The best corn syrup substitute for pecan pie is maple syrup and a hint of molasses. They make the filling sweet and flavorful, but not too sweet and still ultra-smooth. The pie is cooked at just the right temperature for a smooth texture – no curdled filling here!
No Light Corn Syrup Substitute
If you dont have light corn syrup, or are trying to avoid corn syrup altogether, use one of these in its place:
- Simple Syrup: If you have molasses, a thick simple syrup is an acceptable substitute for light corn syrup. To make it, stir 1 cup of white sugar into 1/4 cup of hot water until it is completely dissolved, then allow it to cool. This replaces 1 cup of light corn syrup, but the volume is entirely different: Use the 1/4 cup of simple syrup to replace 1 cup of light corn syrup in the original substitution and add 1/4 cup of molasses to complete the dark corn syrup substitute. You may need to adjust the other liquids in your recipe.
- Honey: You can also use honey as a substitute for light corn syrup. Mix one part of molasses to three parts of honey to make a dark corn syrup substitute. This version will have a comparable thickness and volume but will be sweeter than the corn syrup. You may need to make some adjustments to your recipe to account for the additional sweetness.
The Best Substitute
Dark corn syrup is mostly made of the same ingredients as light corn syrup. The darker version simply has the addition of refiners sugar, which is a type of molasses. Its the refiners sugar that gives dark corn syrup its nearly black color and caramel-molasses flavor. By adding molasses to light corn syrup, youll replicate that flavor.
Assuming that you have both light corn syrup and molasses in your pantry, this is the best solution: Mix three parts light corn syrup and one part molasses. Use the same measurement of this mix in place of the dark corn syrup called for in your recipe.
PECAN PIE with NO CORN SYRUP, and MAKING PIE CRUST
FAQ
What is a substitute for dark corn syrup in pecan pie?
Can you substitute molasses for dark corn syrup?
Is Karo corn syrup the same as molasses?
Does pecan pie contain molasses?
Can you substitute molasses for corn syrup in a pecan pie?
I was surprised that the traditional pecan pie recipes didn’t call for molasses or pure maple syrup as a corn syrup substitute. Nope. They called for brown sugar and just a little white sugar. And that’s IT! No 2 cups of corn syrup in this pie that’s for sure! Occasionally I’ve added a dollop of molasses instead of vanilla; it works well.
Can I use brown sugar instead of corn syrup in pecan pie?
However, using brown sugar instead of corn syrup gives the pecan pie a strong caramel flavor, which some find overpowering. To avoid this, you can reduce the amount of brown sugar by 25%-50%, and replace it with an equal amount of molasses or honey.
Can you substitute maple syrup for corn syrup in pecan pie?
If you don’t want maple flavor in your pecan pie, this substitute may not be for you. When using maple syrup as a substitute for corn syrup, some people also suggest increasing the baking time by 10-20 minutes because it takes more time for the pie to set. 3. Light Molasses
Do you put corn syrup in a pecan pie?
Nope. They called for brown sugar and just a little white sugar. And that’s IT! No 2 cups of corn syrup in this pie that’s for sure! Occasionally I’ve added a dollop of molasses instead of vanilla; it works well. Feel free to try maple syrup or molasses in place of the vanilla. I’ve also made a Maple Pecan Pie and it’s outstanding!