14 Substitutes for Corn Syrup in 4 Categories

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

Corn syrup is a famous ingredient in many recipes, especially in baking. Yet, it’s gained a bad reputation over the years due to potential health risks. Today, we’ll introduce you to 14 corn syrup substitutes to try the next time your recipe calls for them.

For those who love to bake, corn syrup is a familiar component that has always been readily available. It adds the sweetness and texture that many recipes require. It’s also a perfect ingredient to use in candy making, as it prevents the sugar from crystallizing.

Nowadays, there’s a trend towards using less corn syrup, especially the high fructose varieties known as HFCS. As more people become aware of the health risks associated with corn syrup, they’re searching for better and healthier alternatives.

In this article, we discuss a few facts about corn syrup and why you’d want to replace it. We’ll also give you fantastic substitution options to choose from. So, keep reading.

Facts About Corn Syrup

Facts About Corn Syrup

Perhaps you’ve watched those satisfying reels of the candy-making process and seen that translucent syrup being poured in. That’s corn syrup in action, playing a vital role in achieving the perfect consistency in your favorite sweets.

Although it’s not as popular as it used to be, corn syrup is also used in baking and cooking. It adds moisture and enhances the texture of many baked goods. Let’s take a look at some of the major facts about corn syrup.

What Corn Syrup Is Good For in Baking and Cooking

What Corn Syrup Is Good For in Baking and Cooking

You can think of corn syrup as a magic ingredient. In fact, it works wonders in baking and cooking. Here are some of the applications corn syrup is good for.

• Texture: Corn syrup creates a chewy and bendy texture in baked goods like cookies and brownies. That’s because it works as an invert sugar. In other words, it prevents the sugar grains from recrystallizing after everything is out of the oven and cooled down.
• Shininess: Because of its invert sugar properties, corn syrup also gives a smooth and shiny finish to frosting, caramel, or sugar glazes. The reason for this is that it maintains the small sugar crystal size. Consequently, it leads to a shinier frosting after drying.
• Moisture: Corn syrup also works excellently at retaining moisture inside baked goods. As such, it keeps them fresh and soft for longer. This makes it particularly useful in recipes that dry out quickly, like bread or cakes.
• Binding: In recipes like granola bars, fruit fillings, custards, and ice cream, you want a binder to hold together the ingredients and provide a kind of structural support. That’s when corn syrup comes in handy, working as a stabilizer.

Is Corn Syrup Healthy?

Is Corn Syrup Healthy?

The answer to this question is a topic of ongoing debate and concern among many health-conscious consumers. Depending on its type, corn syrup consists of pure glucose, or sometimes glucose and fructose.

The high-fructose variety, in particular, has drawn the most attention due to its potential health effects.

Some studies even suggest that excessive consumption of high-fructose corn syrup may contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other disorders.

In general, the health implications of corn syrup depend, in large part, on its type. The regular corn syrup found in most supermarkets nowadays isn’t as evil as its high-fructose cousin.

That said, it’s always a wise idea to practice moderation to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Reasons for Substituting Corn Syrup

Reasons for Substituting Corn Syrup

Principally, there are several reasons why you may want to use alternatives for corn syrup. Take a look at the most common:

• Availability: The most obvious reason for seeking a corn syrup substitute is simply not having it at home. For some people, using an alternative can be easier and more convenient than running to the local supermarket.
• Health Concerns: Many individuals decide to substitute corn syrup due to health reasons since it’s high in sugar. Doing so allows them to reduce their sugar intake and gain healthier habits.
• Diet Restrictions: Some diets, such as low-carb or keto, restrict corn syrup consumption. As a result, people following these diets look for corn syrup alternatives. This way, they can enjoy their favorite foods while adhering to their dietary guidelines.
• Flavor Preferences: Different corn syrup substitutions can actually enhance the recipe with the great flavors they offer. Based on that, some people may choose to add the taste of honey or the richness of molasses instead.
• Experimentation: For many home cooks and bakers, experimenting with various ingredients adds to the fun. Thus, they like to try new substitutes for each ingredient, including corn syrup, and observe how it changes the recipe.

