Golden syrup is a sweet, amber colored liquid derived from the production of sugar manufacturing. Used in a variety of baked goods and desserts, golden syrup is a unique ingredient similar to honey.
What does Golden Syrup Taste Like?
Golden syrup is an exceptionally sweet, thick liquid. Also known as light treacle, golden syrup can be substituted for honey in many ingredients; it is less flavorful than molasses. Golden syrup is made from refined sugar cane or sugar beet juice. Treacle is the name given to any type of syrup produced from sugar manufacturing. Don’t confused dark treacle for light treacle; this inky black syrup has a deep bittersweet flavor and thicker consistency than light treacle.
History of Golden Syrup
Golden syrup was developed in the 19th century by two English chemists who saw an opportunity to reformulate the syrup produced by the sugar refining process, which was traditionally fed to pigs. After a few small tweaks the two chemists were able to develop a product that soon became popular with the public. This same company, Lyle & Tates, exists today and holds a Guinness World Record for having the oldest branding and packaging in the world which features a lion surrounded by honeybees.
Cooking with Golden Syrup
Popular in the United Kingdom and Australia, golden syrup is becoming increasingly well known in the United States. Golden syrup can be used in cakes, cookies, puddings, and pies. If you’re wanting to easily incorporate golden syrup into your recipes, you can simply substitute it for honey.
Try using one tablespoon of golden syrup in our Ricotta and Honey Oats recipe at breakfast, two teaspoons in our Walnut Crusted Salmon recipe at lunch, or a quarter cup in our Honey and Garlic Glazed Pork Chops instead of honey. At dessert, try substituting molasses for golden syrup in Gingerbread, for a lighter, brighter version of this delicious holiday treat.
Shopping for Golden Syrup
Golden syrup is available at some grocery stores in the baking section or international section alongside other British goods. You can also order golden syrup online if you have difficulty locating it in stores.
