Have you run out of maple syrup? Here's what you can use instead! Get the best Maple Syrup Substitute and use these alternatives for cooking, baking and to top over pancakes and waffles when you run out of maple syrup. It saves the recipe every time!
What if you get to a recipe and realize you are out of maple syrup and need a quick maple syrup alternative? No problem, here is exactly what you can use instead.
These replacements are the best substitutes for maple syrup and see below a homemade syrup recipe to use.
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What is maple syrup?
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener made by boiling down the sap of sugar maple trees, resulting in a rich and flavorful syrup with a distinct, sweet-maple taste.
Over the winter months the starch in the tree trunk turns to sugar in late winter and early spring, which we can often see dripping down a sugar maple tree, red maple tree, or black maple tree trunk. The sap is then collected by drilling a hole in the trunk of the tree and bottled into what is known as maple syrup.
This natural sugar is used as a condiment for butternut squash pancakes, waffles, French toast, and chia oatmeal. It is also used for sweetening baked goods, salad dressings, and caramelizing and flavoring foods.
Best Maple Syrup Substitutes
Agave Nectar
Agave nectar makes a great substitute for maple syrup. Use it in a 1:1 ratio for maple syrup. This is an alternative that most resembles the syrup.
Honey
If you are making cookies and baked good that calls for maple syrup and don't like the taste or have any, you can use honey in equal amounts or a 1:1 ratio.
Keep in mind that using honey will alter the flavor and texture slightly as it's perfect for making recipes like gluten-free cornbread muffins. In other recipes you may need to adjust spices in a recipe to compliment the flavor substitution.
Coconut Sugar and Water
Coconut sugar is a low glycemic sugar that does not spike blood sugar levels and is much better for you than what and brown sugar. Heat coconut sugar at a 3 parts sugar to 1 cup water which can be converted to specific measurements based on your needs. For a smaller amount, use ¾ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of water. Adjust the quantities proportionally to maintain the 3:1 ratio while accommodating your desired volume.
Sugar and Water
White sugar is not the best sugar to use for a maple syrup substitute, but it will work if you need. It is plain and you'll be missing out on the rich maple taste. To use sugar as a maple substitute, heat sugar with water (try ¾ cup sugar with ¼ cup of water) for 5-10 minutes on the stove on medium heat then add a ½ teaspoon of maple flavoring or maple extract. Add ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of molasses for a richer dark syrup flavor (printable maple syrup substitute recipe below).
Brown Sugar and Water
Just like regular sugar, you can heat dark brown sugar with water at a 3:1 ratio like coconut sugar. Then add a ½ teaspoon of maple flavoring or maple extract. See printable detailed recipe below.
Coconut Sugar and Butter
You can also make a quick version maple syrup by heating ¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar with 1 tablespoon butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Whisk together until it melts and drizzle over breakfast like butternut squash pancakes, waffles, and French toast. This is the version my mother always did with a sprinkle of cinnamon and it's delicious!
Best Sugar-Free Maple Syrup Substitutes
Lankano Maple Syrup
Lakanto Maple Flavored Syrup is a sugar-free condiment sweetened with monk fruit. It is a wonderful maple syrup substitute for keto and sugar-free diabetic diets since it contains no sugar. Use in a 1:1 ratio the same as you would honey and agave.
Golden Monkfruit and Water
You can heat golden monkfruit and water at a 3:1 ratio like other sugars to make a simple syrup that resembles maple syrup. This golden version has rich notes that most resemble the sap taste better than Xylitol or what sugars.
Xylitol and Water
Xylitol from a birch tree is a healthy sugar-free alternative. Like other sugars it can be heated into a simple syrup at a 3:1 ratio and used as a maple syrup substitute. So use ¾ cup sugar to ¼ cup water although you'll be missing out on the caramel notes of maple. Try adding ½ teaspoon maple extract and ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of molasses for a richer flavor.
Substituting maple syrup in baking for sugar or brown sugar
If a recipe calls for white sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar and you prefer to use maple syrup instead of sugar then a good rule of thumb is to use ¾ cup of maple syrup for every one cup of sugar. When baking you will want to reduce the overall liquid in the recipe by about 3 tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup.
Try our maple syrup substitution on these recipes
- Waffles With Low Sugar Maple Greek Yogurt
- Fluffy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes
- Butternut Squash Pancakes
- Easy Gluten-Free Pancake Recipe
- Paleo Pancakes
- Gluten-Free Scones With Maple Drizzle
More Recipe Substitutes and Alternatives
You may enjoy these recipes
I hope you enjoy these maple syrup substitutes! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to rate the recipe in the recipe area and leave a comment below!
Maple Syrup Substitute Recipe
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon maple extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan heat the sugar and water on medium heat, whisking constantly until it starts to thicken and bubble and the sugar is dissolved, about 5-10 minutes. Then add a ½ teaspoon of maple flavoring or maple extract. Make sure not to overcook it or on too high a heat to avoid burning the sugars (especially if using coconut sugar). Optional to add ½ to 1 teaspoon of molasses for a richer dark syrup flavor.
Notes
Nutrition
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