Looking for a treacle substitute? You’re in the right place! The quick answer: molasses is the best substitute for black treacle, and you can swap it 1 for 1. If you’re out of molasses too, golden syrup, maple syrup, honey, dark corn syrup or brown sugar mixed with water will all work. Keep reading for my favorite simple treacle substitutes, plus which one to use in your recipe.
What is Treacle?
Treacle is a thick, sticky liquid sweetener made during the sugar refining process. It’s a dark brown syrup with a strong flavor that’s both sweet and slightly bitter, with rich caramel and licorice notes. It’s about 75% sugar, with the remainder being mostly water.
Treacle is one of the key ingredients in British baking. You’ll find it in classic recipes like sticky toffee pudding, gingerbread, parkin, Christmas cake and fruit cake.
Black Treacle vs Golden Syrup
In the UK, ‘treacle’ can mean two different things, which is where a lot of confusion comes from:
- Black treacle – the dark, strongly flavored syrup most recipes mean when they say ‘treacle’.
- Light treacle – another name for golden syrup, which is much paler, sweeter and milder.
If your recipe just says ‘treacle’, it almost always means black treacle. The exception is treacle tart, which is actually made with golden syrup!
What is the American Equivalent of Treacle?
In America, the closest equivalent to black treacle is molasses. They’re both by-products of sugar refining and they look and taste very similar. Black treacle is usually a little sweeter and less bitter than molasses. Golden syrup (light treacle) doesn’t have an exact American equivalent, but light corn syrup or honey are the closest.
Are Treacle and Molasses the Same Thing?
Not quite, but they’re very close. Black treacle is made from molasses blended with refined sugar syrup, so it’s slightly sweeter and milder. Molasses is darker and more intensely flavored. For most recipes you won’t notice the difference.
The Best Treacle Substitutes
1. Molasses
Molasses is slightly darker and more intensely flavored than treacle. The sugar content of the two is comparable. Use regular or dark molasses, rather than blackstrap molasses, which is very bitter. In recipes where there is only a tablespoon or so of treacle, molasses will work perfectly as a 1:1 swap. But if the recipe has a high treacle content, molasses may end up being too strong and bitter, so be careful.
2. Molasses + Golden Syrup
For the closest match in recipes that use a lot of treacle, mix molasses with a little golden syrup, honey or light corn syrup to soften the bitterness. Start with about 2 parts molasses to 1 part golden syrup and stir to combine.
3. Golden Syrup
Treacle is much darker and more intensely flavored than golden syrup. You won’t get the same intense flavor and color, but golden syrup will work well from a textural perspective. Use it 1:1. See my golden syrup substitutes if you’re out of that too.
4. Maple Syrup
If you prefer not to use refined sugars, maple syrup will work as a 1:1 substitution. As with golden syrup, the flavor and color of maple syrup will be much lighter and milder.
5. Honey
As with maple syrup, honey will work as a 1:1 substitute for treacle if you don’t mind a milder flavor and lighter color.
6. Dark or Light Corn Syrup
Dark corn syrup will be closer in color and flavor, but either will work as a 1:1 substitute for treacle if you’re OK with a significantly lighter flavor and color.
7. Brown Sugar + Water
Brown sugar is white sugar with some molasses added, so it can work as a substitute. You’ll just need to adjust the quantity and add extra water. By weight, use 3 parts brown sugar to 1 part water and stir until dissolved. Dark brown sugar is closest in flavor. Here are my brown sugar substitutes too.
8. Coconut Sugar + Water
Coconut sugar is a type of palm sugar made from, you guessed it… coconut trees. It has a brown, crumbly texture and a delicious caramelly flavor. While it does contain more minerals than white sugar, it’s essentially the same as brown sugar from a nutritional perspective. So it can be used as a treacle substitute in a similar way.
The Best Sugar-Free Treacle Substitutes
1. Golden Monkfruit + Water
If I want to avoid adding carbs to a dish, a little golden monkfruit and water will be the closest match to treacle, but it won’t have anywhere near the same caramelized flavors. Monkfruit tends to be much sweeter than sugar, so start with less than you think you’ll need and add more to taste.
2. Stevia
Granular white stevia is another sugar-free option. It can have an unpleasant aftertaste, but generally you won’t notice if there are lots of other strong flavors in your dish. As with monkfruit, it tends to be more intense, so start with less.
Treacle Substitute Ratios at a Glance
- Molasses: 1 tablespoon for 1 tablespoon treacle
- Molasses + golden syrup: 2 parts molasses to 1 part golden syrup, used 1:1
- Golden syrup, maple syrup, honey or corn syrup: 1:1
- Brown sugar or coconut sugar: 3 parts sugar + 1 part water by weight
- Monkfruit or stevia: start with less and add to taste
Which Substitute Should I Use in My Recipe?
- Sticky toffee pudding – molasses, or molasses mixed with golden syrup. Serve with heavy cream or custard!
- Gingerbread and parkin – molasses for that classic dark color and spicy depth.
- Christmas cake and fruit cake – molasses, or dark brown sugar plus a splash of water.
- Treacle tart – golden syrup, which is what the classic recipe uses in the filling. Spoon it into the pie crust made from your favorite pastry dough.
- Flapjacks and cookies – golden syrup, maple syrup or honey.
- Glazes, baked beans and BBQ sauce – molasses, maple syrup or brown sugar.
Can I Buy Treacle in the US?
Yes, but it can be tricky to find. Look for Lyle’s Black Treacle in the international aisle of larger supermarkets, at British food stores, or online. Otherwise, molasses is easy to find and is the best substitute.
How to Store Treacle
Keep treacle tightly sealed in the pantry at room temperature. It will keep for a long time. If it gets too thick to pour, stand the tin in a pan of warm water for a few minutes. Tip: lightly oil your measuring spoon and the treacle will slide right off!
Is Black Treacle Good for You?
Black treacle contains small amounts of minerals like iron, calcium and potassium, which are removed from refined white sugar. But it’s still mostly sugar, so it’s best enjoyed in moderation as part of a treat.
More Sweetener Substitutes
More Ingredient Substitutes
Also see the Simple Ingredient Substitutes Index.
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Jules from Stonesoup xx
(Your favourite Australian Food Scientist)
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