Maple Syrup Substitutes

Out of maple 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 maple syrup between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the maple syrup converter.

What to use instead of maple syrup

  • Honey

    Ingredient swap

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

    Honey is sweeter and thicker than maple syrup (340 g vs 325 g per cup) with a floral note rather than woody caramel. Reduce other liquid by 2 to 3 tbsp per cup to keep the bake from turning gummy.

    See honey substitutes →

  • Golden Syrup

    Ingredient swap

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

    Golden syrup is heavier (350 g vs 325 g per cup) and sweeter, with a buttery toffee flavour rather than caramel. Works 1:1 in flapjacks, gingerbread, and glazes; loses the maple character.

  • Brown sugar + water

    DIY mix

    1 cup maple syrup = 1 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup water

    Baking-only swap. Mimics the caramel notes from molasses in brown sugar but cannot match maple's distinctive aroma. Best in muffins, quick breads, and glazes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for maple syrup?
There are 3 workable substitutes for maple syrup, depending on what you have on hand and which property of maple syrup matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup maple 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 maple 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 maple syrup converter
How do I measure maple 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 maple 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 maple syrup converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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