This 5-ingredient sugar-free keto syrup has ZERO net carbs and ZERO sugar and can be made in only 10 minutes.
Pour it over your keto pancakes in the morning and indulge your sweet tooth, just without the sugar.
This keto maple syrup is quick and easy to make and more affordable than purchasing a sugar-free pancake syrup from the store. PLUS it has approved sweeteners (no maltitol).
There is always an occasion that calls for an amazing sugar-free syrup for keto pancakes, keto waffles, or French toast. But it can be difficult to buy a keto pancake syrup that doesn't have artificial sweeteners.
This sugar-free maple syrup was inspired by my keto waffles and low-carb almond flour pancakes, but it is also the perfect topping for so many other breakfast recipes on this site.
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Is maple syrup keto?
No. Store-bought maple syrup is made from the sap of the xylem of various maple trees and sugar. It is a high-sugar syrup that has been made with pure maple syrup (or maple flavoring), sugar, and water. Store-bought maple syrup can be up to 67% sugar.
This maple syrup recipe is made from a brown sugar substitute, xanthan gum, maple extract (maple flavor), and water. It has ZERO SUGAR and ZERO NET CARBS.
Ingredients
You will only need a few ingredients to make homemade sugar-free maple syrup. You likely already have most ingredients on hand!
All these keto syrup ingredients can usually be found at your local grocery store in the baking section. Of course, if you can't find an ingredient in the store you can easily find it online at iHerb or in my Amazon store.
Here's what I used to make sugar-free maple syrup: 5 simple ingredients.
- granulated sweetener of choice - a brown sugar substitute will make your syrup a rich dark colour or use a regular sugar-free sweetener.
- maple extract - don't skip this one! This is what makes your sugar-free pancake syrup a real punch of maple flavor and taste like maple syrup. The maple flavor adds so much depth and richness to this recipe.
- vanilla extract - optional, but gives you syrup even more depth and flavor.
- xanthan gum - to thicken your syrup
- hot water
- pinch of salt
See the sugar-free maple syrup recipe below for quantities.
Instructions
To make this keto maple syrup recipe you will start by mixing half a cup of hot water with your xanthan gum in a small bowl. The hot water makes it easier to mix the xanthan gum and water without it clumping.
Set your xanthan gum mixture aside to add to your maple syrup at the end. It will bloom and thicken as it sits.
Next mix the brown sugar substitute, salt, and remaining water together in a saucepan on the stove over high heat. Let the keto maple syrup come to a simmer stirring occasionally until all the sweetener is dissolved.
Once the sweetener is dissolved remove the pan from the heat. While the syrup is still hot, mix in the maple and vanilla extracts.
Then mix the xanthan gum mixture into the hot maple syrup with a whisk. This will help thicken your syrup.
Once the xanthan gum mix has fully dissolved into the syrup pour into the airtight container or glass jar you plan on storing it in. Let the keto maple syrup cool uncovered on the counter until it reaches room temperature.
Then add the lid and store syrup in the refrigerator.
Hint: Your syrup will thicken as it cools. If you are having a difficult time with any lumps in the syrup mixture, smooth it out with a blender or immersion blender.
How To Use
This keto maple syrup is the perfect low-carb sauce that can be used in dozens of ways. It makes a great topping, but can also be used to sweeten desserts and drinks. Here are a few tasty ways to use your low-carb maple syrup.
- Topping for your typical breakfast food -this keto maple syrup recipe is perfect for these tasty almond flour pancakes, coconut flour sheet pan pancakes or these chocolate and vanilla keto waffles. Yum!
- Sweeten Baked Goods - adding a bit of this keto maple syrup to these keto granola bars or bounty bars would be delicious.
- Sweeten Drinks - Add a little to a cup of tea or your morning coffee. It would be a great addition to any of these copycat keto Starbucks at home drinks.
- Top or sweeten chia seed pudding - check out these low-carb chia breakfasts for ideas on how to make chia seed pudding.
- Pour over crepes - looking for something quick and easy to try your syrup on? Try our keto crepes!
- Use as a flavor variation for keto oatmeal.
- Serve with keto banana bread (made without bananas).
In short, you can use this just like you would real maple syrup (minus the blood sugar spike!). There are so many ways to use this keto pancake syrup. I can't wait to see what you do with it.
Variations
Once you have the base for a sugar-free low-carb syrup there are so many other sugar-free syrups you can make. Each keto syrup recipe can be used in a variety of healthy recipes.
- Butter - Use butter extract to give this low-carb maple syrup recipe a buttery flavor.
- Sugar-free berry syrup - Replace the maple extract or vanilla extract with a berry extract for summery syrup.
- Spicy syrup - Add warmth to your syrup with a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger!
- Citrus syrup - Create some zing. Replace the maple extract with lemon extract instead. Use your sugar free lemon syrup to sweeten drinks!
- Sugar-free brandy syrup - use brandy extract (or real brandy if you want an alcoholic sauce).
