The Ultimate Guide to Honey Substitutes

From sweetening a cup of tea, to building flavor in marinades, there are many ways to use honey in the kitchen. A powerhouse ingredient, honey can last nearly indefinitely when stored properly. But every cook has that moment when they reach into the cabinet and find the jar empty. Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives for honey that can deliver comparable sweetness and texture in a pinch. Here’s everything you need to know.

Understanding Honey and Its Uses

Honey is a raw byproduct of the nectar of flowers created by—you guessed it—honey bees. Its distinctive flavor and smooth-yet-sticky consistency complements sweet and savory recipes. You can brush it over a warm honeycomb cake to add sweetness and moisture, mix it into cake batter for a tender and flavorful crumb or turn it into a syrup for fruit-studded baklava. Or, you might use honey to coat chicken wings, upgrade pan-roasted carrots or glaze a ham.

Many people believe that honey has health benefits, too. “Honey has antibacterial properties because of its unique chemical composition,” says Marina Marchese, a beekeeper and honey sommelier. “It can soothe a sore throat, relieve allergy symptoms, and even help with digestion.”

Does Honey Go Bad?

Although its texture may change over time, honey never really goes bad. To maintain the quality of your honey, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, such as the back of your pantry. Avoid placing it in the refrigerator or anywhere where it may experience extreme temperature fluctuations, as this can cause the quality to deteriorate more quickly and alter the texture.

“Over time, honey may undergo physical and chemical changes, such as darkening, loss of aroma, and flavor,” says Marissa Karp, New York City-based registered dietitian and founder of MPM Nutrition. Generally, plan to use honey within two years of purchasing it.

How do you know if your honey is past its peak? If it has an off odor or looks particularly murky, that’s a sign that it should probably be tossed.

Some people mistake crystallization for spoilage, but it’s a natural process and indicates quality. “Due to the various varietals of honey, some will crystallize at different rates, and some might not crystallize at all,” says Karp. Either way, crystallized honey is perfectly safe to eat.

To return honey to its glossy liquid state, gently heat it by placing the glass jar in a hot bath and stirring it so it melts evenly, Marchese says.

8 Honey Substitutes to Try

If you’re baking, cooking or flavoring drinks, these honey alternatives have you covered.

Agave Syrup

Why It Works: One of the best honey substitutes is agave syrup, a sweetener derived from the sap of the agave plant. It has a relatively neutral flavor and similar consistency to honey. It’s also a great honey alternative for vegans who choose not to consume honey or honey products.

How to Substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio of agave syrup in place of honey in most recipes. Note that agave syrup is usually sweeter than honey; so, depending on what you’re cooking, you may want to start with a little less than what the recipe calls for and add more agave syrup to taste.

Maple Syrup

Why It Works: Maple syrup is as sweet as honey and even has a similar color, so it will work as a honey alternative in most recipes. Maple is a distinct flavor, however, so keep that in mind when using it as a baking substitute. Be sure to use pure maple syrup rather than imitation pancake syrup, which is artificially flavored.

How to Substitute: In most instances, you can use maple syrup as a 1:1 alternative for honey. Keep in mind that it’s a bit thinner than honey, so certain recipes, like sauces and marinades, may need to cook down a bit longer to achieve your desired consistency.

Brown Sugar

Why It Works: Because of its sweet flavor and rich caramel notes, light or dark brown sugar can be used as a substitute for honey. Depending on the recipe, you might be able to use it as is. If you need a liquid sweetener, make a simple syrup with equal-parts brown sugar and water.

How to Substitute: In most cases, you can introduce brown sugar as a 1:1 swap for honey. However, honey tastes sweeter than brown sugar, so you may need to add a bit more sugar to your recipe to compensate.

Light Corn Syrup

Why It Works: Corn syrup is a great substitute for honey in baked goods since it has a similar texture and sweet flavor. Stick to light corn syrup, as dark corn syrup has a deeper, molasses flavor that will only work in certain recipes.

How to Substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio of light corn syrup in place of honey in baked goods.

Molasses

Why It Works: Although it’s typically reserved for cookies and holiday cakes, molasses can be a solid substitute for honey. Molasses has a much more robust flavor, isn’t as sweet, and is darker in color than honey, however, so consider the final flavor of your recipe before you reach for the jar.

How to Substitute: You can use a 1:1 ratio of molasses for honey, but, again, keep in mind that the flavor will be different.

Golden Syrup

Why It Works: Golden syrup is a popular baking substitute in the U.K. but harder to find stateside. If you can get your hands on it, it’s a great substitute for honey since it is similarly sweet and has a nearly identical color.

How to Substitute: When substituting golden syrup for honey, stick to a 1:1 ratio for the best results.

Date Syrup

Why It Works: Date syrup is a natural byproduct of dates that is created from a multi-step process of boiling dates with water, blending the mixture, boiling and reducing the puree, and then straining it to reveal a smooth, thick syrup. It has a distinctive flavor that will shine through in baked goods or marinades.

How to Substitute: Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting date syrup for honey.

Brown Rice Syrup

Why It Works: Looking for another vegan-friendly alternative to honey? Try brown rice syrup. It’s particularly suitable for recipes where its toasty flavor will be a welcome addition, such as glazes, homemade brittle and granola.

How to Substitute: Brown rice syrup isn’t as sweet as honey, so you may need to increase the amount by about 25% to achieve similar results.