Best Substitutes for Corn Syrup

Best Substitutes for Corn Syrup

Before we get started, it’s essential to understand that not all substitutes will work for all applications.

Depending on their function as sweeteners, binders, or texture enhancers, some alternatives may work better than others. Thus, you need to know why the recipe calls for it.

With that cleared out, here are some of the best corn syrup substitutes to consider for your cooking and baking needs.

Honey

Honey

Honey is the best sweetener you can think of when considering natural products. That’s why it’s one of the most popular corn syrup substitutes. It’s similar to corn syrup in viscosity and adds the needed sweetness.

Moreover, it has moisture-retaining properties, making it great for cakes and quick bread.

That said, honey doesn’t prevent crystallization the way corn syrup does. Therefore, it’s not the perfect option if you want to make candy recipes, for example.

When using it as a substitute for corn syrup, keep in mind that honey is slightly sweeter and denser. This means you may need to adjust the amount used in your recipe.

You also need to know that the thicker, darker varieties have a more distinct flavor. So, unless you want to add such a strong taste, use lighter types like clover or acacia.

Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup

In terms of flavor, sugar can be the best substitute for corn syrup. That’s mainly because, unlike honey, it only adds sweetness, not taste. On top of that, it’s a 100% sure-fire find in most kitchen pantries.

One popular form of sugar used as an alternative to corn syrup is simple syrup. You can easily make it by dissolving granulated sugar in an equal amount of water over heat until it disappears completely.

Overall, when substituting simple syrup for corn syrup, keep in mind that it’s thinner. Therefore, you may need to adjust the liquids in your recipe accordingly.

Alternatively, you can try to prepare a thicker sugar syrup by doubling the sugar. For example, a 4:1 sugar-to-water ratio allows you to create a thicker syrup that’s close in consistency to corn syrup.

All in all, you can use simple syrup instead of corn syrup in many recipes, such as cakes, pies, cocktails, and sauces.

Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a natural sweetener produced from the sap of maple trees. It makes an excellent and nutritious substitute for corn syrup.

Just like honey, it can affect the taste of your recipes (and color too). That’s because it has a distinct flavor profile with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Thus, you should carefully consider its use in place of corn syrup in certain recipes. After all, you don’t want it to clash with other flavors or overpower them.

While maple syrup is a bit thinner than corn syrup, you can still use an equal amount when substituting one for the other.

Having said that, we strongly suggest using maple syrup in recipes containing warm flavors such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin. You’ll find that it goes quite well with them. For candy and caramel making, you’d better avoid using maple syrup, as it can crystalize easily.

Agave Nectar

Agave Nectar

Also derived from a plant, agave nectar can be a fantastic alternative to corn syrup. It has a more neutral flavor than other substitutes, which helps maintain the original flavor of different recipes.

One of the most notable benefits of agave nectar is its low glycemic index. This means it has a generally milder impact on a person’s blood sugar levels. As such, it can be a suitable option for those monitoring their sugar intake.

Principally, agave syrup has a sweetness level similar to corn syrup and remains liquid at room temperature. Thus, it can work greatly in sweet sauces and pies.

Just like with maple syrup, you can typically go for a 1:1 ratio when using agave nectar instead of corn syrup.

However, note that some agave varieties can vary in their sweetness level. So, you might need to adjust the quantities accordingly. Additionally, agave nectar isn’t an ideal swap for candy-making, as it doesn’t perform as well as corn syrup in preventing sugar crystallization.

Brown Rice Syrup

Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup results from breaking down the rice starches into simple sugars before boiling them. It makes another excellent substitute for corn syrup, especially for people seeking a natural, less processed sweetener.

Luckily, brown rice syrup has the ability to prevent sugar from crystallizing. Therefore, it’s one of the few successful alternatives to corn syrup in the candy-making field.

Not only that, but it has almost the same consistency as corn syrup, making it especially outstanding in recipes where texture and viscosity are vital.

