Super Simple Golden Syrup Cake Recipe - Scottish Scran (2024)

FAQs

What is Scottish golden syrup? ›

Sometimes called 'light treacle' in recipes, it's an inverted sugar syrup made from refined cane sugar. Tastes a bit like honey, but punchier. The same company makes Black Treacle, another classic addition in British baking. It's a sweet liquid similar in appearance, but not taste, to honey or maple syrup.

Beyond its sweetening powers, golden syrup also plays a crucial role as a binding agent in cakes. It helps to bring the dry ingredients together and create the perfect texture, helping to achieve a light and fluffy sponge.

Also known as light treacle, golden syrup makes its way into recipes with treacle in the title, like this Blood Orange Treacle Pudding. It's not to be confused with treacle, however, which is closer to molasses or dark corn syrup in its consistency, though it doesn't quite have the same flavor.

Water and sugar are stirred over heat until boiling, with citric acid added to enhance inversion of sucrose. The mixture is slowly boiled without stirring until it is thick and amber colored.

golden syrup in British English

noun. British. a light golden-coloured treacle produced by the evaporation of cane sugar juice, used to sweeten and flavour cakes, puddings, etc. Collins English Dictionary.

Still, the idea is that you disperse simple syrup over the surface of your still-warm cake layers while they're fresh from the oven, allowing the syrup to soak into your cake — adding sustainable moisture and another level of flavor.

However, unlike varieties of brown sugars that have slight nutritional benefits over white sugar, golden syrup has no dietary advantage; there is no real difference nutritionally.

Golden syrup is made up of sugar and water. Therefore, it is in no comparison healthier than honey. However, honey is a natural sweetener with nutrients, whereas golden syrup is empty calories. Therefore, honey is more nutritious than golden syrup.

Golden syrup is made from cane sugar or sugar beet. It's produced by further processing one of the by-products of the sugar refining process. It's often found in baked goods and desserts. Despite being made from grapes this still has a high sugar content, so isn't much healthier than regular table sugar.

In the U.S.A. you can buy Lyles Golden Syrup (11.46 ounce) in the International Foods section at Publix.

Why does golden syrup have a dead lion on it? ›

Lyle's Golden Syrup was founded in 1881 by Scottish businessman Abram Lyle and, according to the company, it was Lyle's religious beliefs that led to the brand's original logo, drawing from the biblical tale of Samson from the Old Testament.

A delicious sticky pudding cake baked to perfection by McVitie's using Lyle's Golden Syrup®. Did you know our secret Lyle's Golden Syrup® Cake recipe also makes the perfect pudding? That's why we call it a Sticky Pudding Cake. Enjoy it cold with a cuppa or warm with custard - either way, It's stickily delicious!

The short answer is technically no, syrup does not expire and you can keep an unopened container of the stuff on your shelf indefinitely.

Treacle has a richer colour and a stronger flavour to Golden Syrup and is not quite so sweet. You can use it to replace Golden Syrup in many recipes but it is often used alongside Golden Syrup in recipes such as in our Old English Gingerbread.

Honey. Because golden syrup and honey look similar, people often assume they're more of less the same. Each can act as a substitute for the other, but honey is a byproduct of bees and flowers, and golden syrup comes from sugar cane or sugar beets. Honey is not a vegan product, but golden syrup is.

Golden syrup, or light treacle, is a thick sugar syrup. With its golden, amber color, it is lighter than molasses, though the two are similar in their thickness. Golden syrup also a liquid sweetener, so 1 cup of golden syrup can replace 1 cup of molasses.

However, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup and cane syrup are also quite good alternatives. Making your own homemade version of golden syrup is also a great easy option. Sugar (with water), molasses and liquid sweeteners can also be used if needed too, but the above are all much better options!

Unlike maple syrup, golden syrup is produced from sugar. It is a derivative of sugar cane and sugar beet, with the former grown in hot, tropical climates, such as South America and Asia, while the latter is grown in temperate climates, such as Europe and North America.