Golden Syrup
A complete ingredient guide to golden syrup, including what it is, how it’s used in baking, American substitutes, and the best recipes to make with it.
It’s a staple in every British kitchen. Added to cakes, biscuits, tarts & puddings. Drizzled on pancakes, ice cream & porridge. Even used as a sandwich filler!
But what is Golden Syrup? And what can you use as an alternative if you can’t get your hands on a tin?
Quick Baking Facts
- Also Known As: “Lyle’s Golden Syrup,” “Goldy” or “Goldie,” “Light Treacle.”
- Best For: Flapjack, Treacle Tart, Golden Syrup Cake, Brandy Snaps…and more!
- Texture: Thick and very sticky.
- Flavour: Incredibly sweet, with warm undertones.
- Gluten-free? Yes!
- Vegan? Yes!
Golden Syrup dates right back to Victorian times. The sugar syrup comes from the sugar cane refining process, where a syrup was produced, which, until 1883, went to waste. That was until Charles Eastick (at what is now known as Tate & Lyle) came up with a formula to make the syrup golden and deliciously sweet – perfect for use in baking!
Golden Syrup has not changed since then, and it still remains a favourite with us Brits, as well as travelling around the world to be enjoyed by other nations too. It is most recognisable in its green-and-gold tin; however, shop-owned brands are now available as well.
What is Golden Syrup?
Golden syrup is a warm, amber-coloured sugar syrup that is thick in viscosity and very, very sticky. It is a by-product of the sugar-making process, and comes from refining sugar cane or sugar beet juice into the fine white sugars you buy in the shops.
It is often used in baking recipes and as a topping on many sweet desserts and puddings. Some even enjoy it on bread as a golden syrup sandwich!
What does Golden Syrup taste like?
The taste of golden syrup is truly unmatched! So it can be hard to describe to those who have never tried it.
It is, of course, very sweet. But it also has a warming flavour that is instantly recognisable, making it a popular ingredient in many baking recipes.
What does Golden Syrup do in baking?
Golden syrup does much more than simply add sweetness to a recipe. It can also:
- Add moisture: Golden syrup is a humectant, which means it loves water and acts like a sponge, locking moisture into your batter.
- Give a chewy texture: Because it is an inverted sugar and does not crystallise, golden syrup makes a great addition to many tray bakes.
- Help bind ingredients: Its sticky, thick, viscous consistency means golden syrup acts like an edible, sweet glue.
- Add a warming taste: Because the sugar in golden syrup is gently cooked and mellowed during refining, it develops the unmistakable warm, buttery flavour.
- Give a golden colour: The sugars in golden syrup react incredibly fast to oven heat, speeding up the browning process and give your bakes a lovely golden hue.
- Help bakes stay fresh for longer: Golden syrup traps moisture in your bakes and prevents them from drying out and turning stale.
Where can I buy Golden Syrup?
You will find tins of golden syrup in every supermarket, every corner store and every food shop in the UK – usually in the iconic green tin. I personally prefer buying it in the more modern squeezy bottle for ease when using.
Outside of the UK, you can often find golden syrup in the UK or British foods aisle in larger supermarkets. Or you can, of course, buy it on Amazon.
What is a good substitute for Golden Syrup?
Unfortunately, golden syrup isn’t always easy to get your hands on outside of the UK. Luckily, there are a few things you can use as a substitute for golden syrup while baking; however, there’s no like-for-like swap for the real thing, so I still recommend trying to get your hands on some golden syrup, if you can.
Honey (Sometimes, Depending on Type)
Honey can sometimes be a good substitute for golden syrup. A clear honey will give you a similar consistency and a good level of sweetness; however, the taste of honey is completely different to that of golden syrup. But if your recipe only uses a couple of tablespoons of golden syrup, like many Tray Bakes, honey can work as a direct substitute to maintain texture and sweetness, with only a small difference in overall taste. But a word of warning: honey can burn faster than golden syrup, so be careful when using it in cakes and biscuits.
Maple Syrup (A Lot of the Time, with Caution)
The popular Canadian favourite can be a great alternative to golden syrup. Flavour-wise, they both have distinct tastes, but maple syrup offers a unique taste & sweetness that works well in many golden syrup-based recipes. However, one thing to be cautious of is that maple syrup has a much thinner in consistency – so you may need to adjust the amounts of syrup required, or reduce the other liquid ingredients in the recipe.
