Agave nectar is a syrup derived from the liquid inside the blue agave plant. Agave nectar is used to sweeten cocktails, soft drinks, iced tea, raw desserts, salad dressings, sauces, baked goods, and cooked foods.
Honey is the best substitute for agave nectar because it has the same consistency, smoothness, and taste as agave nectar. Other substitutes for agave nectar that hit the same flavor notes include simple syrup, maple syrup, corn syrup, and date syrup.
Sugar-free substitutes for agave nectar include stevia, fruit syrup, and coconut nectar. None of the sugar-free substitutes hit the same flavor notes as accurately as the sugar-based substitutes.
Best Substitute for Agave Nectar: Honey
The best substitute for agave nectar is honey. Like agave nectar, honey is used as a natural sweetener, and honey matches agave nectar’s qualities closest. Agave nectar and honey have nearly identical sweetness, textures, and flavors.
Honey is a delicious, healthy alternative to agave nectar. A ratio of 1:1 is ideal when using honey as an agave nectar substitute. One tablespoon of agave nectar is equal to one tablespoon of honey.
Honey is a good agave nectar substitute in the following dishes:
- Warm beverages
- Salad dressings
- Raw desserts
- Toppings
- Sauces
- Baked goods
Other Agave Nectar Substitutes, Alternatives, and Replacements
This section lists foods that make good substitutes for agave nectar. These substitutes are divided into two categories: sugar-based alternatives and sugar-free replacements.
Sugar-Based Alternatives for Agave Nectar
The sugar-based alternatives for agave nectar have similar textures and flavors to agave nectar.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup comes from sugar sap in Canadian and North American maple trees. Maple syrup is a good substitute for agave nectar because it closely matches the texture and flavor notes of agave nectar, although maple syrup isn’t as sweet as agave syrup.
Agave nectar has 90% fructose, whereas maple syrup has 35% fructose. Agave nectar is sweeter than maple syrup, and the substituting ratio is 2 parts maple syrup to 1 part agave nectar.
You can use maple syrup in place of agave nectar for topping pancakes and sweetening baked goods.
Brown Rice Syrup
Brown rice syrup comes from brown rice. To make brown rice syrup, enzymes are added to cooked brown rice to break starches down and turn the starches into sugars. Brown rice syrup is a good substitute for agave nectar because brown rice syrup is thick and achieves the same flavor notes as agave nectar if used correctly.
Brown rice syrup isn’t as sweet as agave nectar, and a ratio of 1 part brown rice syrup to 3 parts agave nectar achieves the same sweetness.
You can use brown rice syrup as an agave nectar substitute in:
- Baked goods
- Raw desserts
- BBQ Sauces
- Candied vegetables
- Baked beans
Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is made from granulated sugar dissolved in water. Simple syrup matches agave nectar closely in texture and sweetness, but the simple syrup has different flavor notes to agave nectar. Simple syrup is sweet and sugary and doesn’t have the same complexity as agave nectar.
The best substituting ratio is 1 part simple syrup to 2 parts agave nectar. Cut the ratio down to 1 part simple syrup to 4 parts agave nectar for cocktails and drinks that require less sweetness.
To make simple syrup, follow the recipe below.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated or brown sugar
Instructions:
- Heat the granulated or brown sugar in a saucepan with a cup of water.
- Simmer the sugar and water slowly for five minutes while constantly stirring the liquid.
- The simple syrup is ready for use when the liquid reaches a syrupy consistency.
You can use simple syrup in place of agave nectar for:
- Iced tea and coffee
- Cocktails
- Lemonade
- Cake drizzling
- Sweetening baked goods
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is made by adding acid or enzymes to wet corn starch to convert the starch to maltose, dextrose, or dextrins. Corn syrup is sweetened through processing, whereas agave nectar has naturally sweet plant sugars.
Corn syrup is a viable substitute for agave nectar because corn starch has similar flavor notes, texture, and sweetness to agave nectar. The perfect substituting ratio for corn syrup and agave nectar is 1:1.
Corn syrup can be used in place of agave nectar in the following:
- Candied vegetables
- Raw desserts
- Baked beans
- BBQ sauces
- Baked goods
Granulated Sugar
Granulated sugar comes from sugar cane or sugar beets crystalized into sucrose. Granulated sugar is derived from China, Thailand, Brazil, and India. Granulated sugar is another substitute for agave nectar because, like agave nectar, sugar is a sweetener.
Agave nectar and granulated sugar don’t have the same textures or flavor notes. Use one-third of the amount of granulated sugar to agave nectar and reduce the liquids used in the recipe by one-quarter.
You can use granulated sugar in place of agave nectar in the following foods:
- Tea and coffee
- Baked goods
- BBQ sauces
- Tomato-based casserole, chili, and stew
- Hot vegetables
- Oatmeal
Sorghum Syrup
Sorghum syrup comes from the juices of the sorghum plant. To make sorghum syrup, the extracted stalks are heated and steamed to remove excess water. Sorghum syrup comes from Kentucky, Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri.
Sorghum syrup is a good substitute for agave nectar because the syrup has similar texture and flavor notes to agave nectar. However, sorghum syrup isn’t as sweet as agave, and sorghum syrup has a buttery aftertaste that agave nectar doesn’t have. A ratio of 2 parts sorghum syrup to 1 part agave nectar is ideal because more sorghum syrup equals the same sweetness as agave nectar.
