How to Substitute Maple Syrup for Sugar + 15 Recipes Using Maple Syrup (2024)

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by Alea Milham 1 Comment

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Maple syrup can be used to sweetened anything you would normally sweeten with sugar. Here is how to substitute maple syrup for sugar in recipes, as well as 15 recipes using maple syrup.

How to Substitute Maple Syrup for Sugar + 15 Recipes Using Maple Syrup (1)

While I realize that maple syrup is a spring food since the trees are usually tapped in the spring. The long shelf life of syrup means it can be used any time of year. My youngest son loves Sugar Maple trees so much that we bought him one and planted it in our yard so he has his own source of Maple leaves. And in the mind of a six-year-old, it is a very short leap from doing a fall leaf craft project to enjoying some maple syrup.

Syrup doesn’t need to be limited to topping pancakes and waffles. It is delicious used in recipes. Maple Syrup not only sweetens the dish, but it also adds a depth of flavor missing from white sugar.

How to Substitute Maple Syrup for Sugar:

If you want to substitute maple syrup for honey, it is easy because you do not have to do any conversions: You can replace honey with maple syrup one for one. However, it is a little more complicated to substitute maple syrup for sugar.

Maple syrup is sweeter than sugar, so you will use less of it than you would of sugar. To substitute maple syrup for sugar in recipes, use 2/3 – 3/4 cup of syrup for 1 cup of sugar.

When you are replacing the sugar with syrup in a recipe like glazed carrots, you don’t have to worry about the liquids, but when you are substituting maple syrup for sugar in baked goods, you will need to reduce the liquids by a small amount. If you use 1 cup of syrup, then reduce the liquids by 3 tablespoons. I find it easiest to measure the normal amount of liquid called for in the recipe in a Pyrex measuring cup and then spoon out the excess liquid.

If a cake recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar, you would use 1 1/3 – 1 1/2 cups maple syrup and then reduce the liquid in the recipe by 4 tablespoons (or a quarter cup).

To help figure out the exact amounts use these conversions:

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

Don’t want to worry about the math, then try a recipe that calls for maple syrup!

15 Recipes Using Maple Syrup:

Give these delicious Ginger Pear Mini Pies a try this fall and savor all kinds of flavors from the season.

This Roasted Peach Vegan Ice Creamfrom Wonky Wonderful sounds like a perfect treat during the fall harvest time.

Maple syrup makes amazing dips. Try out these Sweet Potato Fries with Maple Cinnamon Dip from Mom Endeavors.

Maple Pecan Pie is a classic fall treat. Check out this recipe from Maple Grove Farms of Vermont.

Just reading about this recipe for Sugar Cookies with Maple Syrup Glaze from the DIY Mommy makes my mouth water!

Speaking of amazing cookie recipes with maple syrup, check out these 6 Maple Syrup Cookierecipes from Ben’s Sugar Shack.

Midwest Living has a delicious recipe for Maple Syrup Cake that’s bound to be a hit this fall.

Who says all maple syrup recipes have to be desserts? Check out this recipe for Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Maple Syrup from Genius Kitchen.

Oatmeal Stuffed Baked Apples are one of my all-time favorite treats in the fall. Check out this recipe that includes maple syrup from Mom Endeavors.

Make dinner a real hit with this recipe from Serious Eats for Maple and Mustard Glazed Salmon with Brussels Sprouts.

Corn Flake Crusted French Toast from This Mom Can Cook really takes a classic breakfast and gives it an upgrade.

Elevate your waffles with this recipe from My Recipes for Lemon-Poppy Seed Belgian Waffles with Blackberry Maple Syrup.

Maple Lemonade from Running with Tongs is one way to use maple syrup I would have never even considered. It sounds delicious and refreshing!

Check out this recipe for Maple Avocado Smoothies by Maple from Canada for a quick on-the-go breakfast.

Pair some Maple Thyme Roasted Baby Carrots from Eating Well with your next roast or ham for a delightful side.

What is your favorite way to use maple syrup?

This was originally published 9/27/2013 and was updated and republished 3/21/2018.

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Patricia Ramsey says

    Are you using ‘real’ maple syrup? Can you use pancake syrup the same way? Someone gave me bottles and bottles of pancake syrup so I have been experimenting. So far I can substitute pancake syrup for sugar used in my homemade bread. It has a richer flavor that especially goes well with oatmeal and whole wheat bread. I have not had to adjust the liquids for these.

    Reply

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How to Substitute Maple Syrup for Sugar + 15 Recipes Using Maple Syrup (2024)

FAQs

How to Substitute Maple Syrup for Sugar + 15 Recipes Using Maple Syrup? ›

It can be substituted for sugar in cooking by substituting one cup of maple syrup for one cup of sugar. For each cup of maple syrup substituted, the liquid in the recipe must be reduced by three tablespoons to make up for the extra liquid in the maple syrup.

