Substitutes for Liquid Glucose

Though liquid glucose may not be an ingredient stocked in everybody’s kitchen, it is a handy ingredient for bakers to have to hand. 

Sometimes called glucose syrup or corn syrup, liquid glucose is how professional bakers can make their icings and bakes last longer. It is an ingredient used across an array of sweet treats, including fizzy drinks and gummy sweets. 

This is because liquid glucose is a form of sugar specially made from corn starch or, in some cases, maise starch. 

The issue with liquid glucose is that it is one of the unhealthiest baking ingredients. It is essentially a simple sugar, and it can be costly if your supermarket doesn’t have it available. 

Baking speciality stores will sell liquid glucose, but the price tag will have you searching for a cheaper and healthier alternative. 

Our 3 Substitutes for Liquid Glucose

As sugar is the main ingredient of liquid glucose, it is naturally sweet. Hence why it works so well in a range of sweet treats. 

Typically clear-ish white in colour, liquid glucose is a syrupy texture that is very thick. Liquid glucose won’t affect the texture of your bake as it can be heated, making it more the consistency of melted butter. 

Here are our top 3 substitutes for liquid glucose:

1) Honey

Depending on the kind of treat you like to make, honey may already be your go-to sweetener when you are baking. Especially if you lean towards the more homely baked goods such as puddings rather than show-stopping cakes. 

Honey is one of the healthier substitutes on this list and is already regularly used in healthier recipes offering alternatives to typically fatty sweet treats. 

It is sweet enough to satisfy your sweet tooth while being able to help to prevent diabetes with its antioxidants. 

Remember that honey is available in so many different qualities and consistencies. 

Liquid glucose is a processed product, but if you prefer to pay a little extra for non-processed or organic honey, that will work just as well and will be healthier. 

So long as the honey is still a similar texture to liquid glucose, you can use whichever brand you wish. 

Will Runny Honey Work?
Many recipes use liquid glucose because of its thicker consistency, so it is best to stick with thicker honey products when using honey as a liquid glucose substitute. 

Honey with Honey Spoon

2) Treacle

There are two types of treacle that are commonly available – light treacle and dark treacle. 

Dark treacle (also known as black treacle) is cooked for longer, giving it a deeper colour and a taste similar to burnt sugar. It is slightly bitter because of its lengthened cooking time and is even thicker than liquid glucose. 

For a direct liquid glucose substitute, you should use light treacle. 

Its appearance is closer to honey in terms of colour and texture than liquid glucose, but the flavour of your bake will remain the same as if you were using liquid glucose.

Better yet, light treacle is often the cheaper option of the two treacle types. It is certainly cheaper than liquid glucose. 

Is Golden Syrup the Same as Light Treacle?
Golden syrup is a more common name for light treacle in supermarkets. But in speciality shops, it is often just called light treacle. 

Treacle for Liquid Glucose

3) Homemade Liquid Glucose

Despite manufactured liquid glucose being a pricey ingredient, it is cheap enough to make at home by boiling sugar.

Getting the right consistency when making your own liquid glucose can be tricky. But once you figure out how to thicken the sugar perfectly, you will never need to buy liquid glucose again. 

You only need some regular granulated white sugar, water, salt and cream of tartar to make your own liquid glucose.

Add everything together in a pot on a medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Then leave to simmer on a low heat until thick.

The key here is to leave the mixture to simmer to a consistency that will not separate when stored or used in your recipe, as that could ruin the texture of your bake.

How to Make Golden Liquid Glucose
A caramelised liquid glucose may work better in richer or more luxurious bakes. To achieve this, add a few drops of lemon juice into your boiling pot and allow to fully combine. 

Other Substitutes for Liquid Glucose

For those times when you are trying to find a use for some other pricey baking ingredient so that you do not waste your money, here are a few ingredients that can work in place of liquid glucose in most recipes: 

  • Agave Nectar – One of the less common substitutes for liquid glucose, agave nectar is considered a healthier substitute for those with diabetes and heart conditions because it is absorbed by the body slower than liquid glucose, preventing insulin spikes. However, agave nectar is still very processed and is sweeter than liquid glucose, so adjust your recipes accordingly. 
  • Maple Syrup – As it comes from a maple tree, maple syrup has an earthy, almost floral undertone that distinguishes its taste from liquid glucose. However, so long as you like its flavour, maple syrup can be a good substitute… if you can find an affordable UK supplier. 

Summary

Liquid glucose is more common in bakeries than in the domestic kitchen. But it is an essential ingredient in keeping sweet treats fresh and sweet. 

To avoid paying an obscene amount of money for the speciality ingredient, you can use more affordable substitutes like honey to add the same sweetness and texture to your bake.