14 Best Substitutes for Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice substitute will bring sweetness to your recipes. The taste that the alternatives bring will help you forget the nostalgia for brown rice syrup. It is great to continue cooking and get the flavor you want without the need for rice syrup.

To know the method and reasonable replacement rate, you should concentrate on reading this post from beginning to end. Also, you will learn how to make your brown rice syrup at home effectively. There are so many cool things waiting for you ahead. Let’s go!

Grab All Knowledge About Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is a widely used sweetener in cuisine. Besides the name brown rice syrup, rice malt and rice syrup are other names for this syrup ⁽¹⁾ . Brown rice is the main ingredient that makes up this unique sweetener.

Brown rice, after cooking, will undergo fermentation in enzymes. The liquid obtained after removing the starch is filtered and simmered to make brown rice syrup. It has a remarkable consistency and sticky texture. Its texture resembles molasses and maple syrup.

The sweetness is something you can easily feel from this syrup. However, its sweetness is moderate and not too intense like other syrups. A mild nutty flavor mixed with a little bit of butterscotch highlights the rice syrup taste.

On the other hand, its taste is quite warm and has a unique roasted taste. Its nutty flavor, distinctive texture, and unique brown color add sweetness and color to baked goods and beverages, such as tea and coffee.

Breakfast dishes like bread will need brown rice syrup to become more delicious and attractive. For various exciting effects, you can layer rice syrup on top of pancakes, biscuits, waffles, or French toast.

It would be a waste if these tastes were not added to the desserts. Pea butter balls, bars, pudding, cookies will be flavored with rice syrup. Have you ever eaten sweet Korean fried chicken with rice syrup? Try it now!

Take Note Of These Rice Syrup Alternatives Right Now

You will have a hard time choosing an alternative from the list of 14 great replacements for brown rice syrup below. Please study their features carefully to make the right decision.

1. Corn Syrup – A Result Of Cornstarch

Among the numerous alternatives to brown rice syrup, corn syrup emerges as a top contender because it offers the same sweet taste as brown rice syrup. Its taste will help you ignore the lack of rice syrup.

The alluring and enchanting sweetness of this replacement will mesmerize immediately. Besides, you will get some grain flavor from this fantastic alternative.

Light corn syrup has a milder sweetness, and the taste of dark corn syrup seems stronger. Dark syrup is a combination of light one and molasses according to a 3:1 ratio. Compared to brown rice syrup, its alternative color will be lighter. The texture of brown rice syrup is thicker than corn syrup.

Because of the similarity in flavor, you can use 1 part corn syrup instead of 1 part brown rice syrup to bring the same flavor to hard candy recipes.

2. Date Syrup – Diverse Texture Replacement

Date syrup is a replacement with the most extended history. It is a product of date palm fruit. You need to simmer the date with water for a long time and go through the process of pressing and straining to get the fragrant and sweet drops of dates .

The natural fruity sweetness  will satisfy all requirements to be the optimal alternative to brown rice syrup. It also adds a subtle and elegant flavor to recipes. I believe you will have a hard time forgetting this perfect taste.

This substitute exists in many different textures, so you are free to choose according to your wishes. You will come across it with a runny and liked-paste dense texture. Moreover, you will be amazed by its caramel and shiny texture.

It is a beautiful alternative to sweet treats or dishes that need a sweet addition, such as pancakes, ice cream, yogurt, and sandwiches. When replacing 1 cup of brown rice syrup, you should use about 3 tablespoons of date syrup.

3. Honey – A Substitute With Natural Sweetness

Bees suck nectar from flowers to create honey drops with natural flavors. You can take advantage of bees’ results to substitute for brown rice syrup. Honey goes perfectly with salads, steamed dishes, fries, and marinades.

The flavor of honey and brown rice syrup is almost identical. Sometimes, you can feel the sweetness of honey a little stronger. The taste of honey is varied with smoky, spicy, earthy, fruity, nutty, and floral flavors. Various types of nectar will give different tastes.

Besides the standard brown color, honey can have many different colors depending on the type of nectar as well as the age of the honey. The texture of this selection is similar to brown rice syrup.

The reasonable substitution ratio is ¾:1. You need ¾ cup of honey to substitute a cup of brown rice syrup. Moreover, honey brings many high nutritional values with a source of antioxidant properties ⁽²⁾ that can help reduce blood pressure.

4. Fruit Juice (Fruit Puree) – A Sweetness From Fruits

You can puree or juice  fruits  to replace brown rice syrup in cakes, cookies, and bread. The taste of this substitute is highly dependent on your preferences. Each type of fruit will bring a distinctive taste. However, as an alternative to rice syrup, you should use sweet fruit.

The typical and natural sweetness of fruit  makes it the perfect sweetening option for dishes without rice brown syrup. To ensure its natural taste and beneficial properties, you should not add sugar to this option.

