How to Make Golden Syrup

Golden Syrup is a basic ingredient that you may see in a recipe and might be wondering just exactly what it is. It is a treacle like syrup that you can make, but most usually buy. It's not hard to make it yourself.

Ingredients

1/2 cup white granulated sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 1/3 cups white granulated sugar
1/2 in slice of fresh lemon
1 1/2 cups boiling water

Steps

1
Add the 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons of water to a suitable saucepan on medium heat.
2
Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved and starts to turn a caramel color. This process make take a few minutes, but it can happen very quickly.

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3
Separately, start the boiling water. You need it to be boiling by the time your sugar water is ready.
4
Add the boiling water into the sugar solution once your sugar is showing the right color (light caramel). Do this slowly because it may splatter and you may be burned.
5
Add the lemon slice to the mixture once you have added the water. This will stop the sugar from caramelizing.
6
Add the remaining sugar (2 1/3 cups) and stir until it dissolves.
7
Place the saucepan on medium low to low heat (you know your appliance), and simmer gently for 45 minutes, exactly.
8
Turn off the stove after the 45 minutes is up, and allow the syrup to cool while in the pot.
9
Pour the cooled syrup into a sterilized jar or bottle and allow it to cool completely before the jar is sealed. Many recipes will tell you to strain your syrup. Unless it is 'chunky' for some reason, it won't need it.

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Community Q&A

Question

Can I substitute lemon for apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

If need be, for tartness, but you'll lose the flavor that the recipe is looking for. I'd use a green apple powdered drink mix, mixed with lemon juice and water, to retain the cider-like bite.
Question

Do I add the whole lemon, or just the juice?

Michele

Top Answerer

You only need the slice of lemon with the peel. You don’t want your syrup to be too lemony (unless that’s what you’re going for). Save the rest of the lemon to make something else, like lemon pepper chicken.