Replace maple syrup with other products to lower your grocery bill or improve the healthfulness of a recipe.
Finding a substitute for key ingredients in a recipe or as a topping can be a challenging task. Whether you're out of maple syrup or looking to expand your options, there are several substitutes for general recipe use or for pancake and waffle toppings. Maple syrup substitutes range from pricier organic options to lesser expensive and widely available replacements. Does this Spark an idea?
Substitutes for Baking
According to the Joy of Baking website, there are two maple syrup baking substitutions. The simplest is an equal measure of honey. A slightly more involved substitute is a corn syrup concoction made with butter and optional maple extract. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of maple syrup, combine 3/4 cup of corn syrup with 1/4 cup of butter plus 1/2 tsp. of maple extract. According to The Cook's Thesaurus, refined sugar can replace maple syrup in baked goods. Use 1 cup of granulated sugar to replace 3/4 cup of maple syrup. Also, increase the amount of liquid in the recipe by 3 tbsp. for each cup of sugar.
Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup is created by fermenting brown rice with enzymes to break down the rice's starches; afterward, the liquid is strained and cooked to a syruplike consistency. Brown rice syrup is organic and, according to The Cook's Thesaurus, contains complex sugars that are slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. Brown rice syrup is amber with a light flavor similar to butterscotch.
Molasses
There are several types of molasses, all made by refining sugar cane or sugar beets. Molasses is a rich color and contains abundant minerals, including iron and calcium. According to Baking911, it is a common pancake syrup substitute. Light molasses is sweet and mild. Dark molasses is thicker, darker and less sweet. It is often used to make baked beans and shoofly pie. Blackstrap molasses is not sweet and very thick; it is not frequently used in cooking.
Pancake Syrup
Pancake syrup is likely the first maple syrup substitution that comes to mind. After all, pancake syrup is a widely available, frequently used, inexpensive maple syrup alternative on pancakes. Pancake syrup is corn syrup and artificial flavoring. Use it on waffles and pancakes in place of maple syrup or in baked goods in a 1-1 ratio.
Tags: maple syrup, Brown rice syrup, corn syrup, rice syrup, baked goods, Brown rice, Cook Thesaurus