Is Pancake Syrup Gluten Free?

Is pancake syrup gluten-free? Most is, but labels vary from brand to brand. Below are popular pancake syrup brands, what their labels say, and how to make your own. Pancake syrup doesn’t just pair perfectly with pancakes, it’s also great with waffles, French toast, and just about any breakfast food. But is it gluten-free? Let’s take a look.

What Is Pancake Syrup?

You may think pancake syrup and maple syrup are the same thing, but they’re not. Pure maple syrup is made from boiled-down maple tree sap. Pancake syrup is usually made from corn syrup with added maple flavoring. While they taste very similar, pancake syrup is a much cheaper alternative to maple syrup and is also perfect for pouring onto pancakes.

Learn more about: Does IHOP Have Gluten-Free Pancakes?

Ingredients In Pancake Syrup

Ingredients will differ depending on which brand you’re using. But typically, the most common ingredients in pancake syrup are:

• corn syrup
• high fructose corn syrup
• artificial maple flavor extract
• caramel color
• natural and artificial flavors

What Are The Types Of Pancake Syrup?

The most popular syrup when it comes to pancakes is traditional pancake syrup (artificial maple flavor) and pure maple syrup. However, there are plenty of fun flavors out there! Including, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, pineapple and so much more. If you’re making your own pancake syrup, you can simply add whatever you’d like!

Gluten Free Pancake Syrup Brands

There’s a huge selection of gluten-free brands, but these are our top picks when it comes to pancake syrups.

Pearl Milling Company

Pearl Milling Company (formerly Aunt Jemima, renamed in 2021) is one of the most common pancake syrup brands in the US. Its syrups contain no gluten ingredients, but they are not labeled gluten-free.

Pearl Milling Company offers these syrups:

• Original
• Lite
• Butter Rich
• Butter Lite
• Country Rich

You can find out more about their syrups on the Pearl Milling Company website.

Maple Grove Farms

Maple Grove Farms is another brand that offers a great selection of gluten-free pancake syrups – this time in a range of exciting flavors, with sugar-free options available too; making this brand suitable for a selection of dietary profiles.

The following Maple Grove Farms products are gluten-free:

• apricot syrup
• boysenberry syrup
• blueberry syrup
• red raspberry syrup
• strawberry syrup
• sugar-free Vermont butter flavor syrup
• sugar-free maple flavor syrup

If we take a look at their Sugar Free Syrup (Original Flavor), it contains the following ingredients:

• water
• sorbitol
• cellulose gum
• natural and artificial flavors
• salt
• caramel color
• sodium benzoate
• potassium sorbate
• sucralose
• phosphoric acid
• Acesulfame potassium
• aspartame
• citric acid

Walden Farms

Walden Farms is a popular brand if you have several dietary requirements, as they have a helpful tick box guide at the side of their online store to help you identify which products are suitable for which lifestyle. Their gluten-free flavors are as follows:

• dairy-free and gluten-free caramel syrup with near-zero fat and sugar
• gluten-free vegan pancake syrup with near-zero fats, sugars, and calories
• gluten-free maple walnut flavored syrup with near-zero sugar and calories
• dairy-free blueberry syrup with low calorie and near-zero fat and sugar
• dairy-free strawberry syrup with near-zero calories, fats, and sugar
• gluten-free chocolate syrup with near-zero calories and fats

Mrs. Butterworth’s

Mrs. Butterworth’s Syrup does not contain any gluten ingredients. However, it does not carry a gluten-free label. This means the company makes no gluten-free claim, so there’s no assurance it meets the FDA’s gluten-free limit of less than 20 parts per million. Check the label for changes. Flavors include:

• original
• extra buttery
• sugar-free
• lite

Homemade Gluten-Free Pancake Syrup

If you prefer making pancake syrup at home, you can prepare a simple syrup using sugar, water, and maple flavoring.

Veggie Balance’s Homemade Maple-Flavored Syrup offers a stovetop version with step-by-step instructions.

