Many people are fond of syrups to drizzle on pancakes and waffles. One such Syrup that is a natural sweetener is agave syrup. It’s a classy discovery that enhances the richness of the dish. However, if you can’t find agave syrup, then find these 9 substitutes of agave syrup to be your instant fix. 

The best substitutes for agave syrup are honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, golden syrup, molasses, monk fruit syrup, brown rice syrup, light corn syrup, etc. 

If you are looking for healthy yet delicious syrups, then this list of syrups will surprise you. You get all kinds of flavorful syrups like fruity flavored, nutty flavored, sweetened flavored, and even bittersweet flavored syrup options.

So, without waiting anymore, let’s explore agave syrup substitutes that you will find fascinating to use in cooking. 

1. Honey

Honey is the most fantastic substitute for agave syrup. I’ll tell you why. Because it’s a natural sweetener that is produced by bees and it has a rich taste. You will wonder why honey has been used for thousands of years as a food and medicinal source. 

Although honey has a different flavor profile than agave syrup, it has a floral aroma with fruity, earthy, and nutty flavors. 

You will find honey at every shop or market. That’s how easily available it is. As for the usage in cooking, you can use it in baked recipes, salad dressings, and even in cocktails. 

To substitute honey for agave syrup, you can use a 1:1 ratio. In terms of consistency, love is thicker than agave syrup. So, add honey according to your need in recipes. 

Try honey as a substitute for agave syrup if you want a natural sweetener with a different flavor profile. 

2. Simple Syrup

Simple syrup can be a suitable replacement if you are out of agave syrup and looking for a substitute.

One of the main reasons simple syrup works so well as a substitute for agave syrup is that they are both liquid sweeteners. You can make simple syrup at home by dissolving sugar and water over low heat. Cool it down once done. It’s ready.

You will get a similar sweetness of agave syrup from simple syrup. However, the consistency of the simple syrup is a bit more liquid than agave. 

Simple syrup is so versatile that you can use it in almost every recipe, such as cocktails, mocktails, desserts, or baking. You can store simple syrup in the fridge for up to 1 month. 

When using simple syrup as a substitute for agave syrup, keep in mind that agave syrup is sweeter than simple syrup, so you may need to use simple syrup more. When using simple syrup in place of agave, use ½ cup for every cup of agave syrup. 

3. Maple Syrup

Maple takes us back to those Canadian scenes. The maple syrup originates from Canada and tastes sweet and delicious. The syrup is extracted by boiling down the sap of maple trees in water. It’s a famous syrup in North America.

Maple syrup has a rich, warm, and caramelized flavor. It has a woody and earthy aroma. It’s also quite sweet, an excellent choice for many recipes. It’s mainly used as a topping for pancakes, waffles, and French toast.

Agave syrup and maple syrup are similar in sweetness and consistency. Agave syrup is made from the sap of the agave plant and has a mild, neutral flavor. 

If you are looking for a natural sweetener that is less processed than agave syrup, maple syrup is a great alternative. Plus, it adds a deliciously rich flavor too.

4. Golden Syrup

You can use golden syrup as a sweetener in your recipes instead of agave syrup. Golden syrup is made from sugar cane. It is boiled with water to create a thick, amber-colored syrup. The syrup is then filtered and refined to remove impurities. You get a smooth, sweet liquid for baking, such as waffles and pancakes. 

Compared to agave syrup, golden syrup is sweeter. It has caramel and toffee flavor notes that taste amazing. 

The simplicity of this golden syrup is it adds a deeper flavor to the dish. At the same time, agave syrup adds a light and delicate flavor. 

Besides that, golden syrup is thicker in texture, so add it to the preferred recipes that demand such consistency. 

5. Light Corn Syrup

Light corn syrup is a sweet syrup made from cornstarch. It is a clear, thick liquid and sweet. The taste of the corn syrup is similar to honey. 

Corn syrup is made by breaking down cornstarch into glucose using enzymes. The syrup is then filtered, purified, and concentrated to produce the final product.

