Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

Homemade Ingredients

4.74 from 97 votes

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If you're out of Golden Syrup or find yourself with a recipe that calls for it but you can't get any, I will teach you to make the Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute!

By Gemma Stafford | | 135

Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (1)

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A homemade version of golden syrup was hugely requested once I released my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook because it makes an appearance in a few recipes. I heard you, Bold Bakers! So I’ve come up with the Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute.

Golden syrup is a very popular baking ingredient in Ireland. We use it in cookies, steamed sponge puddings, and also it’s a key ingredient when making Homemade Honeycomb. It’s a thick, caramel-colored syrup and often used in recipes where you would use corn syrup. A substitute can be made easily at home using just 3 ingredients.

Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2)

What Is Golden Syrup?

It’s a thick amber-colored form of inverted sugar syrup made in the process of refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into sugar. It is used in a variety of baking recipes and desserts that you can see below. A very popular baking ingredient in Europe and Australia.

What Is Golden Syrup in America?

The best other syrup to liken it to for color and texture would be dark corn syrup. Although personally I believe golden syrup has a more caramel flavor to it. This substitute will work perfectly if you can’t buy it.

What Uses Golden Syrup?

A lot of yummy European, Australian, and New Zealand recipes call for golden syrup as we don’t have access to corn syrup like the US and Canada. Mostly we add it to Sticky Toffee pudding, treacle puddings, biscuits and one of my personal favorites, Homemade Honeycomb.

What spurred me to make this substitute was that I have a few recipes in my cookbook that call for golden syrup, so if you have my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook then you will find this substitute really useful.

Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (3)

What Can Be Substituted for Golden Syrup?

This exact recipe is the best substitute for a tin of golden syrup. It’s the same texture, thickness, and caramel tone and flavor that is unique to golden syrup. If you are looking for another option then you can also use dark corn syrup. I don’t recommend substituting it with maple syrup as it will not react the same way.

How do I store it?

You can store your substitute in a jar or any airtight container at room temperature. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated just like you don’t refrigerate honey, corn syrup, or maple syrup.

It will also last a very long time. I write in the recipe it lasts a minimum of 8 weeks but honestly, it should last a lot longer than that. If you think of it like corn syrup and store it properly, it will not ever go bad.

Tips and Tricks for making a Golden Syrup Substitute

  • Caramel making is a low and slow process, don’t turn up the heat and try to rush it
  • Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to make this golden syrup substitute as it’s best for caramel making
  • Watch the video so you can see the same color and texture of my syrup
  • Store in an airtight container with a proper sealable lid
  • This golden syrup substitute will last for months in your cupboard

Don’t forget to followBigger Bolder Baking on Pinterest!

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Watch The Recipe Video!

Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe

4.74 from 97 votes

Print Recipe

If you're out of Golden Syrup or find yourself with a recipe that calls for it but you can't get any, I will teach you to make the Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute recipe!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 2 cups

  • Dessert
  • Limited Ingredients
  • Less than 30 Minutes
  • Saucepan

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

If you're out of Golden Syrup or find yourself with a recipe that calls for it but you can't get any, I will teach you to make the Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute recipe!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (4oz/115g) sugar
  • ¼ cup (2floz/57ml) water
  • 2 ¼ cup (18oz/507g) sugar
  • 1 ½ cup (10 ½floz/296ml) boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Heat ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup water in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium/low heat until the sugar has dissolved.

  • Bring to a simmer and caramelize until an amber/golden color forms, about 8-10 minutes. If needed, brush the sides of the pan with water to clean away the sugar build up so the caramel doesn’t crystallize.

  • Once your caramel has formed, add the remaining sugar. Slowly add in boiling water and lemon juice. Be careful when adding the liquid because the caramel will bubble rapidly. Whisk to combine. Note: The sugar will clump but don't worry, keep whisking and those lumps will dissolve.

  • On medium/low heat, continue to simmer for about 17-20 minutes. You are looking for a rich amber color and a slightly thickened consistency.

  • Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. The syrup will thicken significantly when completely cooled.

  • Pour the thick, cooled homemade golden syrup into a jar and keep at room temperature in a cupboard for a minimum of 8 weeks. Important note: If your syrup is TOO stiff then put it back on the heat and thin it out with some water until you get the consistency of thick syrup. Likewise, if it is still TOO thin once cooled completely then pop it back on the stove for another few minutes to thicken up further.

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (10)

4 years ago

I’m not sure if you know it or not, but the left menu that shows tips, video, recipe, comments, etc. hides a good portion of the text on the left side of the screen on my iPad Air 2.

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (11)

Mike

3 years ago

The syrup I ended up with looks exactly like Lyle’s and the consistency is spot on however, the flavor and sweetness are not. I find the Lyle’s to be considerably sweeter and far more flavorful. I used pure cane sugar.
Also, I have viewed other videos on golden syrup and they all say to simmer for 45 minutes where you say around 18 minutes. Just wondering if I didn’t understand?

Thanks

Mike

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (12)

Linda

4 years ago

So, Gemma, one needs to plan ahead when thinking of using this syrup. It looks like you need to make it 8 weeks before you need it. Or did I misunderstand? Either way, it looks delicious, and I cannot wait to try it.

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (13)

Joan

2 years ago

I just made this syrup and it is wonderful. I took half of the syrup and added a few drops of Maple Extract and the result was amazing. It tastes just like real maple syrup! So I now have a bottle of great tasting golden syrup and another bottle of delicious maple syrup substitute. Thanks, Gemma. Love your videos and recipes !! One other comment; What’s with the bar that runs down the left side of the screen…tips,video, recipe, etc. ? It blocks the ingredients list on your recipes and is so annoying. Is it just me? I’m not techRead more »

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (14)

Ronald William Martin

3 years ago

I made it today here in Thailand where Golden Syrup is almost non existent. It’s excellent. Thanks for the recipe and video.

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Alina A

3 years ago

Loved this! Turned exactly as pictured! ❤️

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (16)

Stephen Murdoch

3 years ago

What should the finish temperature be?

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (17)

Ingrid

4 years ago

Does the last paragraph mean we have to wait 8 weeks to use it? Or did you mean to write we can keep it in the cupboard for a “maximum” of 8 weeks?

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (18)

Rita

23 days ago

Would you be able to use the same amount of honey instead of the golden syrup??

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (19)

The Mimi

1 month ago

I came to check this out, after leaving a comment on your YouTube video for treacle tart… and wanted to also mention here that I was very glad to discover that Lyle’s has plastic squeeze bottles now, because I always had trouble with it getting black around the lid after I opened it, and I’m hoping that won’t be a problem anymore!☺️❤️

Last edited 1 month ago by The Mimi

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About Us

Meet Gemma

Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (23)

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

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Perfect Golden Syrup Substitute Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

FAQs

How do I substitute golden syrup in baking? ›

18 Best Golden Syrup Substitutes
  1. Light Or Dark Corn Syrup. After playing around with various ingredients, I vote for light corn syrup as the best substitution for golden syrup. ...
  2. Brown Rice Syrup. ...
  3. Molasses. ...
  4. Agave Nectar. ...
  5. Barley Malt Syrup. ...
  6. Honey. ...
  7. Cane Syrup. ...
  8. Maple Syrup.
May 10, 2024

What is the American equivalent of golden syrup? ›

In the U.S., golden syrup is usually sold under the name of light treacle, but it's not readily available in many grocery stores. In cooking recipes, molasses and light treacle are often used interchangeably because their textures and flavor profiles are similar.

How do you make golden syrup? ›

Golden syrup is often made at home when unavailable. Water and sugar are stirred over heat until boiling, with citric acid added to enhance inversion of sucrose. The mixture is slowly boiled without stirring until it is thick and amber colored.

