Super Simple Golden Syrup Cake Recipe

This Golden Syrup cake recipe is so delicious and SO easy! Honestly, we have to stop ourselves from making it too much because it’s so quick but then we devour it when it’s barely cooled!

We tried a couple of different options before perfecting the recipe. The first was light and still tasty, but ultimately we settled on this version of a Golden Syrup Cake because of the fantastic caramel flavour it has that just keeps you going back for more, a bit like our Sultana Loaf too!

Golden Syrup cake can be eaten straight from the oven (cooled a little of course!) or we love to pack it up for a picnic. Serve it with some ice cream for a decadent dessert, or even custard.

The cake can also be frozen and then allowed to thaw to enjoy later on, but seriously, we doubt you’ll have any left!

What is Golden Syrup?

Golden Syrup is a thick, golden coloured syrup (hence the name!) made by refining cane sugar. Although it only contains sugar, water, and citric acid, the resulting flavour is buttery with a hint of caramel. Why is a Golden Syrup loaf on a Scottish food website we hear you cry? Well back in 1881 Abram Lyle founded a sugar refinery in London and created Lyle’s golden syrup as we now it.

How do you use Golden Syrup?

Golden Syrup is often used in baking as a sweetener and binder, but it’s also delicious when drizzled on porridge, yoghurt, ice cream, or pancakes (especially Scotch Pancakes!). It’s often a substitute for honey as it’s vegan, and it is thicker than maple syrup and with a different taste.

Is there a substitute for Golden Syrup?

When a recipe calls for a small amount of Golden Syrup it is usually using it as a sweetener and maybe for a bit of binding. This allows it to be substituted with something like honey or Corn Syrup, and the flavour shouldn’t change too much.

However, because this cake relies on the buttery, caramel taste of the Golden Syrup and uses quite a lot of it, any substitute would change the flavour. Of course, you could try a honey cake instead with the recipe, but it wouldn’t be the same!

What is Golden Syrup called in America?

If you can’t find Golden Syrup where you are in the States you can use light treacle or molasses as a replacement. They have a similar texture and work well in our Golden Syrup recipe. Golden syrup should not be mistaken for corn syrup, this is not the same thing. It is less sickly sweet than corn syrup.

Can you make Golden Syrup at home?

Golden Syrup popular in a lot of British recipes and inexpensive to buy in the UK but that’s not necessarily true for the rest of the world! If you live in a place where Golden Syrup isn’t readily available then it is possible to make your own using water, sugar, and a slice of lemon. We’ll work on a recipe for you!

Things you’ll need to make Golden Syrup Cake

• 1lb loaf tin
• Baking paper or loaf tin liner

Ingredients for Golden Syrup Cake

• 100g butter
• 75g light brown sugar (you can use dark)
• 25g caster sugar
• 200g golden syrup
• 1 egg
• 150ml milk
• 200g self-raising flour

How to make Golden Syrup Cake – Step by step method

Preheat oven to 180C/350F (160C/320F for a fan oven) and line the loaf tin with baking paper or a paper liner.

Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup gently on the stove, stirring it together. Set aside to cool.

Beat the milk and egg together.

Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the milk and egg and the butter mixture (taking care it’s not too hot so the milk and egg don’t curdle) and mix it all together.

Bake for one hour at 180C (160 for a fan oven). Check after 45 minutes as some ovens cook faster than others!

If you want you can poke holes in the top of your Golden Syrup cake with a skewer after you remove from the oven and drizzle some more golden syrup over the top.

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