Honey has been used as a natural sweetener and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. However, it is an animal product. So, ethical vegans prefer to avoid it. You may also have to stay away from it if you are allergic to honey. Fortunately, there are a few delicious vegan alternatives for honey that can satisfy your sweet tooth. So let us find out what they are.

Maple syrup

Maple syrup, commonly used on pancakes and waffles, is also a good substitute for honey.

This natural sweetener is prepared from the sap of maple trees and has fewer calories than regular sugar. Although the taste of maple syrup is different from honey, it has a rich and bold flavor profile.

Maple syrup contains nutrients like potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. It is also rich in antioxidants like zinc which aids cell growth and regeneration. This natural sweetener should be refrigerated to retain its fresh flavors. Depending on when it is harvested, there are different varieties of maple syrup. It can be broadly classified into the following four types:

• Golden color with delicate flavor: This maple syrup is produced at the beginning of the harvest season. It is light yellow with a very subtle flavor and can be drizzled over fruits or cereal.
• Amber color with rich flavor: This is the most popular type of maple syrup, and it is collected during mid-season. Amber-colored maple syrup is commonly used in salad dressings and sauces.
• Dark color with robust flavor: This refers to the thick and sweet maple syrup collected during the latter half of the harvest season. It can be used for baking and preparing rich stocks and sauces.
• Very dark color with strong flavor: As the name suggests, this is the most robust grade of maple syrup. It is produced at the end of the season. This strong maple syrup is the ideal choice for intense sweetness and bold flavors in a dish. 

Here are the top recommendations for good-quality, tasty maple syrup.

Crown Maple Organic Grade A Maple Syrup, Very Dark

This maple syrup is 100% organic, with a rich amber color and intense sweetness. It is produced sustainably and is non-GMO and gluten-free.

Crown maple syrup has a natural bourbon-like flavor from the oak barrels in which it is aged. These bold and strong flavors can enhance the taste of oatmeal, polenta, cereals and fruit juices. Since the maple syrup is aged in bourbon barrels, the brand suggests that a small amount of alcohol may be transferred to the syrup. However, it is nearly negligible at 0.8% and safe for consumption.

Crown Maple Organic Grade A Maple Syrup, Amber

This Grade A maple syrup is amber-colored and vegan. It is non-GMO, gluten-free and 100% organic. It has medium-body consistency and depth of flavor. There are hints of bourbon and molasses-like flavors, that make it more luxurious and intense than store-bought, sugar-sweetened varieties.

This maple syrup is the ideal choice to sweeten black teas and coffee. It is also recommended for marinades and sauces and can be used to glaze roasted vegetables and spiced nuts.

Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Very Dark

Produced by a family-run business from Wisconsin, Anderson’s maple syrup boasts of robust and rich flavors. The syrup has subtle hints of orange and vanilla that make it a tasty addition to a breakfast spread.

Although the syrup is intensely sweet, it has complex flavors and a dense texture. Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup pairs well with fruits and can be used as a cooking and baking substitute in recipes with honey. 

Canada Grade A Amber Rich Taste

The subtle flavor and velvety texture of this Canadian golden maple syrup make it a good substitute for honey. Since it is harvested at the beginning of the season, it has a delicate flavor profile. This maple syrup is pure, unblended and contains no artificial preservatives, colors or sweeteners. Although the syrup has distinct maple flavor, it also tastes like caramel and cinnamon. This gourmet product is available in attractive glass bottles that reveal the beautiful amber color of the syrup. The attractive packaging makes it great for gifting as well.

Best Sugar-Free

Lakanto’s Maple-flavored syrup is a keto-friendly, sugar-free product with a taste that closely resembles traditional maple syrup. It doesn’t contain any maple extract. However, this all-natural sweetener achieves a very similar flavor profile as maple syrup by using monk-fruit extract, tapioca fiber, natural flavors, and sea salt as its main ingredients. The benefits of Lakanto maple-flavored monk fruit syrup are that it can be used as a direct replacement for maple syrup or honey in any recipe. It is suitable for baking, cooking or even just drizzling over fruit or cereal. However, this syrup is thinner than maple syrup. Although the natural taste and overall health benefits make it a good substitute for natural honey, it is expensive.

Coconut Nectar

Coconut nectar is a healthy, natural liquid sweetener obtained from the reduced sap of coconut palm. It is rich in Vitamin B and minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. Coconut nectar has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar and honey because it contains a fiber called inulin which slows down glucose absorption in the body. 

A very convenient thing about using coconut nectar instead of honey is that it can be substituted in the exact measure in any recipe. It stays intact for a very long time when you refrigerate it properly. Interestingly, coconut nectar tastes more like molasses or honey than coconut. It has a delicate floral fragrance that significantly enhances the taste of fruit juices, cereals, and baked goods. If you have never tried coconut nectar before, I recommend the following brand. 