The glycemic index of fruit juice and puree is pretty low, and its glucose and fructose content is relative. These components will not be suitable for those who are suffering from diabetes.You should use a small amount and adjust after tasting to get a perfect flavor.

5. Maple Syrup – An Alternative Comes From Maple Trees

The sap of maple trees, after being boiled and filtered, will yield maple syrup. It is used in many different recipes. You can replace brown rice syrup with maple syrup to marinate foods or add to sauces. It also shows its full potential in baked goods.

Because it is a natural product, it offers a natural sweetness with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon taste. You can taste the molasses flavor from darker maple syrup. The syrup is darker, and the flavor is more potent.

This syrup has a characteristic thick and sticky texture. However, it is not as thick as rice syrup. Because of the more potent sweetness, you should use ¾ cup maple syrup instead of 1 cup rice syrup.

If you want to eat sweeter, you can replace it in a 1:1 ratio. Furthermore, when using in recipes with dry components, you can omit ¼ cup of the flour and use a 1:1 substitution ratio for a more balanced texture.

Make maple syrup at home with some basic steps right away.

6. Agave Nectar Syrup – Change Ingredients With This Alternative

The American agave tree is used to make agave syrup. To make it, you need to go through many different stages. You will take the water from the agave tree and filter it. Finally, you will heat the water to obtain the syrup.

This replacement comes in a variety of colors and flavors. It usually has a sweet taste similar to honey. Compared to sugar, its sweetness is more intense. The dark-colored syrup tastes similar to maple syrup, and you will find gentle and subtle tastes from light agave nectar.

Its typical taste and thin texture make an excellent substitute for rice syrup in drinks. You can sweeten dishes by bruising a layer of agave syrup on top of them. It has a stronger sweetness than rice syrup, so you should use ½ or ⅓ cup of it instead of 1 cup of rice syrup.

7. Molasses – An Intense Flavor Substitute

Molasses syrup is an age-old syrup made from sugar cane. This syrup is used a lot in the US and countries in the Caribbean. Today, you can see molasses in many stores around the world. You can use it if you cannot buy brown rice syrup.

The sweetness is the distinctive taste and  more intense than rice syrup. Besides, molasses brings out a warm and a bit of a smoky taste. Molasses with a darker color will taste stronger, and the opposite will happen with the light version.

You may also feel some bitterness when tasting blackstrap molasses. In terms of texture, molasses will bring consistency to your dishes. If it has a darker color, its texture will be denser.

In cuisine, molasses occurs in sauces, marinades, glazes, and stock dishes. As the molasses flavor is pretty strong, you can add ½ cup instead of 1 cup of rice syrup. You can combine it with a bit of sugar syrup for a more balanced taste.

It is straightforward to make molasses at home to substitute for rice syrup. You can see this video to know more:

8. Sugarcane Syrup (Golden Syrup) – A Result From Sugarcane Juice

If you heat sugarcane juice until it thickens, you will get the sugarcane syrup. You can use it in cooking, and especially, it is a fantastic backup alternative to brown rice syrup. Its natural sweetness will be an excellent addition to recipes.

Its sweetness is exactly the same as brown rice syrup. Also, you will find a hint of butterscotch in the sugarcane syrup. A little caramel taste will enrich its flavor. Although it tastes similar to molasses, you will not detect any bitterness.

The alternative has a characteristic thin texture. You can use it to sweeten your recipes. Its high vitamin content, as well as its antioxidant properties, have tremendous value in improving the immune system.

You can add ½ or ¾ cup of sugarcane syrup instead of 1 cup of brown rice syrup when making cakes, pancakes, and waffles.

9. Barley Malt Syrup – Versatile Rice Syrup Replacement

Do not forget to use barley malt syrup when you run out of brown rice syrup. This alternative would be extremely effective in such circumstances. This type can be used in savory dishes, desserts, drinks, baked goods, and bread.

Its sweetness is milder than sugar but stronger than rice syrup. The flavor is pretty distinctive, with a bit of bitterness like molasses.

The texture of it is pretty dense. You can spot the similarity in texture between barley syrup and molasses. Another striking feature of it is dark in color. Therefore, when you use too much barley syrup, the color and texture of the dish can alter.

You should use a smaller amount of it instead of brown rice syrup. Specifically, for a dish that requires 1 cup of rice syrup, you only need to replace it with ¾ cup of barley malt syrup.

10. Simple Syrup – Boil Sugar To Create Simple Syrup

Sugar is melted at high heat to make simple syrup. Moreover, you can make the syrup from sugar and water in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:1. It is a simple and convenient alternative that you can make at home with available components in the pantry.

The distinctive sweetness is the factor that makes simple syrup appear on this list. When tasting it, you will easily recognize its delicate and gentle flavor. Its mild and enticing aroma will excite you.

