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Maple syrup substitute

Sugar and sweeteners · Checked against 2 sources · Updated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

Boil 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of water to a clear syrup, take it off the heat, and add half a teaspoon of maple flavoring. That makes about 2 cups. It tastes like pancake syrup, not true maple. Only one verified method exists.

How much do you need?

Fractions work: 1 1/2, ¾, 0.5. The amounts below update as you type.

What to use

  1. Sugar syrup with maple flavoring

    • Vegan
    • Dairy-free
    • Gluten-free
    • Nut-free
    • Egg-free
    • 2 cups 400 g granulated sugar
    • 1 cup 235 ml water
    • ½ tsp 2.5 ml maple flavoring
    How
    Bring the sugar and water to a clear boil. Off the heat, stir in the flavoring.
    Best for
    Pancakes and baking.
    What changes
    Good enough in baking. Not the same depth as maple.
    Skip it when
    Recipes that feature maple.

Diet labels describe the ingredients as normally made. Check packages for gluten and allergens. Some refined sugar is filtered with bone char, which matters if you eat vegan.

Which swap for which job

UsePickWhy
PancakesHomemade syrupPassable.

Do not substitute here

  • Maple candy. This syrup.

Questions

Can I use honey?

No chart lists a ratio.

Sources

Ratios come from these sources, in our words. Where they disagree, we say so or pick the amount that matches tested results. Ratios are a starting point. Taste and adjust.