Coconut Nectar

Coconut nectar from the Coconut secret is minimally processed and is made using pure, organic ingredients. It is USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Like all other products from Coconut Secret, their coconut nectar is a sustainable product that is ethically produced with high concern for environmental sustainability. The taste of this product resembles caramel and is not too coconutty. Hence, it works well as a substitute for sugar or honey in baked goods like cookies, cakes, and muffins. You can also use it to sweeten and flavor tea and coffee. You may sometimes notice clumpy crystals in the product. However, you can quickly reduce it to liquid form by placing the bottle in warm water.

Date Paste and Date Syrup

Dates are superfoods as they are highly nutritious and packed with protein and fiber. Date paste and date syrup are derived from these sweet, edible fruits of the date palm. Date paste and date syrup are vegan substitutes for honey. They are readily available in supermarkets and grocery stores. However, you can also make them at home. The benefit of making your syrup or paste is that it will contain the whole fruit and hence present more health benefits. Meanwhile, most supermarket varieties strip the syrup of its fiber content. 

Here is how you can make date syrup at home.

• Soak a cup of pitted dates in hot water for an hour. Make sure that the water just covers the surface of the dates.
• Drain the water and blend it into a smooth paste.
• Refrigerate the date paste and consume as required.

You can also make date syrup from this paste by diluting it with water. However, if you prefer to buy it, here are some recommendations for good quality date syrup and paste. 

Date Lady Organic Date Syrup

This USDA certified organic date syrup contains just one ingredient—dates! So, you needn’t worry about fillers, preservatives, colors or any of the bad stuff. Date Lady date syrup has a thick but flowy consistency and velvety brown color. Since dates are boiled in water and the water is evaporated out, this syrup retains all the nutritional value of the fruit and is very luxurious and deliciously sweet. The complex flavors make it a great addition to coffee, tea and fruit smoothies. It can also be used as a substitute for sugar in baking.

This product is available in the form of a squeeze bottle for easy use. It is USDA certified, organic, non-GMO, kosher and gluten-free. Date Lady Organic date syrup is produced by boiling dates in water and evaporating the remaining water to leave behind just the grapes. As a result, none of the nutritional value of the fruit is lost. Date Lady organic syrup has bold and complex flavors and is intensely sweet. The liquid is thick and luxurious and drizzles like honey. This product doesn’t require any refrigeration and stays good for up to 2 years. It can be used instead of honey in both savory and sweet recipes.

Agave Syrup

Agave syrup resembles honey in color and consistency. This natural sweetener is derived from the sap of agave plants. The varieties range in color from dark amber to light. The high fructose content in agave syrup makes it very sweet. So, smaller quantities than honey can produce the same sweetness. Lighter versions of agave syrup have a delicate taste. So, it can be used as a substitute for honey in most recipes. However, it is important to note that agave syrup can quickly brown during baking. So, it is important to adjust the baking time and temperature accordingly. One of the main concerns with agave syrup is that heat processing causes healthy fiber ingredients to break down and lose its health-promoting properties. So, it is important to choose minimally processed agave syrup to enjoy its health benefits.

Here are our recommended agave syrup brands.

MADHAVA Organic Fair Trade Agave

Madhava organic agave sweetener is made from blue weber agave plants in Mexico and is sustainably and ethically manufactured. It is purely organic and has a deep, amber color that resembles aged honey. It has a lower glycemic index when compared to other sugars and a delicate sweetness. This agave syrup is suitable for baking and is a healthy natural sweetener for beverages and smoothies. This fair-trade agave syrup product arrives in a pack of two. It is non-GMO, kosher and gluten-free.

This USDA certified organic agave syrup is 25% sweeter than traditional sugar. It blends easily and can also be drizzled over cereal and baked goods. Agave in the Raw arrives in easily storable plastic bottles. It can be used in place of sugar or honey in baking by adjusting it in the ratio of ¾ tsp of agave for 1 tsp of sugar. Agave in the Raw can be used to sweeten fruit juices and lemonade. The subtle flavors make it a suitable substitute for honey. While it imparts sweetness, it isn’t overpowering.

Final Takeaway…

Even if you stay away from honey because you are a vegan due to ethical concerns or allergies, it doesn’t mean that you cannot indulge your sweet tooth. Instead, you have plenty of options to explore, from coconut nectar to maple syrup, date syrup, from coconut nectar to maple syrup. These replacements for honey are just as tasty. Try to identify your favorites and stock your pantry with these healthy honey substitutes.