# What Can You Use As a Honey Substitute?

URL: https://tastessence.com/substitutes/honey-substitute
Category: Substitutes
Published: 2020-12-30T18:19:57
Updated: 2020-12-26T18:21:52
**With its unique taste and thick texture,** you might not think that there’s much you can use as a honey substitute. But in reality, there are **quite a few other ingredients that you can swap in for honey** -- whether you’ve run out or you follow a vegan diet. In many cases, you probably already have a suitable **honey substitute sitting in your cupboards.** If not, these ingredients are all easy to pick up at your local supermarket. Keep reading to find the **best honey substitute options for whatever you’re whipping up in the kitchen.**

## Maple syrup

With a similarly sticky consistency, **maple syrup makes sense as a honey substitute** -- although the two foods taste quite different. Maple syrup is a **particularly good alternative to honey when used in sweeter recipes**, like baked goods and granola. When using maple syrup as your honey substitute, **try adding a small amount at first.** Then taste your recipe and see what you think about the flavor. You can always add more syrup, but **remember that you can’t take it away** when it’s already mixed in.

## Agave syrup

As another vegan option on our list, **agave syrup is a versatile honey substitute that can be used in many different ways.** If you like honey in your tea, for instance, agave syrup presents an excellent replacement. In fact, **agave syrup dissolves much easier in hot water** than honey does. At the same time, **agave syrup can also take the place of honey to make vegan baked goods.** When [switching out honey for agave syrup](https://www.vegetariantimes.com/skills/the-sub-agave-for-honey/), you should use a bit less (⅔ of the amount that the recipe calls for). You should also **reduce the other liquid in the recipe** and turn your oven down about 25° since agave burns more quickly than honey.

## Granulated sugar and water

If you are more of the DIY type, **you can [create your own honey substitute](https://www.thespruceeats.com/honey-substitutes-4160689) with a couple of basic ingredients**: sugar and water. To make it, all you need to do is combine the correct amount of sugar and water in a pot over medium heat. Then simply **stir until the sugar dissolves, and you end up with a sticky and sugary concoction.** You can make it in any quantity you’d like, as long you **adhere to a 5:1 ratio of sugar to water.** For example, let’s say you need ½ cup of honey in your recipe. By mixing together ½ cup of water and 2 ½ cups of [granulated sugar](https://tastessence.com/substitutes/granulated-sugar-substitute), **you’ll end up with ½ cup of this honey substitute.** With one of these three honey alternatives, **your recipe should turn out just fine** (but perhaps with a slight difference in taste). If none of these substitutes strike your fancy, there are other options you can try as well, including [brown sugar](https://tastessence.com/substitutes/healthy-substitute-for-brown-sugar), light corn syrup, and date paste. It’s just a matter of **finding a honey substitute that provides the right balance of sweetness and syrupy consistency.** For more recipe tips and suggestions, [**check out the Tastessence blog.**](https://tastessence.com/)