What can I substitute for honey in baking? is a question beginning home bakers usually ask me for different reasons.
Some look for keto-friendly honey substitutes, while others need a vegan honey substitute. Friends and family members have also called me panicking because they just discovered they don’t have enough honey in their pantries while in the middle of mixing ingredients.
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Whether or not you have been in any of these situations, you’ll be thankful you came across my list of honey alternatives. And the best honey alternative varies depending on what you are baking.
Jump to:
- 7 Best Substitutes for Honey in Baking
- 4 Best Keto-Friendly Honey Substitutes
- FAQs About Honey and Honey Substitutes
- Start Using the Best Substitute for Honey in Baking!
- Recipe
7 Best Substitutes for Honey in Baking
Every time I run out of natural honey, I use any of the following alternatives that work not just as sweeteners but also as binding ingredients:
1. Maple Syrup
It isn’t surprising for many to wonder and ask, “Can I substitute maple syrup for honey?”
Honey and maple syrup have the same consistency and color, but maple has a distinct taste. Extracted from the sap of maple trees, maple syrup has a woodsy caramel flavor but lacks honey’s floral or fruity notes.
But, yes, maple syrup is an excellent honey substitute in recipes because the taste won’t be noticeable once you mix it with other ingredients. It’s even vegetarian- and vegan-friendly and gluten-free.
However, make sure you’re using pure maple syrup because the syrup you use to drizzle your waffles, pancakes, and fruits has added ingredients.
These products usually contain sugar and water, which can affect the overall texture and flavor of your sweet recipes. I have also come across maple syrup imitation products, which are only made from sugar!
Thus, when buying maple syrup, look for those with a “real maple syrup” or “pure maple syrup” label. It’s also wise to check the ingredient list to see if there are any ingredients added.
Now, how can you substitute maple syrup for honey? Simply add the same amount of maple syrup as what your recipe calls for honey.
Best for just about anything.
Related: 10 Pure Maple Syrup Substitutes
2. Molasses Syrup
When it comes to what to substitute for honey if you want sweet baked goodies with a richer flavor, molasses is one of the most easily accessible products you can find. Besides its sweet taste, it has a warm, slightly smoky flavor and a consistency thicker than honey.
This syrup is available in three different varieties: light molasses, dark molasses, and blackstrap molasses. However, not all of them are excellent honey alternatives, so be mindful of this before substituting honey with molasses in your recipes.
While some still use it as a substitute for honey in recipes, I don’t like using blackstrap molasses because of its strong bitter aftertaste.
Light Molasses
Light molasses is the best ingredient to use because it’s the thinnest among the three. To use, swap two-thirds of the amount of honey required in your recipe.
Best for sweet baked goodies.
Dark Molasses
Dark molasses can also work for certain recipes as long as you use the right amount. It’s much thicker than light molasses and honey, so it can greatly affect the texture of your baked goodie when you add too much.
When I substitute molasses for honey, I add ¼ of the amount required in the recipe. If the dough’s consistency seems a bit dry, I add a drop or two and then repeat when needed.
As per my experience, you won’t need more than half of the amount of honey the recipe calls for when using dark molasses.
Best for baked beans, gingerbread, fruitcake, and any cookies.
3. Agave Nectar
Also known as maguey syrup and agave syrup, this sweet liquid is extracted from the agave plant, making it a great vegetarian and vegan substitute for honey.
You’ll find two varieties in your local grocery store: 1) amber agave nectar, which has a caramel flavor, and 2) dark agave nectar, which has a richer flavor. But whichever variety of agave syrup you opt for, it has the same consistency as honey and has a sweeter taste.
So, how can you substitute agave for honey? I suggest adding half the amount of agave nectar, giving it a taste, and then adding a little more if needed. This way, you won’t end up with a super sweet baked goodie.
Another issue with this natural sweetener is that it cooks more quickly than honey. Exposing the agave nectar to high temperatures for longer periods can lead to it burning, giving off a burnt or bitter aftertaste.
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As such, I only substitute agave for honey when preparing goodies requiring short baking time and low temperatures, such as mini chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and air fryer cinnamon rolls.
Best for frosting, icing, and low-temperature baking with short baking time.
4. Golden Syrup
If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative not just for honey but also for molasses and maple syrup, golden syrup won’t disappoint. It has the same consistency and sweetness as honey but has a caramel-like flavor.
It’s why golden syrup is also a popular topping for unbaked food like pancakes, waffles, and fresh fruits. I also sometimes use it to make granola bars.
When it comes to being a substitute for honey in a recipe, golden syrup is perfect for those who need to make baked goodies with richer flavors.
To use, simply add one cup of golden syrup for every cup of honey listed in your recipe.
Best for cakes, frosting, and icing.
5. Corn Syrup
If you love making candies, you definitely have corn syrup in your pantry! Compared to honey, it has a more distinct “sugar” flavor, so it’s the ideal honey and sugar substitute for naturally sweet baked goodies.
Just make sure you don’t have guests with corn allergies for obvious reasons and diabetes because of its high glycemic index.
Like molasses, it’s available in different varieties: light corn syrup and dark corn syrup. Dark corn syrup is sweeter than light corn syrup and has a distinct vanilla taste. It’s why it’s the ideal choice if you want a richer-flavored baked goodie.
When using corn syrup as a vegetarian or vegan substitute for honey, the ratio will vary depending on the type you use. For light corn syrup, follow a 1:1 ratio. On the other hand, only use half the amount of the honey the recipe requires when using dark corn syrup.
