What can I use in place of barley malt syrup?

Quick Answers

Some common substitutes for barley malt syrup include:

  • Molasses
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Brown rice syrup
  • Corn syrup

The best substitute depends on the application. Molasses provides the closest flavor. Honey and maple syrup work well in baking. Corn syrup and brown rice syrup substitute the sweetness. Adjust the liquid in the recipe when using a thick syrup like honey.

What is Barley Malt Syrup?

Barley malt syrup is a natural sweetener made from barley that has been sprouted, dried, and cooked down to form a thick, dark brown syrup. It has a rich, malted flavor similar to molasses.

Some key characteristics of barley malt syrup include:

  • Sweet and malted flavor
  • Thick, viscous texture
  • Dark brown color
  • High maltose content which gives a low glycemic index
  • Nutritional profile similar to molasses with minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium

Barley malt syrup is about half as sweet as regular granulated sugar. It is often used in baking recipes to add flavor complexity and nutrients. The malted flavor pairs especially well with whole grains like oats, bran, andwhole wheat flour.

It can be used in a wide variety of recipes including:

  • Breads
  • Bagels
  • Granola
  • Cookies
  • Muffins
  • Cakes

Barley malt syrup also sees use in barbeque sauces, marinades, and glazes as it provides sweetness along with a distinctive roasted, malted flavor.

Best Substitutes for Barley Malt Syrup

When you don’t have barley malt syrup on hand, there are several ingredients that make suitable replacements:

Molasses

Molasses is the closest match for barley malt syrup in terms of flavor and texture. Blackstrap molasses will come closest to replicating the dark color.

Molasses is made from boiling down juice extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets. It provides a very similar malted, bittersweet flavor along with a thick, viscous texture.

The main drawback of molasses is that it tends to be less sweet than barley malt syrup. You may need to increase the amount or add additional sugar to match the sweetness level.

Overall, molasses makes the best substitute for barley malt syrup in recipes where you want a pronounced malt-like flavor. Use it in breads, granola, baked beans, cakes, cookies, and sauces.

Honey

Honey is an excellent substitution in terms of replicating the flavor complexity and sweetness of barley malt syrup. The floral notes of honey can also enhance certain recipes like cookies, cakes, and breads.

When using honey, you will need to reduce the liquid in the recipe slightly as honey contains more moisture than barley malt syrup. You may also need to reduce oven temperature slightly to prevent over-browning.

Some tips for using honey:

  • Reduce other liquids by 1-2 tablespoons per 1⁄4 cup honey
  • Add about 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda per 1 cup honey to neutralize acidity
  • Reduce oven temperature by 25°F to prevent over-browning

Try using clover, wildflower, or orange blossom honey for the mildest flavor. Buckwheat, tupelo, and sage honey have more distinctive flavors.

Overall, honey provides an excellent flavor substitute for cookies, granola, muffins, cakes, breads, and dressings.

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is another good match for barley malt syrup in baking recipes and hot cereals. It has a smooth, caramel-like flavor that enhances many baked goods.

As with honey, the higher moisture content of maple syrup requires adjusting the wet ingredients. Reduce other liquids by 2-3 tablespoons per 1⁄4 cup of maple syrup. You may also need to reduce oven temperature slightly.

Maple syrup works especially well in recipes for:

  • Pancakes
  • Waffles
  • Oatmeal
  • Breads
  • Muffins
  • Granola

When buying maple syrup, select Grade A Dark Color with Robust Flavor to come closest to barley malt syrup. Avoid Grade A Light Color which is thinner in texture and flavor.

Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup provides a neutral-flavored substitute for the sweetness of barley malt syrup. It is made by cooking brown rice starch down to form a thick syrup.

The mild, cereal-like flavor of brown rice syrup allows other ingredients to shine. Use it in recipes where you don’t want a strong molasses or honey flavor.

Some recipes that work well with brown rice syrup:

  • Granola bars
  • Energy bars
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Muffins

The consistency of brown rice syrup is thinner than barley malt syrup. You may need to reduce other liquids slightly to account for the difference.

Overall, brown rice syrup provides a neutral-flavored substitute for the sweetness of barley malt syrup without altering the flavor profile.

Corn Syrup

Corn syrup is made from cornstarch and provides a very pure source of glucose. It has a neutral flavor and high sweetness that approximates barley malt syrup.

The consistency of corn syrup tends to be thinner than barley malt. For baking recipes, opt for light or dark corn syrup rather than high fructose corn syrup.