Although brown rice syrup isn’t as sweet as corn syrup, it can still provide the needed sweetness in recipes. Yet, it may impart a slight flavor of toasted rice to your dishes. So, it might not be the best all-around corn syrup substitute.

Light Corn Syrup Substitutes

Light Corn Syrup Substitutes

When you spot the term “light corn syrup” in a recipe, it usually has a meaning behind it. In most cases, light refers to the need to add sweetness without altering the overall flavor or color of the dish.

Fortunately, there are suitable substitutes for light corn syrup that can maintain the intended taste and texture of the final result. Check out a few choices.

Golden Syrup

Golden Syrup

Golden syrup is a popular substitute for light corn syrup, especially in Australia and the UK. While it might not be as widely available in the U.S., it makes a spectacular alternative.

This thick, amber-colored liquid is made from boiled-down sugar cane or sugar beet juice. It has a texture close to corn syrup with a slight hint of caramel flavor.

This means that it shouldn’t significantly affect the taste of your recipes, which is quite convenient.

Furthermore, golden syrup shares similar chemical properties to corn syrup, making it perfect even for candy-making. All in all, when using golden syrup as a substitute for corn syrup, a 1:1 ratio works just fine.

Pancake Syrup

Pancake Syrup

Also known as maple-flavored syrup, pancake syrup is one of the most common household items to use as a light corn syrup substitute.

Unlike natural maple syrup, pancake syrup is actually “disguised” corn syrup with added maple flavoring and color.

If you decide to go for this option, make sure to select the blandest type available. Unless the recipe can benefit from the added taste, try to avoid the non-typical varieties, such as the “butter-rich.”

In all cases, since both syrups are technically the same, swapping them calls for a 1:1 ratio.

Tapioca Syrup

Tapioca Syrup

Tapioca syrup is another one-to-one substitute for light corn syrup derived from the starches of a plant. However, in this case, it’s cassava, a root vegetable mostly grown in tropical regions.

Principally, tapioca syrup is a much better alternative to corn syrup than brown rice syrup and agave nectar. That’s not only because it has a similar texture and viscosity but also because it has a much milder overall taste.

While it might be slightly less sweet than other options on our list, tapioca syrup still provides decent sweetness without overpowering the dish.

That said, tapioca syrup is sadly unsuitable to use for candy-making, as it can recrystallize at room temperature.

Other Varieties of Glucose Syrup

Other Varieties of Glucose Syrup

More commonly known as confectioner’s glucose, glucose syrup is the mother of most corn syrup substitutes. In fact, corn syrup is a variety of glucose syrup derived from breaking down the starches in corn.

So, while corn syrup is 100 percent glucose syrup, glucose syrup isn’t always corn syrup. Most of the commercially sold varieties are corn or wheat.

Yet, glucose syrup can be derived from other plants that are high in glucose, such as cranberries, grapes, or apricots.

Consequently, any kind of glucose syrup can work just as effectively as corn syrup.

Dark Corn Syrup Substitutes

Dark Corn Syrup Substitutes

Dark corn syrup is a variety of corn syrup flavored with molasses. Typically, it’s darker, thicker, and more strongly tasting than light corn syrup.

That’s why it’s favored for use in recipes where deep color and rich flavor are desired.

Therefore, when trying to replace dark corn syrup, you should look for substitutes that possess similar properties. Here are our top suggestions.

Molasses

Molasses

Molasses is a by-product of processing sugar from sugar cane or sugar beet juice. It’s a thick, dark syrup with a rich, sweet flavor and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Due to its distinct taste, many people use it in certain baking and cooking applications.

While you can swap dark corn syrup with molasses using the typical one-to-one ratio, you need to be careful. The molasses flavor can strongly affect the recipe’s final taste.

So, unless it can complement the flavor of other ingredients, you need to look for another alternative.

Black Treacle (Blackstrap Molasses)

Black Treacle (Blackstrap Molasses)

You can think of black treacle as the British version of molasses. Primarily, it’s a more common ingredient in many British baked goods, such as sticky toffee pudding, treacle tarts, and ginger cakes.

