Golden Syrup Substitutes

Out of golden syrup? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert golden syrup between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the golden syrup converter.

What to use instead of golden syrup

  • Honey

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup golden syrup = 1 cup honey (1:1 by volume)

    The closest swap for moisture and stickiness, with a floral note instead of buttery toffee. Honey is barely lighter (340 g vs 350 g per cup) and a touch sweeter, so it pours and bakes much the same in flapjacks, gingerbread, and glazes with no recipe changes.

    See honey substitutes →

  • Maple Syrup

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup golden syrup = 1 cup maple syrup (1:1 by volume)

    Maple syrup swaps in for the sweetness but runs thinner (325 g vs 350 g per cup) and tastes of caramel and tree sap rather than toffee. Best where a looser syrup is fine, like drizzles and soft bakes; reduce other liquid slightly in stiff doughs.

    See maple syrup substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for golden syrup?
There are 2 workable substitutes for golden syrup, depending on what you have on hand and which property of golden syrup matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup golden syrup = 1 cup honey (1:1 by volume). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting golden syrup change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the golden syrup converter
How do I measure golden syrup accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The golden syrup converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, millilitres, fluid ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the golden syrup converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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