8 Easy Invert Sugar Substitutes
Invert sugar substitute is usually found among artificial sweeteners, such as liquid honey or glucose syrup. Invert sugar can be substituted with more natural options, too, such as corn syrup and molasses.
Invert sugar is also known as inverted sugar, inverted syrup, inverted sugar syrup, or trimoline. Trimoline is a combination of simple sugars glucose and fructose, and it is much sweeter than most other sweeteners, which is important to know when looking for a trimoline substitute because you will need a small amount of invert sugar to achieve a really sweet flavor.
If you want, you can try my simple sugar syrup recipe.
Table of Contents
Invert Sugar Substitute
1. Liquid honey
A type of honey found in a liquid state, this alternative sweetener has a similar consistency to invert sugar. The main difference is that invert sugar’s flavor is just sweet, while honey has a more complex, often fruity, spicy, or herbal flavor.
2. Glucose syrup
This ingredient has a high level of sweetness, which makes it a great substitute for invert sugar. Glucose syrup is used for making ganache, ice cream, taffy, and fudge.
3. Brown sugar
This type of sugar has a higher level of molasses, and it is often called raw sugar. It has a sweet and dark flavor profile and can substitute invert sugar, but only when used in higher amounts because invert sugar is much sweeter. Brown sugar goes well with desserts, baked goods, and coffee drinks.
4. Regular granulated sugar
Also known as white sugar, it is the most commonly used sugar in the world. Made of sugar beets or sugar cane, white sugar is sweeter than brown sugar, and it can replace invert sugar perfectly.
5. Corn syrup
A high fructose corn syrup comes from processed corn cobs. Good for making sorbets, ice cream, candies, jellies, and other sweets. Can be used to replace invert sugar, although it has a significantly lower sweetness level.
6. Molasses
One of the most popular sweetener options, it has a sweet, warm, and somewhat smoky flavor. If you don’t mind molasses affecting the color of the other ingredients in your recipe, you can use it instead of invert sugar in cookie batter or pie filling.
7. Golden syrup
This amber-colored invert sugar syrup is made of water, sugar, and citric acid. You can use it in place of invert sugar, and many people consider them to be the same thing anyway.
8. Maple syrup
A sweet syrup made of maple tree sap, maple syrup has a unique flavor profile. It is also a much healthier option than most sweeteners and causes no negative health outcomes.
Invert Sugar Substitute Corn Syrup
Corn syrup and invert sugar have similar viscosities and smooth textures. However, corn syrup is significantly less sweet, and it contains mostly fructose sugar, while invert sugar contains equal amounts of fructose and glucose.
Invert Sugar Substitute Brewing
Invert sugar is often used in brewing alcohol drinks, mostly beer. However, if you don’t have any invert sugar, you can use golden syrup instead. Another option is Demerara sugar, a light brown sugar with a coarse texture and a pronounced molasses flavor.
Invert Sugar Substitute Baking
Invert sugar is often used in baking, but you can replace it with corn syrup because both of these sweeteners bring not only the sweet flavor but also moisture and smoothness to the baked goods.
Invert Sugar Syrup Substitute
Golden syrup is a great substitute for invert sugar syrup. Another good option is agave nectar, as it is high in fructose and definitely a healthier option than invert sugar syrup.
Invert Sugar Substitute Glucose
Invert sugar is made of glucose and fructose sugars. It can be replaced with glucose syrup because both invert sugar and glucose syrup have a high sweetness level.
Is Invert Sugar An Artificial Sweetener
Invert sugar is an artificial sweetener, sometimes called man-made honey. It is derived from table sugar, also known as sucrose.
Can I Use Corn Syrup Instead Of Invert Sugar?
Yes, but you will have to use more corn syrup to achieve the same sweetness level as with invert sugar because invert sugar is significantly sweeter.
Is Honey An Invert Sugar?
Honey is a complex mix of sugars, some of which are invert. The bees produce an enzyme that inverts the fructose sugar molecules. Honey is usually made of glucose and invert fructose. However, not every version of honey is the same, it varies by region, source, weather, and other factors.
How To Make Invert Sugar Substitute
You can find invert sugar in most grocery stores in the United States. You can also make your own invert sugar by following this particular recipe:
- In a pot, heat 10 oz of water until it reaches 122 degrees F.
- Add 1 lb of sugar and stir until you get a syrup.
- Continue cooking until the syrup reaches a temperature of 176 degrees F.
- Add 1/5 tablespoons of citric acid and remove the pot from the heat.
- Once the mixture in the pot cools down a bit (down to 150 degrees F), add 1/3 tablespoon of baking soda.
- A foam will appear on top of the syrup, but it will disappear soon.
- Once the invert sugar syrup cools down completely, pour and store it in an airtight container.
Summary
Now you know how to choose the best invert sugar substitute. You have several options, including honey, brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, glucose syrup, etc. In addition to learning about the best invert sugar substitutes, you also learned how to make your own invert sugar.
Invert sugar is basically part water, part table sugar, with an addition of citric acid and baking soda. It is sweeter than most other sweeteners and can be used in a variety of recipes for desserts, drinks, and baked goods.