Maple syrup is a delicious natural sweetener that compares well with honey and cane syrup or corn syrup. It is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree.
Believe it or not, it takes forty gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup! That is because the sap has to be boiled to evaporate most of the water, leaving the delicious flavored sugar part behind.
What is Maple Extract?
Maple extract is a natural or artificial liquid food flavoring. It is available in tiny bottles similar to vanilla extract or essence. It has a concentrated maple taste and some people wonder if it can be substituted for maple syrup in recipes.
What is Maple Extract Used For?
Just as you’d use vanilla extract to give baked goods a vanilla flavor, so you’d use maple extract to give them a maple syrup flavor.
It is also used to boost the taste of homemade maple syrup. For instance, you’d add it to corn syrup to make it taste like maple syrup.
When you’re shopping for maple extract, remember that it comes in artificial and natural varieties. As always, we recommend getting the real deal, even though it may be a little more expensive.
You’ll be getting the genuine flavor not to mention it’s healthier.
Uses of Maple Syrup
This sweet treat is used in many ways. Stir it into porridge, drizzle it over pancakes or waffles, or use it to sweeten whipped cream.
A classic way to enjoy it is to brush it onto bacon rashers while they’re frying. Stir a little into cocktails or milkshakes…the list goes on. However, can you use maple extract in the same way?
Can You Substitute Maple Syrup For Maple Extract?
Maple extract is used because it’s cheaper than the real deal and because maple syrup is difficult to obtain in some regions. However, it is not sweet like maple syrup and merely contains flavoring components without the syrup.
To use it as a one-to-one substitute, you will need to stir it into corn syrup first. Alternatively, add a teaspoon or two to the baking recipe to add a luscious maple flavor.
If a recipe calls for maple syrup, however, you cannot use a direct substitution as maple extract is far more concentrated. So, where you’d use a cupful of maple syrup, you’ll need just a teaspoon or two of extract.
As you can see from this, if the syrup is an integral part of the recipe, as in cookies, you must add an equal amount of honey, corn syrup, or sugar plus a little maple extract.
Other Substitutes
Maple syrup is very difficult to obtain in many southern hemisphere countries. You may not even be able to get maple extract. In this case, you could try using these extracts which, while they don’t have the same taste, are equally delicious.
- Vanilla Extract
Even though not as commonly used, you can still get away with using vanilla extract as a substitute for maple extract or using honey as a substitute for maple syrup.
In fact, you will notice that many recipes feature both vanilla extract and maple syrup as the main ingredients for adding a sweetening effect.
If you find yourself in an absolute pinch and have no other options to use as an alternative, then you can also effectively use almond extract.
However, it is important to keep in mind that you won’t be getting the same taste as that of the maple extract.
The Bottom Line
Can you substitute maple syrup for maple extract? While there shouldn’t be any issues using the ingredient as an alternative, you should remember that the quantities you need to use will be completely different.
Maple extract is far more concentrated than syrup and does not contain a sugary component. Besides this, you shouldn’t have any problems using maple syrup in any given recipe in terms of flavor.