Mount Mansfield Maple Products Maple Syrup
This incredibly rich syrup has notes of butterscotch, honey and toasted sugar, with a heady base of vanilla and dried fruit. A member of our kitchen team likened its richness to a melted Werther's candy. It’s medium-bodied, which means it can easily be drizzled, but never too watery like store-bought versions. Compared to others, this one has a strong “true maple” flavor to it—nothing like more run-of-the-mill syrups that often have an off pine taste.
SAVA Trading Co. Madagascar Vanilla Simple Syrup
We finally found a classic-tasting vanilla syrup made in small batches from real vanilla beans, not artificial extracts like many others. You can even see the flecks of vanilla bean dotting the syrup. The consistency is rich and decadent—so it can hold its own drizzled over pancakes or ice cream—but still melts well into coffees, drinks, yogurt and desserts. And the taste is unmatched, thanks to whole, vine-ripened Bourbon vanilla beans: delicate and nuanced, never sickly sweet or fake, lightly sweet with a rounded vanilla richness. SAVA partners with Malagasy farmers in Madagascar's northeastern Sava region (famous for its vanilla production) to source organic, sustainably grown vanilla beans picked at peak maturity. By cutting out middleman costs, SAVA is able to directly pay farmers above-market prices for their premium vanilla and support local village economies.
Steen's Cane Syrup
This sweet, rich syrup is a staple in Southern cooking and is our go-to for a lighter but still flavorful alternative to molasses. Steen’s is made from 100% pure cane syrup with nothing added or extracted. Whereas molasses is a by-product of sugar refining, cane syrup is made from raw pressed cane juice that’s boiled down. Lighter in both color and flavor compared to molasses, this thick syrup makes a great option for those looking for the heady essence of molasses without the bitterness and acidity. Perfect for serving alongside biscuits or in any recipes that call for molasses.
Steen's Syrup Dark Molasses
Steen’s is a 4th-generation family company making cane sugar products that became a household staple for Southern Louisiana families in the 1950s. Their dark unsulphured molasses is rich and sweet with an almost tangy flavor—with much more complexity than what you can find in the grocery store. Unlike robust or black strap molasses, it has very little bitterness and an almost smoky flavor. Steen’s molasses works just as well in sweet classics like gingerbread cookies and cake as it does in savory applications like barbecue sauces.
India Tree Dark Muscovado Sugar
Conventional brown sugar is simply white, refined sugar moistened with molasses. On the other hand, raw muscovado sugar has a rich, earthy and almost smoky flavor, as well as a high molasses content. India Tree’s moist-textured variety, processed in Mauritius, can be substituted for dark brown sugar in any recipe (we tested this) or used to add extra flavor to coffee, tea or cocktails (perfect in an Old Fashioned).
India Tree Demerara Sugar
Mild with hints of caramel sauce and toffee, what we love about this sugar is that it doesn’t read just as sweet. This partially refined sugar comes from the sugarcane juice made during the plant’s first press. Once it evaporates, it leaves large, sparkly crystals behind. The sugar is a light caramel brown (since it retains some of the original molasses), but just enough so that it doesn’t clump heavily like typical brown sugar or even other demeraras. It has a coarse texture with a pleasant light crunch to it, making it a lovely topping for and addition to beverages and baked goods.
India Tree Superfine Caster Sugar
Specially formulated for baking, superfine caster sugar has a smaller, more delicate grain than regular white sugar, which makes it much easier to incorporate into recipes. The sugar crystals dissolve faster because of their size, so it might read as a little sweeter than standard sugar to some because of how fast it melts on the tongue. Although this kind of sugar is fairly available in grocery stores, we like this one best for its high quality and simple packaging, which makes it easy to pour into the jar or canister of your choice. This really is a fantastic upgrade to your standard plain white sugar.
Just Panela Granulated Panela Sugar
Here at Milk Street we have rediscovered more flavorful pantry items including flours, vinegars, oils, and salts. At the top of our list, however, is sugar. This raw, unrefined sugar from Colombia packs a complex, earthy flavor that’s terrific in everything from tea, coffee and cocktails to oatmeal or grapefruit. The bittersweet flavor also does well in savory applications, like a pot of Mexican beans or tomato-based pasta sauces. It will become your sugar bowl standard.
Murakami Syouten Crushed Okinawa Brown Sugar
Lars Pearl Sugar
Lars’ Own Swedish pearl sugar is a hard, crystalline garnishing sugar ideal for sprinkling over a broad array of baked goods. It won’t melt in the oven but rather remains crisp and white to provide textural and visual contrast. It’s an essential touch on Sweden’s famous cardamom buns, kardemummabullar, and can be used similar for all manner of sweet breads and buns—just brush with egg white and top with pearl sugar before baking. For crunchy texture, we like it dusted over muffins, bread pudding, and desserts such as our Marmalade Bundt Cake with Crystallized Ginger. Pearl sugar is also great for visual contrast on our Brazilian Chocolate Fudge Candies (Brigadeiros).
Lyle's Golden Syrup
Lyle’s Golden Syrup has remained unchanged since it was first made in East London in 1881. This sugar cane syrup is light and sweet, with just enough flavor to keep it interesting. The slightly caramelized notes make this perfect for drizzling over pancakes or adding to pecan pie, but its rich buttery taste also works well for a savory soup or stew. And while this versatile syrup will no doubt get a workout as a pantry staple, the classic decorative tin is reason enough to buy it. Repurpose these tins by upcycling them to house a scented candle, potted plant, sewing kit, pens and pencils, or use them collectively to organize small kitchen items.
Lyle’s Black Treacle
Treacle is dark, thick, shiny syrup that is a mixture of cane molasses and syrup. Originally produced by Lyle’s in East London in 1950, it is similar to American blackstrap molasses, but thicker, with an even stronger bittersweet flavor. It’s much more intense than golden syrup or cane syrup, making it ideal for lending depth to desserts, gingerbread, savory dishes, glazes and marinades. And while this versatile syrup will no doubt get a workout as a pantry staple, the classic decorative tin is reason enough to buy it. Repurpose the tins to house a scented candle, potted plant, sewing kit, pens and pencils, or use them collectively to organize small kitchen items.
Three Peaks 10+ UMF New Zealand Manuka Honey
Three Peaks New Zealand Multifloral Manuka Honey Blend
Genuine manuka honey from New Zealand is creamy, opaque and full of botanical depth; Even the most aromatic wildflower honeys don't come close to its multifaceted depth of flavor. This wildflower and manuka blend has a soft floral sweetness, smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich golden hue. It contains more than 200 compounds not found in other honey, which are widely thought to give it antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Big Island Bees 'Ohi'a Lehua Honey
This honey's airy, melt-in-your-mouth texture is great right off the spoon; mixed with butter or nut butters; or spread on toast, biscuits and cakes.
