Vegan Honey Substitute
Make this syrupy-sweet vegan honey substitute to use in recipes just like you would use honey. Need a plant-based honey alternative? Want a substitute for honey in baking? This will be your go-to favorite for tea, vegan honey mustard dressing, and more!
Honey is a great natural sweetener loved by many. It has a distinct flavor that can be noticeable, especially in hot teas or beverages.
When you’re baking and realize you’re out, or you prefer something wholly plant-based (some vegans choose not to eat honey), having these tasty honey alternatives will be handy!
Make your favorite sweet recipes without honey!
Best Honey Alternatives
When you’re looking for a honey replacement, these options can work when you’re in a hurry:
- Maple Syrup: Use maple syrup as a 1:1 substitute for honey.
- Agave Nectar — It has a more neutral flavor, but agave nectar makes a great substitute for honey
- Light Corn Syrup — Sure you may think it’s not healthy, but light corn syrup has a great consistency and is perfect for baking. It makes a great alternative to honey in most recipes that call for honey.
- Molasses— You can replace honey with equal molasses in your recipes. Of course, molasses has its own distinct flavor, but it will create delicious and moist baked goods.
- Other Options — You can consider barley malt syrup, rice malt syrup, or even date paste as good honey substitute options. However, these products are not as easy to find.
- Make Your Own — Below is a beloved recipe for vegan honey that you can make and keep on hand. It creates delicious plant-based honey for baking, serving with teas, and more!
If you choose to use honey from bees, be sure to select a brand like Waxing Kara that produce sustainably farmed honey.
How to Make Vegan Honey Substitute
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Microwave water until reasonably warm but not hot.
- Add the tea bag, pushing it around in the water until the tea is saturated.
- Pour the agave syrup into another bowl (or a saucepan if you prefer to thicken it).
- Gently squeeze the tea bag over the syrup, releasing the chamomile flavor.
- Serve the syrup as is or thicken it by transferring it to a saucepan and cooking until it simmers.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Key Ingredients
- Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
- Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
- Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
- Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
- Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
- Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
- Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
- Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.
- Chamomile tea bag — I prefer a chamomile tea bag, but you can substitute loose-leaf chamomile flowers.
- Agave nectar syrup — This recipe was tested using agave nectar because of its neutral flavor. But you can substitute light corn syrup, maple syrup, barley malt, or brown rice syrup.
- Sea salt — We’ll add a pinch of sea salt for a more complex flavor profile.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- EASY — You’ll need only three ingredients to make this simple syrup that tastes remarkably like real honey!
- VERSATILE — Add your favorite flavorings, such as vanilla extract, to create different flavor profiles.
- SWEET — Use this plant-based syrup as a 1:1 substitute for honey in recipes, hot teas, and more!
Frequently-Asked Questions
What can I substitute for honey?
Some great honey substitutes include maple syrup, agave nectar, or even light corn syrup. However, you can make your own vegan honey in a few simple steps.
Why do vegans not eat honey?
From a technical perspective, vegans would not eat honey because it is a product of a honey bee. That said, you can adopt a mostly vegan diet and decide for yourself whether you will choose honey or not.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this vegan honey substitute with your favorite beverages such as:
Storage Tips
Transfer to a lidded glass jar. Close the lid tightly and store in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. It will keep up to 4 months when stored properly.
Vegan Baked Goods
Use this vegan honey alternative with any of these tasty baked goods:
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Vegan Honey Substitute
Ingredients
- 1 chamomile tea bag
- ½ cup agave nectar syrup (or maple syrup)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Add roughly a tablespoon of water to a small bowl. Microwave a few seconds until the water is fairly warm, but not hot. Add the tea bag, pushing it around in the water until the tea is saturated. Set aside.
- Pour the agave syrup in another bowl (or a saucepan if you prefer to thicken it). Gently squeeze the tea bag over the syrup, releasing the chamomile flavor.
- To thicken: Cook syrup over medium-low heat until it begins to simmer. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Transfer to a lidded glass jar. Close the lid tightly and store in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. It will keep up to 4 months or longer when stored properly. Serve over your favorite slices of bread, cornbread, dinner rolls, or english muffins.
Recommended Equipment
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The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I can’t believe how much this tastes just like honey!
I’m so glad you like this faux honey, Peggy. I agree, the flavor is pretty amazing!