Corn Syrup Alternatives + Homemade Recipe

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Getting ready to whip up a delicious pecan pie only to realize you’re out of a key ingredient —  Karo syrup? Or you’ve finally decided to ditch the processed sugars and embrace healthy living for a change? Don’t worry, you are not alone.

Only last weekend, I went through a similar ordeal, and that is how I came across three excellent Karo syrup substitutes — sugar, maple syrup, honey —  and a few manageable ones like agave nectar, molasses, and brown rice syrup.

Keep reading to find out more about these delicious Karo syrup alternatives!

What is Karo Syrup?

Karo Syrup, also known as commercial corn syrup, is a corn derivative. It's different than high fructose corn syrup because Karo syrup is made of 100 percent glucose and does not contain any fructose.

It is made from squeezing corn and boiling the solution into a sweet and thick syrup. But, there is a lot that happens in between this procedure.

There are two types:

• Light Karo syrup — Vanilla-flavored clear syrup with a delicate taste.
• Dark Karo syrup — Caramel-flavored dark syrup with a twist of sugarcane flavor and a rich taste.

Traditionally, Karo syrup is used as a home remedy for constipation. This is because the syrup contains specific sugars which help retain water in the stool.

What's more, it is quite efficient and takes effect in 6-12 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends administering one to two teaspoons of Karo syrup to a child of one month every day to ease constipation.

The good news is that you can even make Karo syrup at home in just a few easy steps.

Homemade Karo Syrup

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of sugar
• ¾ cups warm water
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Next, bring the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously.
3. Now, cover the liquid with a lid, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let it cook for almost three minutes.
4. After three minutes, remove the lid but don’t change the heart. Keep mixing until you achieve a soft ball stage.
5. Finally, cool the mixture and pour it into your container.

Keep in mind that homemade Karo syrup typically lasts for two months.

Ways to use Karo syrup

• It prevents ice crystal formation in frozen desserts.
• Holds moistures and keeps goods fresh.
• It enhances the flavor of fresh fruits in jams.
• It adds sweetness and thickness to relishes.
• It is perfect for balancing sweet and sour flavor profiles in savory foods.
• It does wonders for easing constipation in children.

Best Substitutes for Corn Syrup

Upon some research, I realized there are a handful of good substitutes for Karo syrup that I can use. Moreover, I didn’t even have to visit the grocery store to get them! Below, I’ve listed three substitutes that topped the list and provided excellent results:

Sugar as a Corn Syrup Alternative

Besides being a celebrated home remedy, Karo syrup is also popular in the culinary world. It is not very sweet and has a high cooking point. This makes it the perfect ingredient to control crystallization in recipes.

However, an equally useful replacement exists that works equally well.

Granulated sugar is the best Karo syrup substitute. Dissolve one cup of regular sugar in ¼ cup of warm water until a thick syrup is formed. This will act as your substitute. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about using any particular sugar since they are all fine.

But remember that sugar has a lower cooking point than Karo syrup. So sugar syrup is not the right fit for candies or any other recipe that uses temperature as high as 177°C.

Can you substitute brown sugar for corn syrup?

Yes, you can use brown sugar instead of corn syrup. Substitute 1 cup of brown sugar plus ¼ cup of water for each cup of dark corn syrup.

Maple Syrup as a Corn Syrup Substitute

Another great Karo syrup substitute is maple syrup, or pancake syrup. Made from maple tree sap, it is an excellent ingredient to add some finesse to your dish. Most maple syrups have a few additives to enhance their taste. However, you can also use pure maple syrup. Pure maple syrup is simply boiled maple sap.

Pure maple syrup has many advantages over its commercial counterpart. First of all, it is less overpowering, and since Karo syrup isn’t too sweet, it makes sense to go with a substitute with a mild flavor. In addition, pure maple syrup is free of food enhancers and sugar additives.

Superstores categorize maple syrup as organic and inorganic. However, they taste the same. The difference lies in their production method. A chemical defoamer is used in inorganic maple syrup to reduce foam during boiling. However, organic defoamers benefit from natural substances like canola or safflower oil.

You can replace 1 cup of Karo syrup with 1 cup of pure maple syrup.

Honey to Substitute for Corn Syrup

Honey is your best bet if you wish for an entirely natural substitute. Probably the healthier alternative to light corn syrup.

Honey is one of the most popular and recognized sweeteners. In addition, honey is a part of numerous home remedies, dishes,  medicines, and skincare products. Most people always have a jar of honey stored somewhere, so you don’t need to run errands.

Remember that all honey doesn't taste the same. Their taste varies depending upon the nectar used and regional climate.

You can use 1 cup of honey to replace 1 cup of Karo syrup.

Other Karo syrup substitutes

These substitutes may not be among the top three, but you can definitely use them if need be. Agave nectar, molasses, and brown rice syrup are all plant-based sweeteners. Moreover, each syrup has distinct qualities that'll give your dish a unique finish.

Agave Nectar as a Substitutive for Karo Syrup

Agave nectar, also known as agave nectar, honey water, maguey syrup, is another natural sweetener after honey. Agave syrup is made from the blue agave plant. This sweetener is healthier than other syrups because of its low glycemic index value. So if you're looking for a diabetic-friendly alternative to Karo syrup, agave nectar is perfect.

Agave syrup is neutrally sweet, unlike the floral and woody taste present in honey and maple syrup. Thus, it allows you to add flavors of your choice. Moreover, agave nectar is half as expensive as maple syrup. So, if you are cooking on a budget and can’t indulge in pricey ingredients, this is just the choice for you.

Since agave syrup is 1.5 times sweeter than normal sugar, use half the equivalent amount of Karo syrup you would use in your recipes.

Molasses as a Karo Syrup Substitute

The syrup that crystallizes sugarcane or sugar beets is called molasses or black treacle. Molasses is a thick viscous liquid with a distinct taste. Unlike sugar, molasses has a boatload of benefits. For starters, it is used to relieve menstruation-related problems, obesity, skin problems and improve our immune system.

Remember, molasses has a dark color, almost black. Therefore, please do not use it in recipes that yield a light-colored item.

You can use it as a 1:1 substitute for dark corn syrup in almost all recipes.

Brown Rice Syrup to Replace Karo Syrup

Brown rice syrup, or rice malt syrup, is an excellent Karo syrup substitute. It is made from whole grain rice by carrying out enzymatic reactions. The reaction separates the rice starches into liquid maltose and maltotriose. Next, this liquid is boiled until it reaches a syrup-like consistency, at which point it is poured and cooled.

Brown rice syrup is completely plant-based and gluten-free. However, it has a high glycemic index value (98), making it very unhealthy. But if that does not bother you, feel free to use it as a substitute for dark Karo syrup.

Brown rice syrup is nuttier than plain white rice syrup. Therefore, you can use it as a 1:1 substitute for brown rice in many recipes.

Conclusion

Karo syrup is essential in various recipes, from pecan pie to homemade fudge to BBQ glaze. It is made from corn and is used for several culinary purposes. However, it is not irreplaceable. So if you’ve run out of the syrup and can't bother running to the grocery store, try any of the foolproof alternatives mentioned above.

Sugar solution, maple syrup, honey, molasses, brown rice syrup, and agave nectar are some of the most versatile and useful Karo syrup substitutes. Moreover, it's highly likely you already have a few of them at home.

Best of all, these substitutes are commonly available and pretty reliable.

Corn Syrup Substitute FAQs