Corn Syrup (Most of the Time, Light vs. Dark)
Corn syrup can be a good substitute for golden syrup, especially for those in America. It’s rare to find a UK baking recipe that uses corn syrup, as it’s not an ingredient readily available here (we just use golden syrup instead!). But in terms of consistency and sweetness, corn syrup is similar to golden syrup; however, it often misses the mark when it comes to having its own unique flavour, beyond being sweet – like the warm taste golden syrup offers. Dark corn syrup can give some more depth to the taste that regular corn syrup lacks, but again, it won’t be an exact match for the flavours of golden syrup.
Treacle or Molasses (Not Usually, with Exceptions)
You can’t usually use treacle or molasses as a substitute for golden syrup. Despite their similar packaging in the UK, they are very different in both flavour and sweetness, and do not offer a like-for-like substitute. The exception would be when a recipe calls for both golden syrup and treacle, like my famous Gingerbread Loaf, where you can use more treacle in place of the required golden syrup, but this will give both a deeper colour and taste to the finished bake.
Caramel (Most of the Time, Depending on Type)
In theory, caramel can be a good substitute for golden syrup. But with so many caramel options available, it could take a bit of trial and error to find the best match. For the closest match, be sure to use a caramel made with just sugar, rather than one with extras like butter or cream. Again, it will never be a like-for-like substitute, particularly in terms of flavour, but it could work quite well.
Do you have a recipe for homemade Golden Syrup?
No, unfortunately I don’t have a homemade golden syrup recipe – and for a good reason.
Real golden syrup is a by-product of sugar refining, so it’s not something you can really make at home. You can find some recipes for homemade golden syrup online, but these will only give you a golden-coloured sugar syrup, not actual golden syrup. And these work great for topping Pancakes and Spotted Dick, but unfortunately they won’t perform the same when it comes to using it in baking.
Amy’s Top Tips for Golden Syrup:
- Warm it Slightly if Needed: If your golden syrup is too thick to pour easily, stand the tin or bottle in a bowl of warm (not boiling!) water for 5-10 minutes. It will loosen the syrup just enough without becoming too runny.
- Weigh it Straight into the Bowl: Sticky ingredients like golden syrup are much easier to measure by placing your mixing bowl on a digital scale, zeroing it, and pouring the syrup directly in. It’s quicker, more accurate than using cups (especially when some of it will undoubtedly stick to the cup!), and it saves on extra washing up.
- Use Two Spoons: If you’re measuring by spoon, use one spoon to scoop the syrup and another to scrape it off. It helps keep things much less messy than they need to be!
- Lightly Oil Measuring Spoons: If you’re using tablespoons or cups, a tiny wipe of neutral oil helps the syrup slide straight out. Alternatively, if you are using metal spoons, sit them in warm water before spooning your syrup, and this will melt the syrup just enough to fall right off the spoon.
Is Golden Syrup vegetarian? Is Golden Syrup vegan?
Yes and yes! As golden syrup is literally just sugar, it is naturally both vegetarian and vegan. In fact, it is an excellent vegan alternative to honey for both baking and cooking.
Is Golden Syrup gluten-free?
Yes, good news! Golden syrup is naturally gluten-free. But as always, double-check the labels when serving to those with coeliac disease.
Why do UK recipes always use Golden Syrup?
As a nation with a very sweet tooth, it’s really no surprise that one of our most iconic ingredients is a sugar syrup.
Golden syrup is incredibly versatile and has been a part of British history since its creation in the 1800s, featuring in many of our favourite baked goods – both then and now. We are also a country steeped in tradition, and the fact that golden syrup remains unchanged, right down to its packaging, appeals to many Brits, too. Plus, it’s sold in pretty much every food shop across the UK and very much considered a staple in many homes.
Storage & Shelf Life of Golden Syrup:
- Keep unopened tins or bottles in a cool, dry cupboard.
- Once opened, simply replace the lid and store at room temperature.
- There’s no need to refrigerate golden syrup.
- If it becomes a little firm in colder weather, warm the container gently in hot water before using.
- Properly stored, golden syrup keeps well for many months after opening.
- Unopened, golden syrup will keep for years.
What else can I use Golden Syrup for?
You can use golden syrup in many delicious ways. It makes a perfect topping for Pancakes & Drop Scones, as well as porridge, ice cream, and puddings like Spotted Dick. It is also a great addition to many tray bakes, including Caramel Slice, Tiffin and Rocky Road. And you can even use golden syrup in place of most sweeteners in things like teas, coffee and hot chocolate.
Or, if you are really craving something sweet…straight off the spoon and into your mouth!
