6 Absolutely Syrupy and Healthy Substitutes for Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup has a slightly nutty flavor and is more or less as sweet as normal table sugar. Here are some substitutes to consider if, for some reason, you cannot use brown rice syrup or run out of it.

A Sweet Note

Although you may be tempted to use brown sugar, stick to using only liquid sweeteners as substitutes to avoid tampering with the consistency of the dessert.

Brown rice syrup is viscous, meaning its thick and sticky, and thus, requires a substitute that can work equally well. Now, you may find yourself needing such a replacement if you do not have brown rice syrup at hand, run out of it midway, or if this product is not sold in your locality. This Tastessence article discusses some alternative liquid sweeteners that can be used as substitutes for brown rice syrup.

Brown Rice Syrup Substitutes

Honey

While thinking of liquid sweeteners, probably the first substitute that may come to your mind is honey. This yummy sweetener is absolutely natural and contains a multitude of minerals such as zinc, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, and riboflavin. Rich in antioxidants, this bee food is derived after transforming nectar from flowers, and is thus, saturated with glucose and natural fructose.

Substitution Quantity: Honey is sweeter than brown rice syrup; therefore, use ¾ cup of honey in place of 1 cup of brown rice syrup.

Maple Syrup

Made from the sap of certain sweet maple tree varieties such as red, black, and sugar maple, this natural liquid sweetener is a rich source of energy, manganese, zinc, and iron. Its unique flavor and the antioxidants and minerals present in this syrup make it a healthy alternative to brown rice syrup.

Substitution Quantity: Since maple syrup is sweeter, use ¾ cup of maple syrup in place of 1 cup of brown rice syrup.

Corn Syrup

Derived from cornflour, its syrup has a thinner consistency than brown rice syrup and has more or less the same level of sweetness. Depending on your need, you may opt for light or dark corn syrup for your recipe, each having a slight variation in flavor. This sweetener has a longer shelf-life and so do the treats made using corn syrup.

Substitution Quantity: Replace brown rice syrup with equal amounts of corn syrup.

Molasses

The thickest and one of the oldest liquid sweeteners around, molasses, or treacle, is a by-product of the sugarcane/beet refining industry. This viscous sweetener has plenty of iron, calcium, and magnesium. Avoid blackstrap molasses because it is not so very sweet and has a slight bitter flavor.

Substitution Quantity: Use ½ cup of molasses in place of 1 cup of brown rice syrup.

Barley Malt Syrup

Made from malted barley, this maltose-rich syrup is sweeter than brown rice syrup. However, it is also thicker; therefore, you may need to consider this fact while cooking or baking with this syrup. Secondly, it is particularly dark in color and may change the appearance of the dish; therefore, if need be, use this sweetener along with another.

Substitution Quantity: Use ¾ cup of barley malt syrup in place of 1 cup of brown rice syrup. Use 1 cup if the sweetness is insufficient.

Date Syrup

Made from date palm fruit, date syrup is sweeter than molasses and can be a good substitute for brown rice syrup. You may not find this syrup in all the local stores, but you will find plenty in Middle Eastern specialty groceries in your locality. The syrup made from this fruit is moderately rich in vitamin A, tannins, ß-carotene, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and vitamins such as B6 and K.

Substitution Quantity: Use 3 tablespoons of date syrup in place of 1 cup of brown rice syrup.

Although you may be tempted to use agave syrup as a substitute for brown rice syrup, the fact is that agave is much sweeter than brown rice syrup and has a higher fructose content than even corn syrup, which makes it an unhealthy choice for those looking for healthy sweeteners.

Like it? Share it!