Vegan Honey Substitute

Name: Vegan Honey Substitute
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 chamomile tea bag; ½ cup agave nectar syrup ((or maple syrup)); ¼ teaspoon sea salt

by Marly McMillen

Updated 9/24/25

5 from 2 votes

Looking for a honey substitute that’s vegan-friendly? Discover the best plant-based alternatives for baking, cooking, and tea — all deliciously sweet without the bees.

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 1

Total Time 2

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Looking for the best vegan honey substitute? Whether you’re avoiding honey for ethical reasons, dietary needs, or simply ran out, there are plenty of plant-based alternatives that taste amazing and work beautifully in recipes. From maple syrup’s rich sweetness to date syrup’s caramel-like depth, you’ll find a variety of options that suit everything from baking to beverages. Plus, I’ll even show you how to make your own easy vegan honey at home!

In This Post show

Why Use a Vegan Honey Substitute?

Some vegans avoid honey because it’s made by bees, and using animal byproducts goes against their goals. Concerns also exist about large-scale beekeeping practices and how they may impact bee populations.

That said, many people — including those who follow a mostly plant-based lifestyle — choose to buy honey from small, organic, or ethical producers. Whether you personally avoid honey completely or simply want a bee-free alternative, vegan honey substitutes are a great way to keep your recipes plant-based.

Best Vegan Honey Substitutes

Here are the top vegan honey alternatives, each with unique flavor and texture profiles.

1. Maple Syrup

Rich and smooth with deep caramel notes, maple syrup is a classic honey substitute. It pairs beautifully with pancakes, oatmeal, and baked goods. Its slightly thinner consistency works well in drinks too.

2. Agave Nectar

Mild in flavor and lighter than maple syrup, agave nectar dissolves easily, making it perfect for sweetening tea, coffee, and cocktails. It’s also a great drizzle for fruit and yogurt.

3. Date Syrup

Made from pure dates, this syrup has a rich, caramel-like taste with a hint of fruitiness. It’s nutrient-dense and works wonders in energy bars, smoothies, and desserts.

4. Brown Rice Syrup

Less sweet than honey, brown rice syrup has a mild, almost nutty flavor. It’s ideal for granola, cereal bars, and recipes where you want a less intense sweetness.

5. Molasses (Blackstrap & Light)

Molasses offers bold, slightly bitter notes with a deep sweetness. Light molasses is great for baking, while blackstrap molasses shines in gingerbread, BBQ sauces, and marinades.

6. Corn Syrup

A neutral-flavored option that’s affordable and easy to find. It adds sweetness without altering flavor, making it perfect for candies, glazes, and pie fillings.

7. Coconut Nectar

A low-glycemic syrup with a light, earthy sweetness.

8. Barley Malt Syrup

This syrup is thick and malty. It’s best reserved in breads and baked goods.

9. Homemade Vegan Honey Recipe

See the recipe card below for my personal favorite honey recipe! It adds the perfect floral note that tastes just like honey!

A hand holds a bowl of honey, pouring it into a bowl with mayo and mustard.

Tip: Keep a few of these on hand so you can easily swap based on the recipe.

If you choose to use honey from bees, be sure to select a brand like Bee Inspired that produces sustainably-farmed honey.

Substitute	Flavor Notes	Best Uses	Sweetness Level
Maple Syrup	Rich, Caramel	Pancakes, Baking, Beverages	★★★★★
Agave Nectar	Mild, Neutral	Drinks, Smoothies, Light Baking	★★★★☆
Date Syrup	Fruity, Caramel	Energy Bars, Smoothies, Desserts	★★★★★
Brown Rice Syrup	Mild, Nutty	Granola, Cereal Bars, Baking	★★★☆☆
Light Corn Syrup	Neutral, Sweet	Candies, Glazes, Pies	★★★★☆
Molasses (Light or Blackstrap)	Bold, Robust	Gingerbread, BBQ Sauces, Marinades	★★★☆☆
Coconut Nectar	Earthy, Lightly Sweet	Smoothies, Granola, Dressings	★★★★☆
Barley Malt Syrup	Malty, Rich	Bread, Baking, Breakfast Foods	★★★★☆
Homemade Vegan Honey	Floral, Sweet	Tea, Toast, Baking	★★★★★

How to Replace Honey in Recipes

1:1 ratio: Most liquid sweeteners can replace honey directly in equal amounts.
Adjust liquids in baking: Because some substitutes are thinner than honey, you may need to reduce other liquids slightly.
Think flavor match: Maple syrup for warm baked goods, agave for light drinks, molasses for bold recipes.

A bowl of vegan honey butter sits in front of a plate with dinner rolls. — In Focus: Drizzle vegan honey over vegan butter for a sweet bread topping.

Easy Homemade Vegan Honey Substitute Recipe

If you’d like to make your own, I love this simple DIY version. It combines chamomile tea (for floral notes) with agave nectar for a golden, honey-like flavor. You’ll find the full recipe card below!

Ingredients are laid out on a white table. The labels next to them read, "agave nectar, sea salt, chamomile tea bag, and vegan butter."

Fun Variations to Try

Vegan Hot Honey

Infuse your homemade honey substitute with chili flakes for a sweet-and-spicy drizzle perfect on pizza, biscuits, and roasted veggies.

Flavored Honeys

Lavender: Add dried lavender buds for a floral twist.
Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract makes a cozy, dessert-friendly honey.
Citrus: Lemon or orange peel adds brightness for tea or cocktails.

Frequently-Asked Questions

What can I substitute for honey?

Maple syrup, agave, date syrup, brown rice syrup, molasses, and corn syrup are all excellent substitutes.

Why do vegans not eat honey?

From a technical perspective, vegans would not eat honey because it is a product of a honey bee. That said, you can adopt a mostly vegan diet and decide for yourself whether you will choose honey or not.

What does honey taste like compared to substitutes?

Honey has floral, earthy undertones. Substitutes like maple syrup lean caramel-like, agave is mild, and date syrup is rich and fruity.

Serving Ideas

Serve this vegan honey with your favorite recipes and beverages such as:

Drizzle over vegan biscuits, toast, and vegan pancakes.
Sweeten tea, coffee, or cocktails.
Stir into salad dressings and marinades.
Use in baking recipes like muffins, granola, or cakes.

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Vegan Baked Goods with Honey Substitutes

Use this vegan honey alternative with any of these tasty baked goods:

Vegan Hot Cross Buns

155 mins total

Vegan Honey Butter

2 mins total

Best Vegan Cornbread

40 mins total

Vegan Pumpkin Bread

85 mins total

Ingredients

▢ 1 chamomile tea bag
▢ ½ cup agave nectar syrup (or maple syrup)
▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Add roughly a tablespoon of water to a small bowl. Microwave a few seconds until the water is fairly warm, but not hot. Add the tea bag, pushing it around in the water until the tea is saturated. Set aside.
Pour the agave syrup in another bowl (or a saucepan if you prefer to thicken it). Gently squeeze the tea bag over the syrup, releasing the chamomile flavor.
To thicken: Cook syrup over medium-low heat until it begins to simmer. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Transfer to a lidded glass jar. Close the lid tightly and store in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. It will keep up to 4 months or longer when stored properly. Serve over your favorite slices of bread, cornbread, dinner rolls, or english muffins.

Recommended Equipment

Medium Saucepan

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Nutrition

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.