Some good uses for corn syrup include:

  • Cookies
  • Bars
  • Cakes
  • Pie fillings
  • Candy
  • Frostings
  • Glazes

The neutral flavor profile of corn syrup makes it suitable for recipes where you don’t want the molasses or honey flavor. It also helps retain moisture in baked goods for a soft, chewy texture.

Reduce other liquids slightly when using corn syrup to account for the thinner consistency compared to barley malt syrup.

How to Substitute

When substituting for barley malt syrup, keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Molasses – substitute 1:1 by volume
  • Honey – reduce liquids by 2-3 tbsp per 1⁄4 cup honey. Reduce oven temp by 25°F.
  • Maple syrup – reduce liquids by 2-3 tbsp per 1⁄4 cup syrup. Reduce oven temp by 25°F.
  • Brown rice syrup – substitute 1:1 by volume
  • Corn syrup – substitute 1:1 by volume

For maple syrup, honey, and corn syrup, you may need to experiment to get the perfect consistency in baked goods. The moisture content can vary between brands.

When using molasses, honey or maple syrup, you will need to increase other sweeteners like sugar to compensate for the greater bitterness.

Recipe Substitutions

To give you an idea of how to adapt recipes, here are some examples substituting barley malt syrup in baked goods:

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Original Recipe With Molasses
  • 1⁄2 cup barley malt syrup
  • 1⁄2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1⁄2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1⁄4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt
  • 3 cups oats
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1⁄2 cup molasses
  • 3⁄4 cup sugar (increased)
  • 1 egg
  • 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1⁄2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1⁄4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt
  • 3 cups oats
  • 1 cup raisins

Banana Bread

Original Recipe With Honey
  • 1⁄3 cup barley malt syrup
  • 2⁄3 cup sugar
  • 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 bananas, mashed
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt
  • 1⁄3 cup honey
  • 2⁄3 cup sugar
  • 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1⁄2 mashed bananas (reduced liquid)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt

Pumpkin Muffins

Original Recipe With Maple Syrup
  • 1⁄2 cup barley malt syrup
  • 1⁄2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1⁄4 cup vegetable oil
  • 13⁄4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1⁄4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1⁄2 cup maple syrup
  • 1⁄2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3⁄4 cup pumpkin puree (reduced liquid)
  • 1⁄4 cup vegetable oil
  • 13⁄4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1⁄2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1⁄4 tsp. nutmeg

Non-Baking Uses

In addition to baking, barley malt syrup can be used to flavor and glaze a variety of foods. Here are some substitutions for glazes, dressings and more:

Use Substitution
Pancake syrup Maple syrup or honey
Oatmeal Maple syrup, brown sugar
Yogurt parfait Honey, maple syrup
Salad dressing Honey, maple syrup
Glazing ham Maple syrup, honey, brown sugar
BBQ sauce Molasses, honey

For any application where barley malt syrup is used for sweetening, flavor, or glazing, you can switch it out with one of the recommended substitutes.

Buying Guide

When purchasing a substitution for barley malt syrup, look for these characteristics:

Molasses – Choose blackstrap variety for darkest color and strongest flavor

Honey – Select a mild honey like clover or orange blossom

Maple syrup – Look for Grade A Dark Color with Robust Flavor

Brown rice syrup – Seek 100% brown rice syrup, not rice malt syrup

Corn syrup – Choose light or dark corn syrup, not high fructose syrup

Buying high quality ingredients will help ensure your substitutions turn out delicious. Always opt for pure, natural sweeteners without additives or preservatives.

Storing Substitutions

To maintain freshness and flavor, store your barley malt syrup substitutes properly:

  • Molasses – Store in cool, dark place. Will keep for 1-2 years.
  • Honey – Store in airtight container. Will keep for 1-2 years.
  • Maple syrup – Refrigerate after opening. Will keep 6 months – 1 year.
  • Brown rice syrup – Store in cool, dark place or refrigerate. Keeps for about 1 year.
  • Corn syrup – Store in cool, dark place. Keeps indefinitely unopened.

Always keep products in original container or transfer to airtight glass or plastic containers. For thick syrups like honey and molasses, store upside down to avoid crystallization. Refrigerating after opening extends shelf life.

Conclusion

Barley malt syrup lends a unique sweetness and malted flavor to baked goods. While you can buy it online and at health food stores, it can also be substituted when recipe calls for it.

The best replacements include molasses, honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and corn syrup. Molasses offers the closest flavor match while honey, maple, and corn syrup replicate the sweetness level. Brown rice syrup provides neutral sweetness without flavor changes.

Adjust liquid, sweeteners, and oven temperature to account for moisture and sweetness differences in your substitution. With a good swap, you can still enjoy your favorite barley malt recipes even when you run out of the specialty syrup.

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