Light corn syrup has a mild sweetness with floral notes. It is mainly used as a sweetener and to add moisture to recipes. 

If you want to substitute light corn syrup for agave syrup, you can use a 1:1 ratio of white sugar and corn syrup in candy recipes.

6. Brown Rice Syrup

Another agave syrup substitute is brown rice syrup. This syrup has a mild, sweet flavor similar to honey or malt syrup. It has a thicker consistency than agave syrup and a darker color – golden to amber. It’s made from cooked brown rice and is treated with enzymes to break the starches into sugars.

One of the prompt reasons for using brown rice syrup is that it has a lower glycemic index than agave syrup. Also, it contains minerals like magnesium and potassium.

When substituting brown rice syrup for agave syrup, it’s not quite as sweet as agave. So, use a bit to achieve the perfect level of sweetness. Texture-wise, brown rice syrup is thicker and stickier. So it can be hard to mix or dissolve it with other ingredients. 

It works well in baked goods like muffins, cookies, granola bars, dressings, and marinades.

7. Molasses

Molasses is a thick, sticky syrup extracted from sugar cane. The packaged molasses is refined and comes without any impurities.

Molasses come in different varieties, ranging in color and flavor intensity. Light molasses is lighter in color and has a milder flavor. At the same time, dark molasses is darker and has a strong flavor. Blackstrap molasses is the darkest and thickest type, with a strong flavor.

As for its consistency, molasses is thick and syrupy, similar to honey or maple syrup. It’s often used as a sweetener in baked items, marinades, and sauces.

So, if you’re out of agave syrup and looking for a substitute that will work well in these recipes, molasses can be a great option!

8. Fruit Syrup

Fruit syrup is a sweet and flavorful liquid made from fruit juice or fruit puree cooked down with sugar and water. Fruit syrup can be used in various ways, from adding sweetness to cocktails and desserts to drizzling over pancakes and waffles.

It can be extracted from fruits like berries, citrus and tropical fruits like mango and pineapple. The fruit syrup is fruity, sweet, tangy, and thick in texture. 

Fruit syrup can be a good fit in place of agave syrup in terms of taste and consistency. Agave syrup has a mild, honey-like flavor and a thin texture. 

While fruit syrup offers an intense fruit flavor and has a thicker consistency. So, it’s appealing in recipes where you want the sweetness to be more pronounced or the syrup to cling to the food more. 

9. Monk Fruit Syrup

Monk fruit syrup is becoming increasingly popular as a sweetener and substitute for agave syrup. It is extracted from the monk fruit, a small green fruit native to Southern China. 

This syrup has a sweet, fruity flavor with a caramel-like taste. It’s an excellent choice for baking recipes.

Monk fruit syrup features a light amber color similar to agave syrup. It also has a similar consistency to agave syrup.

One of the main perks of monk fruit syrup as a substitute for agave syrup is its lower glycemic index. This makes it an excellent option for those who have diabetes.

Short Recap Of Agave Syrup Substitutes

Below is a short recap of the best substitute options for agave syrup.

Best Agave Syrup Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor

Honey 

Maple Syrup

Golden Syrup

Readily Available Agave Syrup Substitutes

Honey 

Maple Syrup

Simple Syrup

Least Considered Agave Syrup Substitutes

Monk Fruit Syrup

Molasses 

Conclusion 

At last, we are at the end of the hunt for agave syrup substitutes. We discovered some fantastic syrup substitutes, such as honey, maple syrup, molasses, and simple syrup. But if you want to find the closest substitute to agave syrup, go for the maple or golden syrup. These two will have a similar flavor profile, and their consistency is the same as agave syrup.

So, I am sure you have found your fixes for agave syrup. Recommend these substitutes to your friends and neighbors, too, as they will love these options. 

Thank you for tagging along with me, and I hope you found this blog helpful enough. I will return with more informative blogs on tasty substitutes. Till then, enjoy cooking. 

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