Today let’s talk about the best golden syrup substitutes! Due to its distinct sweet flavor, golden syrup is a popular ingredient in various kitchens. Whether using it in cake dressings or other recipes, golden syrup is a versatile ingredient. 

However, despite its versatility and great flavor, the golden syrup may be unavailable sometimes. Now, if your recipe demands golden syrup and you don’t seem to have any, don’t freak out! You can easily use a substitute! This article will help you find the best golden syrup substitutes. 

Are you wondering what the best substitutes for golden syrup are? The best golden syrup substitutes are light corn syrup, brown rice syrup, agave syrup, maple syrup, and honey.

However, before we start discussing the substitutes, let me discuss golden syrup a little more with you. Most of my readers will be familiar with this ingredient. However, if there is anyone who is new to golden syrup, this section is for you. A little information will help you pick your substitute more easily!

Quick Peek: Golden Syrup

Golden syrup is a delicious sweetening ingredient. This section has all the information you need on golden syrup. You will get to understand the ingredient, its flavor and texture profile, and nutritional information. So, let’s get started!

 What Is Golden Syrup?

Golden syrup is also known as treacle or golden treacle. Golden syrup is a form of syrup made from sugar, water, and citric acid. It can be easily made at home and is hence one of the staple food ingredients across the world.

Golden syrup, famously called invert sugar, is a byproduct of sugar cane. It is produced either by refining sugar cane or sugar beet at factories. But when it is homemade, it is produced by treating simple syrup with citric acid.

People frequently mistake it for honey. Unlike honey, golden syrup is an excellent option for you if you are a vegan.

Describing Golden Syrup: Flavor And Texture

The consistency of the golden syrup is thick and translucent, akin to honey. It has a dark amber tint with mahogany undertones. It has a lovely caramel fragrance to it. It’s a delicious golden liquid with a profound flavor.

The flavor of golden syrup is intense. It has a sweet, caramelized flavor with an acidic undertone. Despite the fact that golden syrup is highly sweet, the acidic flavor balances it out.

The flavor of golden syrup changes depending on how much sugar is used. However, because it has an acidic undertone, its sweetness is generally tolerable. Golden syrup helps to keep meals moist. As a result, it’s a fantastic baking ingredient.

Uses Of Golden syrup

Golden syrup is used extensively in American and English cuisines. Just like any other sugar syrup, it is generally used to bring a hint of sweetness to food. It is used to make juices, mocktails, drizzle over pancakes, etc. 

Moreover, it can also be used to make a glaze and in cakes to enhance their flavors. Despite not being from Asia, golden syrup is also widely used in Asian cuisine these days.

Golden syrup has become very popular these days. It is now widely used in sweets appetizers and enhances the flavor of chicken dishes.

Golden Syrup On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Golden syrup is nothing but inverted sugar. That is sugar broken into fructose and glucose. Therefore, the golden syrup has similar nutritional content to normal sugar. As you can imagine, it is extremely high in calories and sugar content. 

Sugar nowadays has a villainous reputation. We constantly hear people talking about sugar and the health issues it can cause. But whatever it is, it is still consumed in a very large quantity all around the world.

That being said, we cannot completely avoid golden syrup as it is extremely delicious. But while using it, we need to be cautious about the quantity. A little quantity of golden syrup will do you no harm.

However, if used in large quantities, it can lead to adverse health issues. The consumption of golden syrup can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Why Use A Substitute For Golden Syrup?

This question might have crossed your mind at least once. While this is a good question, there are a few reasons why you might not want to use golden syrup.

Golden syrup is super unhealthy. It cannot be used by people suffering from diabetes or who just want to cut sugar out of their diet. In these cases, an alternative will be useful.

Secondly, golden syrup is not always readily available. If you live outside of Europe, you may find it difficult to find in some grocery stores. It can be expensive. A substitute will definitely come in handy in this case. Furthermore, why go to the store if you already have substitutes? These are all good reasons to find a replacement.

I believe I’ve addressed every aspect of golden syrup. Let me now get to the crux of the article: the best golden syrup substitutes. Continue reading to find out more information about them!

6 Best Golden Syrup Substitutes

This section has all the best substitutes for golden vinegar. Moreover, you will get to understand how to use each substitute in place of golden vinegar. So, let us explore the substitutes!

