Corn Syrup Substitute Recipe

The consumption of corn syrup has been linked to many health issues. Its shocking to see how many food items have the gooey stuff in it.
Before the advent of corn syrup, plain old sugar syrups were made. Sugar is not the best thing for you but its better than corn syrup. Around here, folks drink what is called Dublin Dr Pepper, made with sugar like it was in the old days. The stuff just simply tastes better. This is true Dr Pepper country. The home of Dr Pepper, Dublin, Texas is just a ways down the road from here, about 60 miles or so.
Anyway, here is a recipe to make your own substitute for corn syrup. With so many holiday recipes calling for the corn syrup, its time for me to be making a few batches of the good old fashioned sugar syrup.

LIGHT CORN SYRUP SUBSTITUTE
2 c. white sugar

3/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Dash of salt
Combine all ingredients in a heavy, large pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and put cover on it for 3 minutes to get sugar crystals off the sides of the pan. Uncover and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. Stir often.
Cool syrup and store in a covered container at room temperature. It will keep for about 2 months. Makes almost 2 cups.

Comments

THANK you for printing this! I was recently wondering if there was something like this. There is a new movie coming out called "King Corn" - a documentary about our dependence on corn in this country. And just last night, as we had corn on the side of our dinner of "breakfast burritos" along with some corn chips, I looked around and wondered if there was any corn syrup lurking. None was found and I was pleased, but this post just reminded me of that all over again!
Sunny said…
Oh, shoot! Is that so? And hear I was believing what the "experts" say about it being only HIGH FRUCTOSE corn syrup that is bad for you and good old fashioned Karo perfectly all right. Not that we ever eat that either.
Patty said…
King Corn has some amazing information about the amount of corn that shows up in our hair when tested, we are virtually made of corn !
http://www.kingcorn.net/
Patty said…
From onemorebite.com...
Karo syrup (corn syrup) was originally promoted in 1905 as, "An appetizer that makes you eat." See the original Karo Syrup Ad, circa 1905.

Remember in 1905 a good appetite was necessary if you wanted a longer lifespan. Scrawny folks just had a harder time warding off illness.

The USDA figures show that the steady growth of high-fructose corn syrup, which ballooned from zero consumption in 1966 to 62.6 pounds per person in 2001 also corresponds to the rapid rise in obesity. It is believed that this high consumption of corn syrup is undermining appetite control, the very thing Karo used in it's advertising. Also from 1965 to 1996 soft-drink consumption increased 287% in boys and 224% in girls, and corn syrup is the primary sweetener used in soft drinks.

Small wonder corn syrup is now being largly blamed for the rampant obesity. Guess they were right about that "making you eat," thing.
Baleboosteh said…
Thank you so much for posting this! I have several recipes I would like to try that require corn syrup but it is prctically unobtainable in the UK (not necessarily a bad thing!). May and your family enjoy a truly blessed Thanksgiving.
Michelle
ann said…
Thanks so much for posting this recipe. I'll be making some up for the pantry.

Believe it or not, I was raised eating karo and butter sandwiches.

My mom always said that karo was good for us!
Annie said…
Thank You for the recipe, I dont use Karo much except around the Holidays, I have several recipes that call for it, I will try the recipe you posted in place of the corn syrup!
Libby said…
Thank you for sharing your recipe. Used it just this weekend with great success and will do it again and again in the future.
Friday Delights said…
Thank yo so much for posting this....I am making my own cake frosting and i was searching for something to substitute that corn syrup. Your grandmother recipe is a life saver, Thanks again.
Diane Shiffer said…
Oh my goodness gracious! This is truly, truly a Godsend! My middle daughter is very allergic to corn syrup, which terribly limits her consumption of most processed foods (not that that is a bad thing, lol) There are several family recipes we haven't been able to make for the last few years as they require corn syrup and we haven't been able to find an adequate substitute. I am going to make some of this this week! Amelia thanks you☺

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