Barley malt syrup is the star of the show when making bagels, dips, pretzels, and baked goods. It decreases yeast consumption and makes dishes more delicious.

However, there are circumstances where you simply don’t like the taste of barley malt syrup or can’t find it anywhere near you. In that case, your best solution is to find a suitable alternative for it.

However, there are only a few alternatives that may be worth using as a substitute for barley malt syrup. And it is that not all sweeteners are similar in consistency and texture.

So what is the best substitute for barley malt syrup? The best substitute for barley malt syrup is honey, as it is a great inexpensive option that mimics the consistency and flavor of barley malt syrup. Other substitutes are brown rice syrup, molasses, Korean rice syrup, agave syrup, golden syrup, maple syrup, coconut syrup, sugar syrup, maltose, and date syrup.

If you’re not sure which substitute to use for each dish, read on. We will give you an overview of the best substitutes for barley malt syrup.

What is barley malt syrup?

Barley malt syrup is a type of sweetener that is extracted from barley grains by putting them through a complex process. It begins with the germination of the barley and ends with the slow heating of the barley in containers to prepare the syrup.

This thick, sticky syrup adds a lovely nutty flavor to the recipe along with just the right sweetness. Lately it has become a popular choice among many people, who prefer to substitute white sugar for barley malt syrup.

Can you find substitutes for barley malt syrup?

You may think that the characteristic flavor of barley malt syrup makes it difficult or nearly impossible to find a substitute for it.

But no, some sweeteners can act as a perfect substitute for barley malt syrup. They may mimic or even have similarities to the characteristics of barley malt syrup.

Keep in mind that you will not get the same flavor with these substitutes. However, they can pair well with other sweet dishes instead of barley malt syrup.

The 11 Best Substitutes for Barley Malt Syrup

Taking flavor, texture, and consistency into account, we’ve put together the 11 best substitutes for barley malt syrup. Among them are:

1. Honey

Honey is a sweet, thick liquid that bees extract from the nectar of flowers.

It is one of the best substitutes for barley malt syrup. Furthermore, it is also one of the most common sweeteners. Therefore, you can find it almost everywhere!

Why choose honey as a substitute for barley malt?

Honey is a cost-effective option, as you can get it at a much lower price than barley malt syrup. Also, apart from sweetness, the consistency of honey also resembles barley malt syrup.

Although honey is not a substitute for the nutty flavor of barley malt syrup, its flowery flavor is still a great substitute.

However, keep in mind that honey offers twice the sweetness of barley malt syrup. So, if you use it in your recipe, remember to reduce its amount by half.

2. Brown rice syrup

Brown rice syrup is a sweetener that is extracted by breaking down brown rice through fermentation. It is made by the action of enzymes on cooked rice.

This breaks down the starch into smaller sugars and filters out impurities. It is also sometimes called rice syrup or rice malt syrup.

Why choose brown rice syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Brown rice syrup is a great substitute, as are honey and molasses. It is a vegan and healthier alternative that can add sweetness to your dishes without any extra calories. Quite a triumph, right?

Here, the brown rice syrup is a little less sweet. So when using brown rice syrup, add a little more than the recommended amount of malt syrup.

3. Molasses

Molasses is a thick, sweet syrup created as a byproduct of sugar production. It is extracted from crushed sugar cane or sugar beet. Therefore, it is also suitable as a sweetener.

Why choose molasses as a substitute for barley malt?

Molasses and malted barley syrup have a lot in common. Many people often confuse and compare these two also because of their similarities.

So you can substitute molasses for barley malt syrup in various dishes. It has a strong, sweet flavor with just the right thickness and viscosity, like barley malt syrup.

Molasses is also an excellent substitute for barley malt syrup for muffins and other baked goods.

Currently, you can mainly find three types of molasses: mild molasses, black molasses, and dark molasses.

We recommend using black molasses because it is the most suitable. It has the right amount of sweetness, a great thick consistency, and a very close color.

Note that molasses is sweeter than barley malt syrup. Therefore, be sure to reduce the amount to keep the sweetness in check.

4. Korean rice syrup

Did you know that Korean rice syrup is actually a traditional recipe made with barley?

This thick and viscous syrup is an indispensable part of any sweet dish in Korean cuisine. Korean food uses this syrup for the final glaze and to add a lovely sweetness.

Why choose Korean rice syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Korean rice syrup is a close alternative to barley malt syrup, as it is made up of rice and barley malt powder. The sweet and earthy flavor of Korean rice syrup substitutes nicely for the nutty flavor of barley malt syrup.

Korean rice syrup offers just the right amount of sweetness. For this reason, we recommend using it in the same amounts as barley malt syrup.

5. Agave syrup

Agave syrup is a type of natural sweetener that is commercially obtained from different species of agave, especially the blue agave.

Why choose agave syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

The consistency of agave syrup is similar to that of honey. However, it is slightly thinner.

Agave syrup replaces barley malt due to its color and sweetness. The color is quite similar and the sweetness too. Also, this syrup is a better substitute for barley malt syrup in baked goods.

So when using it you can substitute the recommended amount of barley malt syrup according to the recipe for your agave syrup.

6. Golden syrup

Golden syrup is a thick syrup made with simple ingredients like water, sugar, and citric acid. This syrup is an integral part of all traditional British desserts. Hence why it is commonly popular in the UK.

Why choose golden syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Golden syrup can substitute for barley malt syrup for its sweetness. Plus, it adds a buttery caramel flavor to the dish, which is a nice touch.