Equipment
A saucepan, stove, a few measuring spoons, and a mixing bowl is all you need to make this keto maple syrup substitute.
If you are having a hard time with clumps you may want to use a blender or immersion blender to smooth them out.
We've all poured something in a little too fast before that resulted in those dreaded clumps. A blender is a great way to fix this and get the best sugar-free syrup possible.
Storage
Your low-carb sugar-free syrup should be stored in an airtight bottle or jar with a lid.
Syrup stored at room temperature in a dry dark place will remain good for up to 4 weeks. You can also store keto syrup in the refrigerator where it will last for up to 6 months.
While you can freeze your syrup, I wouldn't recommend it as it could impact the texture of the syrup. When the syrup crystallizes it's hard to get that smooth texture back!
Top tip
This syrup is easiest to work with when hot. Use hot water when mixing with xanthan gum and then be sure to stir your xanthan gum mixture into your syrup while the syrup is hot.
The same applies to bottling your keto syrup. It will pour easily into a bottle while it is warm since it thickens as it cools. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQ
There is a list of approved keto sweeteners but the most common granulated sweeteners to use are brown sugar substitute (keto brown sugar), monk fruit sweetener, sugar alcohols, or powdered sweetener (powdered Swerve) for a super smooth homemade syrup.
If you don't want to make your own homemade syrup, you can buy sugar-free maple syrup at iHerb or in my Amazon store. Just check to make sure there are no artificial sweeteners or maltitol.
This homemade maple syrup recipe can be stored in the refrigerator where it will last for up to 6 months.
Traditional maple syrup is high in sugar so the syrup crystallized when frozen. These sugar crystals make your maple syrup grainy and crunchy.
This keto syrup recipe has no sugar but the xanthan gum may go lumpy when frozen and it's hard to get that smooth texture back!
Xanthan gum is often added to thicken food, drinks, soups, and syrups. Xanthan gum is a soluble fiber made from fermented sugar. The gum is made into a dried powder, called xanthan gum.
Xanthan gum is not absorbed and contains no calories. It is classified as safe by the FDA and there is no maximum daily limit.
Both ingredients are often used in gluten-free and sugar-free baking. And some recipes use a combination of them both. Guar gum is made from a seed and xanthan gum is made from fermented sugar.
Guar gum is best used in cold recipes such as ice cream, and xanthan gum is best used in recipes that need heating.
There is no strict ratio to swap guar gum for xanthan gum but most consider 1:1.5 So 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum = 1.5 teaspoons of guar gum.
Cornstarch has been used instead of xanthan gum but you need to use a much higher quantity because xanthan gum is such a powerful thickener. The cornstarch will add starch and carbs to your recipe and it will have a distinct floury texture. It is not a recommended substitute.
📖 Recipe
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Easy Homemade Sugar-Free Keto Syrup Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cups hot water
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 ½ cups hot water
- 1 cup granulated sweetener of choice Brown sweetener for darker syrup. Regular sweetener for golden syrup.
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ tablespoon maple extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together ½ cup hot water and the xanthan gum. Set to the side until ready to use.½ cups hot water, 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- Place a saucepan on the stove over high heat. Add the remaining water, sweetener, and salt. Let the syrup come to a simmer while occasionally stirring until the sweetener is dissolved.1 cup granulated sweetener of choice, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ cups hot water
- Remove the pan from the heat. Mix in your extracts and then whisk in the xanthan gum/water mix while the syrup is still hot. Continue to stir until the xanthan gum/water mix has completed dissolved.1½ tablespoon maple extract, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the syrup into a glass jar or container with a lid. Let the syrup cool uncovered on the counter until it cool to room temperature. Then add the lid and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK
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YOUR HOLIDAY PANTRY & GIFT GUIDES
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Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.
More sugar-free breakfast recipes
If you love keto pancake syrup drizzled over your morning pancakes, you'll love these other keto recipes for breakfast.
Mary L Carter
Do you think you could use powdered stevia to make this recipe?
Libby Jenkinson
You could, but depending on the brand you use, it may not dissolve 100%. Remember to look at the nutrition label to make sure your stevia powder hasn't got any added nasties such as dextrose powder.
Natalia Gaviria
Delicious!!! I made it with fresh ginger and cinnamon! A hit!!!!
Kathy
As a Canadian who has had the joy of having freshly made maple syrup from trees we have tapped ourselves, there is nothing like it ❤ So I admit I'm a purest - but appreciate that the real product doesn't fit in my LC lifestyle so only use a tbsp on special occasions!!
Carmen
Well cover me in maple syrup and call me a pancake! Who knew making homemade keto maple syrup was so DARN EASY??? This is a game changer. I made it as soon as saw it in the weekly newsletter and my boys devoured it over your waffles. Happy weekend Libby, from Carmen.
Libby Jenkinson
Carmen, you have just won the best recipe review of the month! Love it.