What can I substitute for brown rice syrup?

Running low on brown rice syrup? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.

brown rice syrup — ingredient substitution guide — Photo by Jeeva on Pexels

About brown rice syrup

Brown rice syrup is a liquid sweetener made by fermenting cooked brown rice with enzymes that break down the starches into sugars, primarily maltose and glucose. It has a mild, lightly nutty flavour with a moderate sweetness roughly half that of table sugar, and a thick, viscous consistency similar to honey. It is commonly used in health-conscious baking and confectionery as a vegan alternative to honey and as a binding agent in snack bars and granola.

Best substitute

golden syrup

Golden syrup closely matches brown rice syrup's thick, sticky consistency and mild caramel flavour, making it an excellent all-round substitute. It is sweeter than brown rice syrup, so reduce the quantity slightly or reduce other sweeteners in the recipe.

Use ¾ cup for every 1 cup of brown rice syrup

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Alternative

honey

Honey has a similar viscosity and acts as an effective binding agent in bars and baked goods, though it has a more pronounced floral flavour and is significantly sweeter than brown rice syrup. Use a light, mild honey to keep the flavour neutral, and reduce the quantity to compensate for extra sweetness.

Use ¾ cup for every 1 cup of brown rice syrup

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Alternative

maple syrup

What is brown rice syrup called in other countries?

Country	Name
Australia	brown rice syrup
JP	rice malt syrup
United Kingdom	brown rice syrup
United States	brown rice syrup

Related ingredients

white sugar

3 substitutes available

brown sugar

2 substitutes available

caster sugar

1 substitute available

honey

2 substitutes available

icing sugar

1 substitute available

jaggery

5 substitutes available

Maple syrup provides a similar liquid sweetener with good binding properties, though it is thinner in consistency and has a distinctive maple flavour that will influence the final taste. It works well in baked goods and granola but may result in a slightly less chewy texture in bars.

Use ¾ cup for every 1 cup of brown rice syrup — reduce other liquids slightly if recipe is sensitive

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Alternative

agave syrup

Agave syrup is a plant-based liquid sweetener with a neutral flavour profile that works well as a vegan substitute. It is thinner and considerably sweeter than brown rice syrup, so it is best used in smaller quantities, and it may produce a slightly softer set in binding applications.

Use ⅔ cup for every 1 cup of brown rice syrup

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Alternative

corn syrup

Light corn syrup is an effective substitute for its similar viscosity, neutral flavour, and binding qualities in confectionery and granola bars. It lacks the subtle nutty notes of brown rice syrup but performs comparably in most recipes requiring a glucose-rich liquid sweetener.

Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of brown rice syrup

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