Yet, you might also find it in American grocery stores.

Just like molasses, black treacle has an intense taste. So, you’d better think twice before using it in just any recipe. It’s also a bit sweeter than dark corn syrup, but that hint of subtle bitterness balances everything out nicely.

That said, you should stick to the usual 1:1 substitution ratio when it comes to black treacle.

Buckwheat Honey

Buckwheat Honey

Honey comes in different colors and flavors, and buckwheat honey is one of the darkest and most robust varieties. Although it’s still natural honey, it has a closer appearance and flavor profile to molasses.

As such, it can work in many recipes as a replacement for dark corn syrup.

Buckwheat honey is also famous for its high antioxidant content, which includes compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids.

This makes it another more convenient and healthier alternative to dark corn syrup in many recipes (excluding candy).

Healthiest Substitutes for Corn Syrup

Healthiest Substitutes for Corn Syrup

While some may offer better health benefits than others, most corn syrup substitutes are still high in calories. After all, they’re mostly sugar.

Therefore, we decided to share with you a couple of sugar-free options.

As long as you use them only for sweetening, they should work fantastic as alternatives to corn syrup. Take a look at them.

Stevia

Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that has recently grown in popularity worldwide. It’s extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant and is a popular, calorie-free substitute for corn syrup in many recipes.

Mainly, the sweetness of stevia comes from compounds called steviol glycosides. Such a marvelous option provides the sweetness you need without affecting your blood sugar levels in any way.

Conveniently, stevia comes in many forms, including liquid, powder, and granulated. All its varieties maintain stability at high temperatures, making them perfect for cooking and baking.

When you use Stevia as a corn syrup substitute, it’s essential to note that it’s much sweeter. Only a small amount is enough to achieve your desired sweetness level. Moreover, it can have a slightly bitter aftertaste in larger quantities. So, it’s better to blend it with other sweeteners.

Monk Fruit Sweetener

Monk Fruit Sweetener

Another similar option to stevia sugar is the sweetener extracted from monk fruit (Luo Han Guo). It’s also a calorie-free alternative to corn syrup and is popular among those monitoring their sugar intake.

Unlike Stevia, the sweetness of this product comes from different compounds called mogrosides.

Principally, these compounds are naturally occurring antioxidants inside the fruit that can provide sweetness to various foods and beverages.

While monk fruit sweetener works the same way as stevia and comes in similar forms, it lacks the lingering aftertaste of other sweeteners. Thus, it can be one of the best calorie-free substitutions for corn syrup.

Tips for Substituting Corn Syrup

Tips for Substituting Corn Syrup

Because not all corn syrup substitutes work in all applications, it’s important to pay attention to some factors before choosing one. This includes sweetness, textures, flavors, etc.

Take a look at our top tips for substituting corn syrup:

• Nutritional Profiles: You need to pay attention to the nutritional profile of each substitute you plan on using. If you’re making a more health-conscious change, calories and sugar content should matter most to you.
• Food Restrictions: When choosing a substitute for corn syrup, keep the people who will consume your recipe in mind. That’s because some of these options may contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for certain diets or allergies.
• Sweetness Level: Not all alternatives match the one-to-one swap ratio. For example, honey and maple syrup can be a bit sweeter than corn syrup. As such, you should adjust the amounts used in the recipe accordingly.
• Texture and Consistency: Some liquid corn syrup substitutes can be thicker or thinner, which may affect the final texture of your dish. Moreover, adding powder swaps calls for adding extra liquids to the recipe. Thus, you need to be mindful of that.
• Flavors: The whole idea behind finding substitutes for ingredients in a recipe is to end up with the same tasty result. That’s why considering the flavor profile of each swap is crucial for maintaining the desired flavors.
• Experimenting: Lastly, we advise you to experiment with what you have and never hesitate to try different substitutes. To achieve satisfying results, you may start with small amounts and adjust ingredients as you go.

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