Homemade maple-flavored pancake syrup isn’t the same as pure maple syrup, which comes from maple tree sap. Check that any flavoring or extract you use is gluten-free.

Is Aunt Jemima Syrup Gluten Free?

Aunt Jemima syrup is now sold as Pearl Milling Company syrup; the brand was renamed in 2021. It has no gluten-containing ingredients. It’s important to note that although this product contains no gluten-containing ingredients, the product does not make any gluten-free claims.

This means it could have come into contact with gluten during processing. Cross contact is when a product that contains no gluten comes into contact with gluten during processes such as preparation or storage methods. Without a gluten-free claim, there’s no assurance it meets the FDA’s gluten-free standard; it simply contains no gluten ingredients.

Gluten Free Pancake Syrup

It may surprise you how many brands label their syrups gluten-free.

Let’s take a look at some of the top gluten-free brands.

Learn more about: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix Recipe: Try It Yourself!

Maple Grove Farms

One of the most easily accessible gluten-free pancake syrups is Maple Grove Farms. You’ll find them in almost every grocery store and they come in a huge selection of flavors. Their gluten-free flavors include:

• Apricot Syrup
• Blueberry Syrup
• Boysenberry Syrup
• Red Raspberry Syrup
• Strawberry Syrup
• Sugar-Free Syrup (Maple Flavor)
• Sugar-Free Syrup (Vermont Butter Flavor)
• Organic Pure Maple Syrup (Amber Color)
• Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Golden Color, Delicate Taste
• Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Amber Color, Rich Taste

You can find full information on their full range here. Not only is it gluten-free, but it’s also kosher.

Walden Farms

Another brand that offers a range of flavors, which are all gluten-free (as well as sugar and fat-free) is Walden Farms. Their flavors include:

• Chocolate Syrup with Near-Zero Calories and Fats (Gluten-Free)
• Caramel Syrup with Near-Zero Fat and Sugar (Gluten and Dairy Free)
• Vegan Pancake Syrup with Near-Zero Fats, Sugar, and Calories (Gluten-Free)
• Maple Walnut Flavored Syrup with Near-Zero Calories and Sugar (Gluten-Free)
• Dairy-Free Blueberry Syrup with Low Calorie and Near Zero Fat & Sugar (Gluten-Free)
• Dairy-Free Strawberry Syrup with Near-Zero Calories, Fat, and Sugar (Gluten-Free)

Vermont Maid

A brand that you’ll likely see in stores that carries a gluten-free label is Vermont Maid. It comes in Original and Sugar Free, and it’s one of the easiest gluten-free syrups to find in the US. Not only is it gluten-free, but it’s also kosher too.

Vermont Maid Original Syrup contains the following ingredients:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Corn Syrup
• Water
• Natural & Artificial Maple Flavor
• Cellulose Gum
• Caramel Color
• Sodium Benzoate
• Sorbic Acid

It’s worth noting that most pancake syrups will have almost identical ingredients, but a gluten-free label means the manufacturer states the product meets the FDA’s gluten-free standard (less than 20 parts per million of gluten).

GF Pancake Syrup Recipe

If you’re looking to make your own pancake syrup, it’s one of the easiest recipes to follow, requires very few ingredients, and takes no time at all. For this recipe, the ingredients you’ll need are:

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
• a pinch of salt

Combine all of the above ingredients in a microwave-safe dish until mixed well. Microwave for around 45 seconds and stir well. Place back in the microwave for a further 45 seconds. Remove when the mixture is boiling (it may need a little longer). Stir well. And your pancake syrup is ready to be poured!

Read more about: Does Peanut Butter Contain Gluten?

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to answer the question: is pancake syrup gluten-free? And give you an idea of the best gluten-free syrup brands to buy to pour over your pancakes and waffles in the morning. Or you may even want maple flavor bacon – these syrups are absolutely perfect for that! However you enjoy your syrup, most contain no gluten ingredients, and many are labeled gluten-free.

FAQs