You can use sorghum syrup in place of agave nectar for:
- Meat sauces
- BBQ sauces
- Drizzling over pancakes
- Hot cereals
- Baked beans
Yacon Syrup
Yacon syrup comes from the yacon root found at the foot of the Andean Mountains in South America. Yacon syrup is another healthier substitute for agave nectar and is a good source of antioxidants and potassium.
Yacon syrup can be used as an agave nectar substitute because the syrup has a similar texture and sweetness to agave nectar. Yacon syrup has similar flavor notes to agave nectar, but yacon syrup has a caramel aftertaste which agave nectar doesn’t have. A ratio of 2 parts yacon syrup to 1 part agave nectar works well.
Yacon syrup doesn’t heat well and loses its prebiotic properties when heated. For this reason, you should only use yacon syrup as an agave nectar substitute for no-bake purposes, such as in:
- Raw foods
- Raw desserts
- Cocktails
- Cold beverages
- Plain yogurt
- Salad dressings
- Garnishing
Date Syrup
Date syrup is made by cooking, blending, pressing, straining, and evaporating pitted dates. Dates are a great source of essential minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium, and selenium.
Date syrup is a good substitute for agave nectar because the syrup has a similar texture, flavor notes, and sweetness to agave nectar. A ratio of 1:1 is ideal to substitute agave nectar with date syrup.
Date syrup is easy to make at home, following the recipe below.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup pitted dates
Instructions:
- Heat the cup of water to boiling point.
- Soak the dates in the water for five minutes until the dates become soft.
- Mash the soft dates into the water until the dates have a smooth consistency.
- Strain the mashed dates through a muslin cloth or cheesecloth.
- Pour the thin liquid into a pan to simmer until a thick, syrupy texture forms. Constantly stir the liquid to avoid burning the syrup.
- The syrup is ready when it resembles the consistency of honey.
You can use date syrup in place of agave syrup for the following purposes:
- Sprinkling over hot cereal
- Sweetening raw desserts, baked goods, and warm beverages
Sugar-Free Replacements for Agave Nectar
Sugar-free replacements for agave nectar sweeten foods, baked goods, and drinks, but sugar-free replacements don’t have the same sweetness or texture as agave nectar.
Stevia
Stevia is the most natural plant-based sweetener derived from the leaves of plants like chrysanthemums and asters. Stevia is 200 times sweeter than granulated sugar and has zero calories.
Stevia liquid or powder is a healthy alternative to agave nectar because stevia is a sweetener, but stevia doesn’t have the same texture or flavor notes. Stevia has an aftertaste that agave nectar doesn’t have. Use 1 teaspoon of stevia for every ⅔ cup agave nectar when substituting agave nectar with stevia.
You can use stevia as an agave syrup substitute in the following foods:
- Warm beverages
- Baked goods (mask the licorice aftertaste with lemon in baking)
- Lemonade
- Sauces
- Garnishing
Fruit Syrup
Fruit syrup comes from concentrated juices from fruits like pineapple, apple, pear, apricot, nectarine, plum, and peach. Fruit syrup is used to sweeten fruit spreads like strawberries.
Fruit syrup is a good substitute for agave nectar for some cooking uses because fruit syrup has a similar texture and sweetness to agave nectar. However, fruit syrup doesn’t have the same flavor notes as agave nectar. A ratio of 2 parts fruit syrup to 1 part agave nectar is best because the flavor notes of the two syrups are too different for an equal ratio between agave nectar and fruit syrup.
Fruit syrup is best used as a replacement for agave nectar in the following foods:
- Baked goods (except white sponge cake)
- Recipes that use chocolate
- Lemonade
- Plain yogurt
- Hot cereals
- Hot beverages (except herbal tea)
Coconut Nectar
Coconut nectar comes from flower sap from the coconut palm tree. Coconut nectar is a close substitute for agave nectar with a similar texture and flavor notes to agave nectar. However, coconut nectar isn’t as sweet as agave nectar.
Two parts coconut nectar substitutes one part agave nectar best.
You can use coconut nectar in place of agave nectar for the following purposes:
- Sweetening baked goods
- Drizzling over savory food
- Drizzling over pancakes, waffles, toast, and oatmeal
- Sweetening hot beverages
- Adding to smoothies and cocktails
Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses comes from the sugarcane plant and is made through a refining process. Light molasses comes from boiling sugarcane once, whereas blackstrap molasses comes from boiling sugarcane three times.
Blackstrap molasses is a good substitute for agave nectar because blackstrap molasses has a similar texture to agave nectar. However, blackstrap molasses doesn’t have the same flavor notes or sweetness. Blackstrap molasses has a bitter taste, and too much blackstrap molasses will enhance the bitterness. A substitute ratio of 2 parts blackstrap molasses to 1 part agave nectar is best.
You can use blackstrap molasses to sweeten and add flavor to the following foods:
- Gingerbread
- Rye bread
- Baked beans
- Hot beverages
- Cocktails
- BBQ sauce
Tapioca Syrup
Tapioca syrup comes from manioc or cassava roots and is sourced from Africa, Asia, and South America. Tapioca syrup is healthier than granulated sugar and agave nectar, and tapioca syrup comes in non-GMO and gluten-free products.
Tapioca syrup is an excellent alternative to agave nectar because the syrup has a similar texture, flavor notes, and sweetness to agave nectar. Substitute 1 part tapioca syrup for 1 part agave nectar.
You can use tapioca syrup in place of agave nectar for adding flavor to:
- Hot and cold beverages
- Frozen desserts
- Candied foods and vegetables
- Baked goods
