Log Cabin touts that they are “the only national brand of table syrup” made without high-fructose corn syrup—though the first ingredient listed in the original variety is still, in fact, regular corn syrup, with sugar following soon after.
Just how healthy is this sweet treat for you? Answers ahead.
On pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, and more, Americans love maple syrup. The rich flavor is one reason why it's so popular, but it has also been touted as a "natural" sweetener that's better for you than plain old sugar.The answer is yes, it is possible to substitute other ingredients for maple syrup in recipes. It is also possible to substitute maple syrup for other sweeteners. Since maple syrup is a liquid, if you are substituting sugar you will need to increase the wet ingredients by about 3 tbsp for every cup of sugar.
It takes about 40 gallons of maple sap — and nothing else — to make one gallon of real maple syrup. By contrast, the artificial stuff — think Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth's — is mostly corn syrup. Fake maple syrup resembles real maple syrup about as much as Velveeta resembles a good Camembert.
Best Canadian: Escuminac Pure Canadian Organic Maple Syrup, Grade A. When it comes to Canadian maple syrup, the 100 Percent Pure Unblended Maple Syrup from Escuminac is top-of-the-line.
Darker maple syrup is healthier than lighter maple syrup, as it includes a greater amount of minerals and antioxidants. In terms of sugar content, there is not a notable difference between lighter and darker syrups, though overall, darker syrups are the better health option in terms of nutritional value (15).
We Tested More Than A Dozen Maple Syrups—These Are Our 4 Favorites
- Most Splurge-Worthy: Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup. Courtesy of Anderson's.
- Best Budget: Log Cabin Original Syrup.
- Best Vermont: Butternut Mountain Farm 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup.
- Best Flavored: Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Infused Vermont Maple Syrup.
We Tested More Than A Dozen Maple Syrups—These Are Our 4 Favorites
- Most Splurge-Worthy: Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup. Courtesy of Anderson's.
- Best Budget: Log Cabin Original Syrup.
- Best Vermont: Butternut Mountain Farm 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup.
- Best Flavored: Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Infused Vermont Maple Syrup.
It takes 30-50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup — an amount of sap that can take a single mature maple tree and entire sugaring season to produce! So while maple syrup is expensive, that price is a natural reflection of both its scarcity and its labor-intensive production.
Even though maple syrup does contain some nutrients and antioxidants, it is also very high in sugar. Maple syrup is a less bad version of sugar, much like coconut sugar. It cannot objectively be labeled healthy. If you consume it, it's best to do so in moderation — as with all sweeteners.
The answer is yes, it is possible to substitute other ingredients for maple syrup in recipes. It is also possible to substitute maple syrup for other sweeteners. Since maple syrup is a liquid, if you are substituting sugar you will need to increase the wet ingredients by about 3 tbsp for every cup of sugar.
There is no such thing as the “best” grade of maple syrup.
Included below are some common uses for the five basic grades: Grade A Golden Color, Delicate Taste Maple Syrup: This smooth flavor is one of the most delicate of all the maple syrup grades.LOG CABIN, ORIGINAL SYRUP
INGREDIENTS: Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Sugar Syrup, Pure Maple Syrup, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate And Sorbic Acid (Preservatives), Invert Sugar, Natural And Artificial Flavor.The risk of botulism from maple syrup is virtually non-existent and maple syrup is considered safe. However, there are some pediatricians who will say that maple syrup is not good for those under 1 year of age; please be sure to ask your pediatrician about offering your baby maple syrup!
Syrup is 100% carbs, and never intended to be beneficial to one's health.
No matter if it's simple sugar that comes from maple trees or from corn with other ingredients. A quarter cup of Aunt Jemima, for example, contains 210 calories and has 32 grams of sugar. Because of that sugar content, you might think that opting for fake maple syrup is a better way to go, but Muller says not.
Yes, pure maple syrup is not only high in antioxidants, but every spoonful offers nutrients like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. According to Helen Thomas of the New York State Maple Association, maple syrup has a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants, yet fewer calories than honey.
Maple syrup does not really need to be refrigerated. However, refrigerating maple syrup will retard the growth of mold. If a container of unrefrigerated maple syrup is not checked often, enough mold may grow in the syrup, to ruin the flavor of the syrup. Maple syrup may also be frozen.
For long term storage, the Association says that maple syrup retains its flavor best when kept in the freezer (it will not freeze solid). StillTasty.com indicates that 100 percent pure maple syrup should keep for a year unopened in the pantry, a year opened in the refrigerator, and indefinitely in the freezer.
Maple syrup does not really need to be refrigerated. However, refrigerating maple syrup will retard the growth of mold. It's best to just keep maple syrup in the refrigerator or other cool place. Maple syrup may also be frozen.
4. The Vermont IHOP is the only one with real maple syrup. IHOP has long been known for its roster of flavored syrups, but none of them -- not even the "old-fashioned" -- are actual maple syrup. That worked for Handy and for his syrup truther customer base.
It is occasionally claimed that diabetics can use Pure Maple syrup and sugar without adverse effects. Most diabetics can consume some sugar in conservative amounts. Even those without diabetes should not be consuming large amounts of sugars. Sucrose, the main sugar in Pure Maple, has a glycemic index of about 68.
While there are plenty of options for low-carb sweeteners you can enjoy on a ketogenic diet, there are many others that aren't ideal. Maple syrup: Each serving of maple syrup packs a good amount of micronutrients like manganese and zinc but is also high in sugar and carbs (29).
Real maple syrup is worth the extra expense, and it's not only great as a hot cakes topper but in plenty of other dishes, too. It's a great sweetener for breakfast cereals, hot or cold, tops up cottage cheese and yogurt, makes a tasty marinade for tofu or meat, and even tastes great in a latte or cappuccino.
Sugars naturally rank higher on the glycemic index, however, maple syrup is clearly the better option as it has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar. Real Maple Syrup has a glycemic index of 54. Real Maple Syrup has significantly more calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese than honey.
One tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, while one tablespoon of maple syrup contains 52 calories. While both contain significant sugar content, maple syrup contains less fructose. Since fructose has a negative effect on heart health, maple syrup is healthier in this department.
The good news is that pure maple syrup is a natural, healthy pancake syrup in some ways, but if you want to cut down on the added sugar, you might have to get a little more creative. Honey is a great natural substitute for pancake syrup.
Here are five of my favorite things to use instead:
- Frozen berries, heated with a little sugar to make a sauce.
- Powdered sugar, dusted on top (a pat of butter is a nice touch too)
- Honey.
- Apple sauce and yogurt––not just for latkes!
- Jam.
In the 1970s the product was endorsed on television commercials by singer Eddy Arnold. The newest version of Log Cabin syrup has eliminated high-fructose corn syrup, believed by some to increase the risk of obesity. It is the first American brand to eliminate the ingredient, though it does still contain corn syrup.
We sampled 13 brands of maple and pancake syrup to find the very best for breakfast, brunch, and beyondby Kendra Vizcaino-Lico and Kemp Minifie
- Pure Maple Syrup: Best Overall.
- Pure Maple Syrup: First Runner-Up.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Second Runner-Up.
- Pancake Syrup: Best Overall.
- Pancake Syrup: First Runner-Up.
Melted peanut butter, keto-friendly syrup alternatives and cinnamon butter can all step in as a healthy substitute for syrup. If you're not concerned about the added sugar but want a healthy syrup alternative for a different reason, honey is another suitable choice.
Syrups and jams
And although no one wants to pour cold maple syrup all over their pancakes, it's important to refrigerate all syrups once they have been opened. As long as you store opened syrup properly, it has a shelf life of up to one year, which is pretty impressive.
