Natural Ingredient Substitutes
Browse 13 natural substitutes across 8 ingredients. The listed use notes include baking, drinks, dressings and cookies.
Ingredient groups to start with
🌵 Agave Nectar
Honey is tagged natural; listed uses include baking, drinks and dressings.
🍯 Brown Sugar
Maple Syrup is tagged natural; listed uses include cookies, sauces, glazes and marinades.
🌽 Corn Syrup
Honey is tagged natural; listed uses include baking, glazes and sauces.
🥚 Eggs
Mashed Banana is tagged natural; listed uses include pancakes, muffins, quick breads and brownies.
🍯 Honey
Maple Syrup is tagged natural; listed uses include baking, dressings, glazes and marinades.
🍁 Maple Syrup
Honey is tagged natural; listed uses include baking, glazes, dressings and hot drinks.
Mashed Banana
Adds moisture and natural sweetness. Works best in sweet baked goods. Will add banana flavor.
Applesauce
Adds moisture with mild sweetness. Use unsweetened for best results. Makes baked goods denser and more moist.
Maple Syrup
The closest match in terms of texture and liquid consistency. Swaps in at a straight 1:1 ratio in any recipe — baking, dressings, glazes, marinades. You'll get a distinctive maple flavor instead of honey's floral sweetness, which works well in most recipes but will noticeably change the taste profile. Pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup) is what you want here.
Honey
Best substitute in terms of consistency and sweetening power. Adds honey's floral flavor instead of maple's woody notes. Not vegan.
Coconut Sugar
Direct 1:1 swap. Has a caramel-like flavor and slightly lower glycemic index. Darker color will affect appearance of light-colored baked goods.
Honey
Sweeter than sugar so use less. Reduce oven temp by 25°F to prevent over-browning. Adds moisture and distinct flavor.
Maple Syrup
Use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Adds distinct maple flavor. Reduce oven temp by 25°F. Works better in moist recipes.
Stevia
Zero calories but much sweeter — a little goes a long way. Can have a bitter aftertaste in large amounts. Won't caramelize or add bulk.
Applesauce (Unsweetened)
Reduces sugar and adds moisture. Best when replacing only half the sugar in a recipe. Will make baked goods denser.
Natural substitute FAQs
What makes a substitute natural?
A substitute is tagged natural when that tag appears in SwapChef's curated substitute data. Always check labels for allergens, additives, and cross-contamination if the diet is strict.
How should I choose a natural substitute?
Use the listed ratio, notes, cautions, and “listed for” uses to match the substitute to your recipe goal.