Agave syrup is a product, used for sweetening a range of dishes and drinks, that has come into fashion in the last few years. It can, however, be challenging to get hold of – especially at a reasonable price.
So what do you do if a recipe calls for agave syrup but you haven’t got any? What are the best substitutes for agave syrup?
Our 6 Substitutes for Agave Syrup
Fortunately, there are actually quite a few substitutes for agave syrup that you can use – many of which can easily be found in the kitchen and are ingredients you might even have sitting in the cupboard.
Our top 6 picks are:
1) Honey
This has to be the simplest swap for agave syrup as it can be used like-for-like. That means when a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of agave, you can simply swap it out for 1 tablespoon of honey.
The only drawback here is that agave syrup is often used as a vegan alternative to honey so swapping to honey might not be appropriate if you follow a plant-based diet or are cooking for someone who avoided animal products.
Honey is Thicker than Agave
Agave is quite easy to pour which makes it great for mixing into smoothies or cake batters. Honey is much thicker. If you need it a little runnier then warm it gently in a pan until it has the consistency you require.
2) Maple Syrup
Like honey, maple syrup is another great substitution that can be used directly in place of agave in the exact same quantities. It’s similar in texture, consistency and sweetness. Maple syrup does have that distinguishable yet subtle maple flavour but that is the only difference.
This is Not the Cheapest Option
Proper, authentic maple syrup is not cheap so using copious amounts to make a cake or to marinate a piece of chicken can become expensive so consider using honey, instead.
3) Golden Syrup
Golden syrup is very much the bad-for-you cousin to maple syrup and honey. It can be used in the same way as agave syrup. It can be used in cakes, smoothies, cocktails, marinades, dressings and sauces.
Limit Your Use of Golden Syrup
Although most sugar-high products aren’t good for you, golden syrup is particularly bad for you. Try to limit the amount of golden syrup you consume.
4) Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is something that can be knocked together with two of the most basic ingredients: Sugar and water. Take equal quantities of sugar and water and place in a pan over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved into the water. The Kitchn have an in-depth recipe here.
Once you’ve made your simple syrup, you can use it in place of agave in smoothies, cocktails and other drinks. It tends not to work as well in cooking and baked goods, unfortunately.
Substitute Equal Quantities
When using simple syrup in place of agave, you can use the same quantities. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of agave syrup then you can use 1 cup of simple syrup in its place.
5) Treacle
Treacle is decadent, oozy and full of richness and can be used as an effective agave syrup substitution. It is quite a bit thicker than agave syrup so can be more difficult to combine into drinks but is great in cakes and for sweet sauces and decorations.
When swapping agave out for treacle, you’ll want to 50% less treacle than you would agave. This may mean you need to add a little water to loosen it up and to make up for the missing liquid you would have otherwise had.
Treacle is Super Sweet
You’ll want to limit the amount of treacle you use in your diet as it is both incredibly sweet and high in sugar. Where possible, consider one of the natural substitutions on this page.
6) Molasses
Molasses can be used in place of agave syrup in the same quantities. Molasses are sweet, like agave, but are far rich and heavy. The resulting flavour will be a little different.
Molasses can be used in place of agave syrup in cakes and baked goods. We would avoid using it in drinks, such as smoothies, however.
Expect a Change in Taste, Colour and Texture
Molasses are far more syrupy, sticky and rich. They’re also quite a bit darker. You’ll still get sweetness but expect the taste and texture to be different.
Other Substitutes for Agave Syrup
If you don’t have any of the above substitutions then you can try to swap agave out for these common store cupboard ingredients:
- White Sugar – It may seem obviously but white sugar can be swapped for agave syrup in dressings, marinades and even cakes. But only use a third of the amount of sugar to the agave quantity.
- Brown Sugar – You could also choose to use brown sugar. Brown sugar has a more caramelised edge which can replicate the flavour found in agave. Again, use a third of the amount so 1 cup of agave would be replaced with a third of a cup of brown sugar.
- Sweeteners – If you tend to use sugar-free sweeteners in place of sugar then you can also use these in place of agave syrup.
Summary
There is one reason for using agave syrup or nectar in any dish and that is to add sweetness. It is high in sugar. So when it comes to exploring substitutes for agave syrup you need to look for an ingredient that is packed full of sugar and sweetness.
That is why the likes of honey, golden syrup, maple syrup and treacle all work well as an appropriate agave substitution.