How do you substitute maple syrup for sugar in a recipe? ›

To replace white sugar with maple syrup in general cooking, it is ideal to use ¾ cup of maple syrup for every one cup of sugar. When it comes to baking, that same amount is used but also be sure to reduce the amount of overall liquid in the recipe by about three tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup substituted.

How much maple syrup to make maple sugar? ›

A quart (one liter) of syrup will yield about 2 pounds (one Kg) of granulated sugar. Granulated maple sugar is prepared by heating maple syrup until the temperature is 45° to 50° F (25° to 28° C) above the boiling point of water.

How much sugar is equal to 1 cup of maple syrup? ›

Maple syrup is about as sweet as sugar, so you can replace it using an equal amount of syrup (e.g., for 1 cup of sugar, use 1 cup of maple syrup). Decrease the liquid by 3 to 4 tablespoons per 1 cup substitution.

How much maple syrup to substitute for simple syrup? ›

Using the above example, if the drink called for a half-ounce of simple syrup, I will instead mix a quarter-ounce of honey or maple syrup with a quarter-ounce of water in order to achieve a sweetness that is not too cloying or overpowering.

How do you use maple syrup in baking? ›

Baking with maple syrup is easy because substituting maple for white sugar is a breeze! According to the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association – and they should know – you can substitute each cup of white sugar with 3/4 cup of maple syrup as long as you reduce other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup.

Should I use maple syrup instead of sugar? ›

Maple syrup is a healthier alternative to sugar. Maple syrups are not processed like the other kind of sweeteners we use in our daily life, so it still contains most nutrients from their natural state. The less someone changes an ingredient's original form, the more nutritional value will be kept.

How much maple sugar to replace sugar? ›

The most straightforward approach is to simply replace one cup of granulated cane sugar with one cup of granulated maple sugar. In this case you gain the extra flavors from maple while the sweetness and the liquid stay in balance.

What percentage of maple syrup is sugar? ›

In order to meet the legal definition, maple syrup must have a sugar content of at least 66 brix (this equates to 66 percent sugar content) at 60°F. Many producers also further process the syrup into value-added products.

Can you make maple sugar from store bought maple syrup? ›

Maple sugar is a natural sweetener that's relatively straightforward to make. For homemade maple sugar, boil maple syrup until it forms granulated sugar crystals, resulting in a sugar infused with maple flavor.

How much sugar is in homemade maple syrup? ›

Maple syrup is about 2/3 sucrose. Sucrose is known as table sugar, and is 50% glucose, 50% fructose. 1/3 cup of maple syrup has about 60 grams of sugar, that's a lot of sugar.

How much sugar is 1 4 cup of maple syrup? ›

Almost of the calories in maple syrup come from carbohydrates. There are 216 calories in a 1/4 cup serving and 55.6 grams of carbohydrate. Of those 55.6 grams, 50.2 are sugars.

How much sugar is in 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup? ›

But 2 tablespoons have 104 calories and 24 grams of sugars, and many other foods have those same nutrients without the high calorie and sugar load. The sugars in maple syrup are considered "added sugars” in your diet, and keeping your intake of added sugars low is more important than the type of added sugars you eat.

How do you convert simple syrup to sugar? ›

If you're substituting simple syrup for granulated sugar in a drink recipe, the general rule is to use 1/4 ounce syrup for 1 teaspoon of sugar.

What is a substitute for 3 tablespoons of maple syrup? ›

Honey can be used or Granulated white or brown sugar can be substituted for maple syrup in most baking recipes. To match the sweetness, use 25% more sugar than maple syrup, and add 3 tablespoons of water for each cup of sugar used.

How do you calculate simple syrup? ›

One part sugar to one part water (1:1)

1:1 syrup can be made by shaking sugar and room-temperature water together in a sealed container, so it is appropriately known as 'simple syrup'.

How much maple syrup do I substitute for sugar? ›

When cooking with pure Vermont maple syrup, substitute 3/4 to one cup of maple syrup for every one cup of granulated white sugar. Decrease the liquid in your recipe by 2 to 4 tablespoons for each cup of syrup used.

Is baking with maple syrup better than sugar? ›

Yes, it has more antioxidants and minerals than table sugar. So, should you add maple syrup to your diet because of this? No. But, if you're going to use sugar in a recipe, you might as well substitute in maple syrup since it's slightly better for you than refined sugar.

What is a good substitute for sugar in baking? ›

Honey Or Syrup

General recommended substitution ratios are as follows: For every cup of sugar, you can replace it with a 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of honey or 2/3 cup agave. If using maple syrup or molasses, 3/4 cup to 1 cup will do the trick.

What is the healthiest alternative to sugar for baking? ›

How to Replace Sugar in Recipes
Sugar1 Tsp1/2 cup
Stevia1/4 Tsp1/2 Tsp
Agave nectar1/4 Tsp6 Tbsp
Pumpkin puree1 Tbsp1 cup
Applesauce1 Tbsp1 cup
5 more rows
Sep 11, 2023

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