Can I replace golden syrup with maple syrup? ›

Yes, maple syrup can be used instead of golden syrup in many recipes, however this will result in a slightly different flavour. Golden syrup and maple syrup are generally substituted in a 1:1 ratio, however you may choose to use slightly less maple syrup to maintain texture and consistency.

Can I use honey instead of golden syrup? ›

However, honey has a unique flavor, which can change the flavour of your baked goods more than golden syrup would. For this reason, honey is good to add sweetness, but as it will change the flavour of your desserts, it's not considered to be the best substitute for golden syrup.

How do you convert sugar to golden syrup? ›

Place 110g (1/2 cup) of sugar in a medium saucepan and add 125ml (1/2 cup) water. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Simmer, without stirring, for 8-9 minutes or until mixture is golden.

What is the same as golden syrup? ›

Light molasses works as a substitute for golden syrup, and regular molasses is essentially a different name for dark treacle.

Why do you use golden syrup in recipes? ›

Golden syrup can be a delightful alternative to sugar in cakes. Its high fructose content allows you to use a quarter less golden syrup than the sugar required in the recipe, but you will still achieve the same level of sweetness – allowing you to enjoy a deliciously sweet cake.

Can I use agave instead of golden syrup? ›

Agave syrup is about one-and-a-half times sweeter than sugar, which means you can achieve the same sweetness while using less. It's a versatile and easy to use syrup, and good for sweetening hot drinks, porridge and bakes – it can be used in place of golden syrup, for example.

What is golden syrup in the USA? ›

Thick amber-colored form of inverted sugar syrup Golden syrup or light treacle is a thick, amber-coloured form of inverted sugar syrup made by the process of refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into sugar . It is used in a variety of baking recipes and desserts.

What can I use as a substitute for syrup? ›

There are other maple syrup substitutes that you can use when baking in a 1-to-1 correspondence. Use honey, molasses, corn syrup, or agave nectar. The flavor of the baked goods will be different, but because of the texture of these products, the result will be as moist as it would have been with maple syrup.

Has Rogers Golden Syrup been discontinued? ›

Re Rogers Golden Syrup: for all those concerned about the famous syrup, her is the reply I got from them by email today "Thank you for reaching out to us in regard to our Rogers Golden Syrup. It is not discontinued!

What can I use instead of golden syrup? ›

Brown Sugar + Water

Regular brown sugar is essentially a solid form of golden syrup – so it works really well as a substitute. You'll just need to adjust the quantity and add extra water. So by weight you'll use 3 parts brown sugar and one part water.

What is treacle called in the USA? ›

More commonly known as treacle or black treacle or, in the US as blackstrap molasses, molasses are essentially what is left over after cane sugar is boiled to produce sugar and most of the sugar has been extracted.

Which is healthier, golden syrup or maple syrup? ›

Nutritionally, maple syrup is the healthier choice due to golden syrup's high sugar content. Maple syrup has a lower glycemic index, as well as higher levels of vitamins and minerals, including zinc and magnesium.

What is a good substitute for syrup in baking? ›

12 Best Substitutes for Maple Syrup
  1. Honey. Honey has a similar viscosity and natural sweetness to maple syrup, but can you substitute honey for maple syrup? ...
  2. Brown Sugar. ...
  3. Molasses. ...
  4. Agave Nectar. ...
  5. Date Syrup. ...
  6. Golden Syrup. ...
  7. Monk Fruit Syrup.
May 22, 2024

What is the difference between golden syrup and regular syrup? ›

The main difference between the syrups is that golden syrup has a higher sugar content than maple syrup, giving it a much sweeter taste. Whereas maple syrup has a richer and stronger taste throughout all its grades. The reasons for this difference in flavour is their ingredients and production methods.

Can you use maple syrup instead of golden syrup for biscuit cake? ›

You can, although you'll be adding that maple taste. If you do, use grade A, which is the lightest. You could also substitute honey, which is a bit thicker, or corn syrup, which is probably the best substitution.

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