10 Best Maple Extract Substitutes

Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that is used in a lot of baking recipes. You would notice it as an obvious topping for your pancakes as it adds a gentle sweetness to them.

There are only a few things better than feeling the smooth taste of the maple syrup when eating your pancakes or even when having toast.

Sometimes, you may discover that your bottle is empty, and even if it is very difficult to replace it once you run out of maple syrup, there are a lot of substitutes you can try out. So, you do not have to postpone your recipe.

In this post, we will be talking about some of the best substitutes for maple extract!

Maple Extract Substitutes

If you need something sweet and syrupy to top your breakfast meal, we got you! There are a lot of amazing substitutes for maple syrup that are suitable for drizzling on your pancakes and can also be used for baking purposes. These substitutes can sure make your drizzle but let’s go.

1. Maple Syrup

This should be the best substitute that should come to your mind whenever you hear of the maple extract. It is much easier to find maple syrup than maple extract, making it a popular ingredient in most dishes.

The maple syrup is tasty, but its intensity is less intense than the maple extract. Many people sell sweetened maple syrup, but it is better to opt for natural maple syrup with no added sugar or other chemicals if you want the taste to be very similar to the maple extract.

2. Maple Butter

The maple butter can replace the maple extract in some recipes like the fried or baked sweets as long as you ensure that you melt the butter before using it.

Maple butter has a closer taste and flavor to the maple extract, except it contains a bit fatter and would be suitable for making your cookie dough.

Once you have melted the maple butter, you can use it in the same quantity that you would’ve used the maple extract because it melted, and it is not much different except for the fat content.

3. Molasses

Molasses is a great substitute for maple syrup, not only in taste but in looks also. If you are a heavy maple syrup consumer, you would want to have molasses around in case of emergency. Molasses has a sweet, smoky, and warm flavor similar to maple syrup.

These two syrups are very similar, and when substituting, you would want to do it in a ratio of 1:1. The best form of molasses to use when substituting your maple syrup on pancakes is the light molasses; the darer ones are much better for baked foods.

See Also: 5 Best Potato Ricer Substitutes

4. Honey

Honey is another excellent substitute for maple syrup. Even if honey comes mostly as light, you can get a darker one that mimics the taste of the maple syrup without defying the consistency too much.

Honey is not as thick and sweet as the maple syrup, but it would also work fine if you have any around.

You can alternate honey for maple syrup in a ratio of 1:1, but if you want to opt for more flavor, you can use a bit more of the honey to archive the sweetness. You can also use your honey to glaze your turkey, ham, bacon, veggies, and even starchy food.

5. Corn Syrup

Corn syrup is another amazing substitute that you can use without spending too much to purchase, and it is almost impossible not to find it in stores around you. It is a sweet substitute than also comes in lighter and darker shades.

When substituting for the maple syrup, it is preferable to get the darker one as it looks like the maple syrup more. A ratio of 1:1 would do.

6. Agave Nectar

Agave nectar is one of the healthiest substitutes for maple syrup because it contains a lower glycemic index; another amazing thing about this substitute is that it can be very versatile and used in your baking, cooking, and dressings as well.

The agave nectar looks a lot like the honey, and when substituting, you would want to use more of it because it has a bitter aftertaste. Compared to maple syrup, agave nectar is a bit too runny, but that doesn’t make it a bad substitute as it would work just fine.

7. Brown Sugar Syrup

The brown sugar syrup is another substitute that perfectly fits the maple extract. It is very easy to prepare as it just involves mixing water, brown sugar, vanilla, and maple syrup and letting it simmer a bit to make it syrupy. This ingredient can be used in a ratio of 1:1 also.

8. Caramel Syrup

The caramel syrup is another decent substitute for the maple syrup, and because maple syrup has notes of caramel in it, this would do just fine.

Caramel syrup is good, but one that contains butter and some cream makes it even better. You can substitute this for your maple syrup in a ratio of 1:1.

9. Buttermilk Syrup

Buttermilk syrup is another amazing maple syrup that would satisfy your sweet, syrupy and creamy craving. The downturn about this substitute is that it doesn’t do well when stored in the fridge, so you want to consume this fast.

I wouldn’t consider it expensive as a downturn because it is very much worth the price and I assure you, you have nothing to regret.

If you cannot afford to buy this, you can make yours by simmering some buttermilk and sugar for about four minutes in a saucepan and then letting it cool.

10. White Sugar Syrup

Even if it is not as sweet as the original maple extracts substitute, the white sugar syrup has to be a very good substitute for it as they are regularly used to substitute for each other in meals.

When substituting, you can use a cup of sugar syrup for every 2/3 cup of maple extract, and you should also note that since this ingredient is watery, you would need to reduce the amount of other liquid ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make My Maple Syrup?

You do not always have to replace your maple syrup with a substitute when you are out of it; simply make yours from this simple recipe I will be starting. The ingredients you are going to be needing for this recipe include;

  • Brown sugar
  • Hot water
  • Honey
  • Vanilla or maple extract

for the procedure, mix the water, sugar, and honey and then bring them to a boil and allow them to simmer for about 8- 10 minutes. It is preferable to use a saucepan as it heats everything evenly.

Stir frequently to ensure that it doesn’t burn, ad after removing the saucepan from the heat, and you can now add your extract and flavoring and mix before letting it sit for about 5 minutes. After that is done, your maple syrup is ready.

What Is Maple Extract Used For?

The best use for maple extract is sweet foods like maple-flavored glazing, frostings, and many other desserts. In many desserts, maple syrup, a maple extract, is used because of its subtle and sugary taste and its liquid-like consistency.

What Is Better for Your Body, Maple Extract or Honey?

Real maple extracts contain more calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese than honey without any added form of chemicals. These minerals work greatly in your body’s cell formation and immune system and maintain a healthy red blood cell.

Which Is Better, Molasses or Maple Syrup?

Even if both contain a high amount of calcium and magnesium, calories, potassium, and even sugar, the maple syrup contains more riboflavin. However, the molasses contain more niacin, vitamin B6, and even a fairly higher amount of iron; whichever you pick would be beneficial.

Is Molasses and Maple Syrup the Same?

No, they are not. The major difference between the molasses and maple syrup is that maple syrup has a higher sugar content when compared to the molasses.