Best for sweet baked goodies.
6. Rice Malt Syrup
If you’re looking for another vegetarian and vegan honey substitute, rice malt syrup is a good option. You probably have seen rice malt syrup in your local grocery without even knowing it because it’s more popularly known as rice or brown rice syrup.
Rice malt syrup is made from fermenting brown rice to break down the starch into sugar. Thus, it isn’t your best substitute for honey if a family member or any of your guests has diabetes because it also has a high glycemic index, like corn syrup.
In terms of flavor, rice malt or brown rice syrup is less sweet than honey with mild nutty undertones. Its consistency is a bit thicker than honey.
To replace honey with brown rice syrup, add twice the amount listed in your recipe to match the sweetness of honey.
I also suggest increasing the amount of any liquid ingredient in your recipe to ensure your baked goodie has the right texture. For instance, I usually add ⅛ cup more of water for every cup of rice malt or brown rice syrup you use.
Best for just about anything.
7. Brown Sugar
Sugar might be the last ingredient that comes to mind when asking, “What is a substitute for honey?” After all, it isn’t liquid.
But most of us, if not all, are aware that we can make syrup out of sugar. Still, you can use it as is in some recipes wherein the end product doesn’t require a certain level of moistness. Examples include cookies and bread.
So if you’re in a pinch, go ahead and substitute sugar for honey.
While white sugar also comes from sugar beets or sugar cane, I found that brown sugar is a better option. Why is this so, you may ask? Brown sugar has a similar sweetness level to honey and a caramel-like flavor and aroma, especially once exposed to heat.
But how to substitute sugar for honey? The ratio will depend on whether you use granulated sugar or turn it into syrup.
When you substitute sugar for honey in bread and cookies without changing its original form, you will need to double the amount required in your recipe. Needless to say, add one cup of granulated brown sugar for every cup of honey your recipe requires.
On the other hand, follow a 1:1 ratio when you substitute brown sugar for honey in its syrup form.
Best for just about anything.
4 Best Keto-Friendly Honey Substitutes
Now, what if you’re looking for a low carb substitute for honey because you or someone you’re baking for is in a keto diet? Here are my go-to substitutes for honey that will add great flavors to your baked goodie:
1. Coconut Syrup
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Coconut sugar is a famous honey and sugar substitute for people on a keto diet and even for vegans and vegetarians. So, it isn’t surprising to find coconut syrup or nectar on my list of keto-friendly substitutes for honey.
Its consistency is similar to honey, but it isn’t as sweet. Like most of the ingredient substitutes on this list, coconut nectar has a caramel flavor.
Nonetheless, adding the same amount of this honey substitute for sugar in baking as what your recipe requires for honey will give your baked recipes the right amount of sweetness and texture.
One major issue I have with coconut nectar is that it cooks or burns quickly, like agave nectar or syrup. So make sure you don’t use it in recipes requiring long baking times and high temperatures.
Best for frosting, icing, and low-temperature baking with short baking time.
Related: Best Coconut Sugar Substitutes
2. Liquid Stevia
Granulated stevia is another popular sugar substitute used not just by those following a keto diet but also by those trying to lose or maintain weight because of its low caloric content. Hence, its liquid version is undoubtedly an excellent vegan-, vegetarian-, and keto-friendly honey substitute.
This natural sweetener has the same consistency as honey but is far sweeter. So when you use this honey substitute for sugar, make sure you don’t use a little too much of it.
Ideally, use 15 drops of liquid stevia for every cup of honey. But what I do, which I also highly suggest, is add it gradually. Start with five drops and then adjust from there.
Once you establish the correct ratio according to your taste, you can go ahead and follow that ratio each time you use this low carb honey substitute in baking.
Best for just about anything.
3. Barley Malt Syrup
Another great honey substitute for keto diet baked recipes that’s vegetarian- and vegan-friendly is barley malt syrup. It’s thicker than honey and less sweet, but a 1:1 substitution ratio is ideal because it has a bitter aftertaste.
If you find that the sweetness isn’t enough, you can always add a keto-friendly sweetener to your recipe. I usually add one-fourth teaspoon of the sweetener for every cup of barley malt syrup used in the recipe.
Best for just about anything.
4. Monk Fruit Syrup
This sweetener extracted from a melon native to China and Thailand has a low glycemic index and caloric content, making it a healthy sugar or honey substitute.
It’s a bit expensive, but a little goes a long way because it’s sweeter than honey. It also has the same consistency as honey, so you don’t have to worry about the texture of your baked goodie, frosting, and icing.
When using this substitute for honey in recipes, I replace a cup of honey with one teaspoon of monk fruit syrup. However, you can add it gradually to find the ratio that will work best for your taste. Like stevia, start with five drops.
Best for just about anything.
FAQs About Honey and Honey Substitutes
Now that you have an idea of what to replace honey with in your baking recipes, you most likely still have some questions. So, allow me to answer those I commonly hear from loved ones and readers.
Start Using the Best Substitute for Honey in Baking!
At this point, you will no longer ask, “What can you substitute for honey when baking regular and keto-friendly goodies?”
My list above provided you with several options, including gluten-free, vegan-friendly, vegetarian, and sugar free honey substitutes. Not only that, but I have also taught you how to use each of them properly and given baking tips for those that might sometimes need a bit of recipe tweaking.
So, go ahead and choose what works best for your recipe, specific needs, and budget to serve the best-tasting baked treats without the honey!
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Recipe
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