The flavor of homemade simple syrup will depend on your taste. You can make a simple syrup to your desired consistency. In terms of color, it is pretty bold, but sometimes, its color is light. You should not use cool simple syrup because it has become dry and hard.

You should start with a small amount of simple syrup; the additional amount will increase if you do not feel sweet enough. You can use it in cocktails, tea, coffee, and other drinks.

You should follow the instructions to create simple syrup at home.

11. Glucose Syrup – A Famous Sweetener

Glucose syrup is a good substitute for brown rice syrup due to its unique properties. Glucose syrup combines many components, such as potatoes, cornstarch, rice, and wheat. All create a perfect taste for glucose syrup.

The flavor and texture of this replacement are similar to corn syrup. It still offers the same sweetness as any other syrup. The sweet taste is milder than sugar. It will add a thick and a bit of chewy texture to the recipes.

You can use it in baked goods, cookies, teas, and commercial foods. The most effective and perfect replacement ratio is 1:1. Add 1 cup of glucose syrup to a recipe that requires 1 cup of brown rice syrup.

12. Brown Sugar – Different Texture Replacement

Brown sugar is a substitute that you can easily find in every store. It is the product of unrefined sugar. The presence of molasses gives brown sugar a distinctive color and flavor. It is an option that brings the perfect sweetness to the plates.

The taste of brown sugar is pretty similar to toffee. Moreover, a little caramel flavor will add an accent to this sugar. The characteristic golden brown color will create an eye-catching color for your recipes.

You should use it when you do not care about the texture because it is different from brown rice syrup. It is a fantastic exploration to add to chocolate or fruit cakes and baked goods.. You should use a tiny amount and increase when needed.

Directions will help you create brown sugar at home for use.

13. White Sugar (Table Sugar) – Inexpensive Substitute

Table sugar is a type of refined sugar made from sugarcane. This type of sugar is white in color and relatively inexpensive. Therefore, you do not need to spend a lot of money to own this fantastic replacement.

The fundamental taste of table sugar is a characteristic sweetness. Its sweetness is similar to the taste of sugarcane. Compared to brown rice syrup, this substitute will bring a stronger sweet taste to your recipes.

You can add table sugar directly to almost any recipe to give them sweetness. Combining it with water is another effective way. You can create a syrup-like texture by boiling a mixture of sugar and water. This type will not be suitable for people with diabetes.

As a substitute for 1 cup brown rice syrup, you can use ¾ cup white sugar. Alternatively, with 1 1/3 parts rice syrup, you can use 1 part white sugar in making baked goods, bread, cookies, and other sweet dishes.

14. Stevia Syrup – An Intense Sweetness Substitute

In Paraguay and Brazil, there is a plant called perennial. The leaves of this plant are very sweet and are used to make stevia syrup. The advent of stevia syrup has provided a great alternative to brown rice sugar in cooking and drinks.

The sweetness of this syrup is powerful because the sweet taste of sugar is nothing compared to it. Many people claim that they can taste some bitterness from stevia.

Besides the outstanding flavors, the licorice taste will linger after tasting this syrup. This replacement does not contain carbs and calories. You should use a 1 drop of stevia to substitute 1 cup rice syrup in various recipes.

Follow Steps Below To Make Brown Rice Syrup At Home

If you cannot buy brown rice syrup at the store, you can make it at home. To make this syrup, you only need to prepare a few essential ingredients like sweet rice and malt powder. Spend time in the kitchen making this wonderful syrup now.

• Step 1: Rice, after being soaked for 1 hour, will be washed and dried.
• Step 2: Put the rice in the pressure cooker to cook.
• Step 3: Let the rice cool and add the malt powder.
• Step 4: Use a spoon to stir the mixture.
• Step 5: Continue cooking the rice overnight at 122 degrees F to 140 degrees F.
• Step 6: Strain the liquid and discard the starch.
• Step 7: Boil the liquid until it turns golden brown and has a thick texture. The resulting product is brown rice syrup.

Jump into the kitchen to make homemade brown rice syrup. You can see this video to know more:

FAQs

Related questions are indispensable when you learn about a specific topic. They are a perfect addition to your knowledge. Let’s boost your expertise with these fantastic questions.

Change To Bring Many New Values

I hope these alternatives will make your cooking easier in the future. You know, the components in the cuisine are so rich, you can find similarities between them. Therefore, if you cannot find this element, you can use other components with the same features instead.

The results of changing ingredients will give you a new choice and a new recipe. You can enrich other people’s component books by sharing other replacements in the comments. Remember to like and share the post. Thanks for reading!

References

1. En.wikipedia.org.. Brown rice syrup – Wikipedia.
2. “Antioxidant Activity as Biomarker of Honey Variety.”
3. Arsenic, Organic Foods, and Brown Rice Syrup. 16 February 2012.