Corn Syrup Substitutes: Alternatives to Use in Baking
Written by: Indiana Sugars
One of the many reasons why people love baking is that it is precise. You have your recipe and your desired ingredients and while there's certainly room for experimentation, for the most part, if you stick to the plan you will come out satisfied.
This demands the question: what do you do if you don't have one of those essential ingredients that your recipe calls for? Worse yet, what if it's an incredibly common one like corn syrup?
Thankfully, all hope is not lost. You do probably have a corn syrup substitute in your kitchen right now - you'll just have to use it in a very specific way to meet your original goals.
What Is Corn Syrup, and Why Is It Used in Baking?
Corn syrup, as the name implies, is a sweet syrup made from cornstarch. There are two main types - light and dark.
Light is made up of mostly glucose and has a mild sweetness. Dark, on the other hand, has molasses and is known for a much richer and more complex flavor.
Is Corn Syrup Bad for You?
Too much of anything can be bad for you - especially when it comes to corn syrup. High-fructose corn syrup, for example, has been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and more. This is because, without moderation, it causes people to build fat and can even lead to insulin resistance.
Does this mean that high-fructose corn syrup is naturally bad for you in any quantity? Absolutely not. However, the extent to which it is unhealthy is heavily debated.
Because corn syrup is made up of mostly glucose, it can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Because of that, it's not ideal for people with diabetes in particular.
8 Corn Syrup Substitutes for Baking
Sometimes, you go looking for a corn syrup substitution because you need the ingredient and don't have it. Other times, you want to experiment in the kitchen and see what types of modifications you can come up with.
In either event, there are eight corn syrup substitutes for baking in particular that you'll definitely want to know more about.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup has a more complex flavor profile than corn syrup, which may add a slight maple taste to your baked goods. Having said that, most people agree that it generally complements many recipes well.
Molasses
Molasses has a bold flavor that can change the taste of your baked goods, giving them a rich, slightly bitter sweetness. It works best in recipes where a more pronounced flavor is what you're going for, and corn syrup alone might not be enough to get you there.
Honey
Agave has a mild sweetness that doesn't significantly alter the flavor profile of most baked goods when used as a direct substitution for the corn syrup that the recipe originally called for.
Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that works well in cookies, granola bars, and energy bites.
Liquid Sugar
Liquid sugar is a type of corn syrup substitute that is made from refined sugar. Because of this, it has a very neutral flavor. If you just need a substitute and really don't want to change the flavor of your baked goods in any appreciable way, liquid sugar is likely the way to go.
Organic Liquid Sugar
This is a lot like liquid sugar in that it won't significantly alter the taste of your baked goods in any way. Many see it as a better choice for a corn syrup alternative if you're trying to maintain an organic diet.
Invert Sugar
Finally, we arrive at
invert sugar. This is sweeter than corn syrup and may impart a slightly different sweetness, but it generally doesn’t affect the flavor drastically.
Will Substituting Corn Syrup Affect Taste or Texture?
Again, the answer to this question depends largely on exactly what you're using as a substitution in the first place.
If you're substituting maple syrup or honey for corn syrup, you're absolutely going to notice a difference in both the taste and texture of the finished product. The taste will get deeper and richer due to the presence of molasses. The texture will also change as both maple syrup and honey mean the finished baked goods will retain more moisture.
Of course, this isn't always the case. If you are just trying to follow the recipe as precisely as you can without introducing any changes, and you use liquid sugar, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless you had a discernible tongue.
Sometimes you want the change that an alternative brings with it, other times you don't. Regardless, it's important to know what you're getting into so that you can make the most informed decisions possible while in the kitchen.
Find Corn Syrup Substitutes & Bulk Sweeteners Today
From the moment we opened our doors until now, the team at Indiana Sugars has remained committed to delivering your corn sugar substitutes and other bulk sweeteners on time and in full with absolutely no exceptions. We know that your customers have extraordinary needs, which is why we've dedicated ourselves to meeting yours - all while exceeding your expectations along the way.
If you operate within 300 miles of our location, we'll have your order to your door within 24 hours in most cases. We offer the highest quality products, the best prices, and more. Keep in mind that everything we ship out is also tested in our facility before it ever makes its way to you, allowing you to rest easy knowing that all your needs are taken care of.
If you're interested in finding out more about your corn syrup alternative baking options, or if you have any additional questions about what we offer that you'd like to discuss in a bit more detail, please don't hesitate to
contact the team at Indiana Sugars today.
