Honey vs Brown Rice Syrup: Sugars, Arsenic and Baking

What brown rice syrup is

Brown rice syrup is made by cooking brown rice, adding enzymes that break starch into sugars, then straining and reducing the liquid into a thick syrup. The main sugars are maltose, maltotriose and glucose, with almost no fructose.

It became popular as a fructose-free, vegan sweetener in natural foods and sports bars.

Honey vs brown rice syrup at a glance

Key differences:

The arsenic findings

Rice plants absorb arsenic from soil and water more than many crops. In 2012, Dartmouth researchers reported that some toddler formulas, cereal bars and energy products sweetened with organic brown rice syrup had much higher arsenic levels than similar products without it. Two toddler formulas with brown rice syrup as the main ingredient had more than 20 times the arsenic of others.

The researchers called for regulatory limits on arsenic in food. Many manufacturers have since tested and changed sourcing, but it is wise to limit brown rice syrup for young children.

Taste and texture

Brown rice syrup is thick and sticky, with a mild, slightly nutty, butterscotch taste. Because it is less sweet, it lets other flavors lead. Honey is thinner, sweeter and has a clear flavor of its own, from delicate orange blossom to bold buckwheat.

Binding power in bars

Brown rice syrup is excellent at binding granola bars and crispy rice bars because it sets firm and chewy as it cools, without crystallizing. Honey also binds well but tends to give softer, stickier bars that may need refrigeration.

Many bar recipes use a mix: some honey for flavor, plus a binder like nut butter.

Blood sugar

Brown rice syrup is mostly glucose and maltose, which break down to glucose quickly, so it has a high glycemic index. Honey's glycemic index is generally lower because of its fructose, but it still raises blood sugar. Both count as added sugars.

Swapping honey for brown rice syrup

Because honey is sweeter, use about three quarters as much honey as brown rice syrup, or less to taste. Bars may be softer, so press firmly and chill to set. In baking, honey browns faster, so lower the oven by about 25°F.

Our honey energy bites article has no-bake recipes that work well with honey.

• Use about three quarters as much honey
• Press bars firmly
• Chill to set
• Lower oven 25°F for baked goods

Vegan considerations

Honey comes from bees, so strict vegans avoid it. Brown rice syrup, maple syrup, date syrup and agave are common vegan swaps. Our honey vs maple syrup guide compares another popular option.

Fructose-free diets

People with hereditary fructose intolerance must avoid fructose, so honey is not suitable for them. Brown rice syrup has almost no fructose, which is one reason it is used in some specialized products. Follow your doctor's advice for medical diets.

Safety notes

Never give honey to babies under 12 months. Given arsenic concerns, limit brown rice syrup in foods for infants and toddlers, and check ingredient lists on toddler formulas and snack bars.

When honey makes sense

Choose honey when you want flavor and sweetness in fewer spoonfuls: dressings, glazes, tea, yogurt and baked goods. Raw Clover Honey, harvested in New York State, is mild for bars and granola. Raw Buckwheat Honey adds a caramel-like depth similar to rice syrup's butterscotch notes, but bolder.

The takeaway on honey vs brown rice syrup

Honey vs brown rice syrup comes down to sweetness, flavor and diet. Brown rice syrup is a mild, vegan binder with arsenic concerns to keep in mind; honey is sweeter and more flavorful. Both are added sugars.

Honey vs brown rice syrup in granola

In granola, brown rice syrup creates big, crunchy clusters that hold together well, while honey gives a slightly chewier, more flavorful granola. Many home cooks mix the two or use honey with a little egg white to help clusters form. Bake granola at a moderate temperature, since honey browns quickly, and let it cool completely before breaking it up.

Our article on honey and oats has a full honey granola recipe.

Honey for your next batch of bars

Try Raw Clover Honey in granola bars and Raw Buckwheat Honey in darker bakes. Save with a 3 jar or 6 jar pack of any honey, and orders over $50 ship free. Visit our shop.