Golden syrup has more sweetness than barley malt syrup. Therefore, when you substitute it for the barley malt syrup, add less than the recommended amount according to the recipe.

7. Maple syrup

People extract maple syrup by boiling maple saps into a thick syrup. Maple syrup is one of the best substitutes for barley malt for all kinds of dishes. However, it is especially suitable for desserts.

Why choose maple syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Maple syrup has a sweet taste similar to malted barley syrup because of its rich, deep nutty flavor.

The consistency of maple syrup is slightly thinner than malted barley syrup. But you can substitute the given amount of barley malt syrup for the maple syrup when using it.

8. Coconut syrup

Coconut syrup is extracted from the saps of coconut sugar through a complex commercial process. It is a natural, caramel-colored sweetener with a taste similar to that of brown sugar.

Why choose coconut syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Coconut syrup is a good substitute for barley malt syrup when making ice cream, pancakes and cakes, for its overall flavor. Plus, it adds a nutty tropical flavor to dishes along with sweetness.

You can substitute the recommended amount of barley malt syrup for coconut syrup according to recipes.

9. Sugar syrup

Sugar syrup is a thick, viscous syrup made by boiling a mixture of sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. To make the sugar syrup you can use white or brown sugar.

Why choose sugar syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

Sugar syrup is the most widely used substitute for barley malt syrup, due to its sweetness and the fact that sugar is always available in homes.

However, when substituting the barley malt syrup for the sugar syrup, use half the amount recommended by the recipes. This is because sugar syrup is sweeter than barley malt syrup.

10. Maltose

Maltose syrup is a thick, sweet syrup made from starch following a complex process. It is the healthier version of sugar syrup.

You can consider using it as an alternative to barley malt syrup when you have no other option.

Why choose maltose as a substitute for barley malt?

The maltose offers a sweet and neutral flavor. Therefore, there is no risk of spoiling your dish due to overly strong flavors. Also, it has a nice color like barley malt syrup.

Now, although maltose is less sweet than sugar, it is still sweeter than barley malt syrup. Therefore, when substituting for barley malt syrup, you should use less than the amount called for in the recipes.

11. Date syrup

Date syrup is a sweet syrup extracted from date palm trees through a complex process. It has become popular and available everywhere only in recent times, although it is as old as honey.

Why choose date syrup as a substitute for barley malt?

You can use date syrup as a substitute, as it is almost as sweet as barley malt syrup. Therefore, when you substitute the barley malt syrup for the date syrup, be sure to add a little more than the recommended amount.

Note that date syrup offers a slightly darker color than barley malt syrup.

Aspects to consider before choosing any substitute for barley malt syrup

Now there are many substitutes for barley malt syrup. You should take into account certain factors before making your choice:

dish type

There is a chance that some substitute sweeteners might be the best match for some dishes and not so great for others.

So you have to take the type of dish into account when choosing a substitute for barley malt syrup.

This ensures that the substitute gives you the best results and the closest thing to barley malt syrup. For example, molasses is suitable for bakery products.

Cost

There are several alternatives to choose from for barley malt syrup. Some are more expensive and less widely available than others.

For example, date syrup is often available in the Middle East, but can cost more in the US. So keep in mind the cost factor.

health factor

Barley malt syrup is a healthier alternative to white sugar. Therefore, try to avoid sugar syrup.

Most barley malt syrup alternatives have little to no variation in calories compared to barley malt syrup. In addition, some are also vegan and gluten-free.

Now that we’ve gone over some of the best substitutes for barley malt syrup, let’s take a look at some related questions!

What is the best substitute for barley malt for bagels?

Honey is the best alternative for biscuits, as it replaces barley malt syrup in color, consistency, and viscosity.

Another reason why honey is the most recommended substitute for barley malt syrup for muffins is that it is readily available around you.

It’s even healthier than other barley malt syrup alternatives because it’s gluten-free. Honey may not have the same nutty flavor as barley malt syrup, but its original flavor is good enough.

What is the best substitute for barley malt for baking?

There are many substitutes for barley malt syrup. However, the best is the molasses. Molasses is ideal for baking in place of barley malt syrup for several reasons:

similar color

Both molasses and barley malt syrup are very similar in color. So when you bake, you won’t find much difference in the color of the dish. This will keep the appearance of the dish intact.

Texture

Molasses is quite similar in texture and consistency to barley malt syrup. This will not affect your baking measurements or cause consistency issues.

Taste

Molasses has more sweetness than barley malt syrup. However, you can use it by slightly changing the measurements. You just have to add the molasses a little at a time and taste the batter or the smoothie. If the sweetness is less, you can add more.

Is malt syrup the same as barley malt syrup?

Both barley malt syrup and malt syrup mean the same thing. Both are extracted from barley grains, which adds a nice nutty flavor to the dish along with the sweetness.

In addition, they are now very popular because they offer fewer calories than sugar and also taste great.

Is barley malt syrup bad for you?

Barley malt syrup is a healthier version of sugar. But when consumed in large quantities, it can be detrimental to health, causing obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

You can avoid excessive consumption of barley malt syrup by reducing your intake or substituting barley malt syrup for the fruit pulp.

Reducing sugar consumption is very difficult in today’s world. So you can substitute sugar for fruit pulp.

Final thoughts

If your recipe calls for this natural barley malt syrup and you don’t have it in your kitchen, you can always buy it online. But if you need barley malt syrup right away, you can use a substitute.

There are several alternatives, such as those discussed above, that you can choose from. So you can choose an alternative to barley malt syrup based on your dish, your taste and preferences, and the cost.

The 11 Best Barley Malt Syrup Substitutes