rice malt is a gluten-free and vegan-approved sweetener. Substitute it with honey in a 1 ¼ cup:1 cup ratio, respectively.

Molasses

Molasses is a deep brown viscous liquid produced during sugar refining as a by-product. It can be substituted for honey in a 1:1 ratio if the end-product is not affected by the distinct flavor of molasses.

Coconut nectar or syrup

Coconut nectar is extracted from coconut leaves. Use it to replace honey in low to no heat dishes like granola bars. Replace honey with coconut nectar or syrup in a 1:1 ratio.

Agave nectar

Agave nectar or agave syrup is prepared by heating honey water extracted from cacti plants known as agave. Substitute it for honey in a 1:1 ratio.

Barley malt syrup

Barley malt syrup is extracted from soaked and sprouted barley. It can be substituted for honey in a 1:1 ratio. Add a little sugar to improve its sweetness. Barley malt syrup has a high GI value so watch out if you are diabetic.

Golden syrup

Golden syrup is made from refined sugar and has little to no nutritional value. It can be substituted for honey in a 1:1 ratio.

Corn syrup and maple syrup

Maple syrup is less sweet than honey. Pure maple syrup has a very similar consistency to honey. When substituting for a marinade like in a savory dish, use a 1:1 ratio. When replacing honey with maple syrup in desserts or baking, use ½ cup sugar+ ¾  cup maple syrup for 1 cup honey.  Maple syrup can be drizzled over waffles and pancakes.

Light or dark corn syrup can be substituted for honey in a 1:1 ratio. However, the former is more similar tasting to honey.

Maple sugar

Maple sugar is the residue that remains after evaporating water from the maple sap. Substitute it with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Replace each cup of honey with 1 1/4 cup of brown sugar plus 1/4 cup water or another liquid ingredient for your recipe.

Brown sugar

When using brown sugar as a substitute for honey, adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe.

Date paste

Blend dates with some honey and water to substitute it for honey in a 1:1  ratio. It is one of the most nutritious and underrated alternative to sugar or honey.

Ripened banana

Do not throw away the over-ripened bananas. Bananas turn sweeter as they are ripe. Mash the over-ripened bananas and substitute them for honey in a 1:2 ratio, respectively. It is a very nutritious alternative. However, when adding it in baking, you might end up with a more dense crumb.

Jaggery

Jaggery has a distinct caramelized taste. When sugarcane syrup is heated, the thick syrup that is left behind is jaggery. It contains both molasses and sugar. Replace honey with jaggery in a 1:1 ratio. Adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe.

Applesauce

Applesauce has a greater water content than honey so you will have to adjust the amount of liquid in the overall recipe. It works best as a substitute for honey in both sweet and savory dishes. Replace it with honey in a 1:1 ratio.

Liquid stevia

Liquid stevia is extracted from crushed stevia plant leaves. It tastes sweeter than sugar but lacks the distinct flavor of honey. It also has a bitter after-taste. Substitute it with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Stevia has been found to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure.

Yacon root syrup

As the name suggests, yacon syrup is extracted from the roots of yacon roots. It is vegan-approved and has a similar sticky texture as honey. When substituting it for honey in desserts, add half a cup of sugar for each cup of yacon syrup because it is less sweet than honey. Do not use where cooking or baking is involved.

Other FAQs about Syrup which you may be interested in.

Can syrup go bad?

Does corn syrup go bad?

Does syrup go bad?

Recipes with maple syrup

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you substitute syrup for honey?”, and what are the other substitutes for honey?

References

https://ohmyveggies.com/substitutes-for-honey/

https://foodiideas.com/honey-substitutes/

https://www.thespruceeats.com/honey-substitutes-4160689