1. Light Corn Syrup

Light corn syrup is prepared from corn starch and has a sweet flavor. Hence, it can be used as a substitute for golden syrup in various recipes. Corn syrup has a slightly more watery consistency than golden syrup. Light corn soup also has a sweet flavor with a vanilla undertone.

When compared with golden syrup, light corn syrup is much lighter in taste. Therefore, you may want to add more light corn syrup to the recipe. However, light corn syrup is very easily accessible. When using it as a golden syrup substitute, use double the quantity of light corn syrup for a balanced flavor. 

2. Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is obtained from brown rice and has a delicious sweet flavor. It has a mild flavor and is sweet, making it a great substitute for golden syrup.

Brown rice syrup has a nutty aroma and a very thin consistency. However, it can be used as a golden syrup in any recipe you want when it comes to sweetness!

3. Agave Syrup

Agave syrup is commonly known as agave nectar. It is also called maguey syrup. It has a mild sweet taste and a thin consistency. It is, therefore, one of the best golden syrup substitutes. Agave syrup is made from the agave plant. Nowadays, it is gaining huge popularity as it is a natural alternative to sugar syrup.

It comes in light, dark, amber, and raw varieties. Light agave syrup has a very mild taste and a light consistency. Amber agave has a caramel flavor and a medium consistency. Dark agave syrup is bold. It has a dark color and a strong sweet caramel taste to it.

 Agave is an excellent golden syrup alternative. Its taste is so mild that it won’t affect the taste of the original dish when used as a substitute. Agave primarily has fructose sugar and is a healthy option for golden syrup. While substituting, add an equal amount of agave syrup to that of golden syrup in the recipes.

4. Honey 

Honey is the closest golden syrup substitute. It has a brown color and a thick consistency. It is so close to a golden syrup that people usually get confused between the two.

Honey has a lot of varieties depending upon the bees that collect it. Generally, honey has a color variation from light brown to dark brown. Its taste also varies according to its color. Usually, dark-colored honey has a much stronger taste than sweet-colored honey.

But one drawback to honey is its flavor. Honey has a very distinctive flavor of its own. Even though it adds sweetness, it will also add different flavors to the dishes. Sometimes it won’t do justice to the original flavor of the dish. You can add an equal amount of honey to that of golden syrup in any dish. But, before you add anything, give it a taste!

5. Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a natural sweetener. It has a sweet, burnt caramelized taste with a nutty undertone. It has a very similar flavor profile to simple syrup. Hence, it is regarded as one of the most convenient golden syrup substitutes.

Maple syrup is native to North America. From the sap of the maple tree, maple syrup is obtained. It is then heated to remove the water content. Therefore, maple syrup has a very thick consistency. Like golden syrup, it works great with both beverages and solid food. 

Maple syrup has a milder sweet taste than golden syrup. When adding maple syrup as a golden syrup substitute, you can use a 1:1 ratio. After that, you can add more according to your preference.

6. Molasses

Molasses syrup has a thick consistency and a subtle sweet flavor. Molasses also has a lot of health benefits. Therefore, it can be rated as one of the healthiest golden syrup substitutes.

Molasses has a very thick consistency when compared to golden syrup. It also has a very mild bitter burnt taste to it. Therefore, when replacing golden sugar, one should choose light molasses rather than dark ones.

You should only use molasses if you are not concerned about the color and taste. Molasses may mimic the flavor, but they will change the physical appearance of your dish.

If you are using molasses, use one-third of a teaspoon to one teaspoon of golden syrup in your recipe.

Short Recap For Best Golden Syrup Substitutes

I am sure that by now, you must have gone through all the best substitutes for golden syrup. However, are you, by any chance, still confused about which one would work best for you?

In that case, there is no need to worry. I have broken it down further for you into three categories. Have a look!

Most Suitable: The most suitable substitute for golden syrup is maple syrup.

Easily Available: Honey is the easiest golden syrup substitute. 

Best Flavor Profile: Golden syrup will give the best flavor profile when used as a substitute for agave syrup.

Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve arrived at the end of the piece, I hope you’ve got the answers you were looking for. Golden syrup is a versatile ingredient that may be used to enhance the flavor of a variety of dishes.

Although most of the items listed can be used as golden syrup substitutes, there is no exact match. However, if you know of any more options except those given above, please let us know in the comments section.

How To Substitute The Above Mentioned Ingredients For Golden Syrup

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)