Ultimate Treacle Gingerbread Loaf Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of treacle in ginger cake? ›

If you don't have treacle then you can use molasses as an alternative. We would not use extra sugar instead of the treacle as treacle is an invert sugar, which particularly helps to keep the cake moist.

Molasses and treacle are similar and are both syrups that are made during the processing of cane sugar. In this cake it will be fine to use molasses as a substitute. There are varying grades of molasses and some molasses are very dark and bitter, such as blackstrap molasses.

However, colonial Americans often substituted molasses for treacle in their recipes.

LEAVENING AGENT

It can expire or lose its effectiveness even before the expiration date. Learn how to test your baking soda and powder for freshness here. Too much: If you accidentally overmeasure your baking soda or powder it can also cause your cake or loaf to sink in the middle.

Can I use treacle instead of golden syrup? Yes, light treacle is the same as golden syrup. Molasses is also sometimes known as treacle or dark treacle and it can also be used as a substitute but has a stronger flavor and deeper color.

If you want to find a suitable substitute for black treacle with a similar (but less divisive) flavour, there are some good alternatives out there. The best substitute for black treacle will vary depending on your recipe, though molasses, maple syrup, and dark corn syrup all work well as replacements.

Golden syrup, also called bakers molasses or light treacle, has a golden colour and intensely sweet, butterscotch-like flavour. It is about 25 percent sweeter than regular sugar. ⁠ Treacle is a darker version of golden syrup and is sometimes called dark or black treacle.

Light treacle, known more familiarly as golden syrup, and black treacle, the much stronger tasting, bittersweet variety. Treacle is a by-product of the sugar refining process, it's what remains when sugar cane juice is boiled down to produce grains of sugar.

More commonly known as treacle or black treacle or, in the US as blackstrap molasses, molasses are essentially what is left over after cane sugar is boiled to produce sugar and most of the sugar has been extracted.

Black treacle is a sweeter product, lacking the slightly bitter flavour that molasses brings to the table.

What does the term treacle mean? ›

: a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup. called also golden syrup. 2. : something (such as a tone of voice) heavily sweet and cloying.

Black treacle is a dark, thick syrup that is a byproduct of refining sugar. It is a product of the U.K. and considered to be the British equivalent of molasses, appearing in many of the country's signature food recipes.

Treacle (/ˈtriːkəl/) is any uncrystallised syrup made during the refining of sugar. The most common forms of treacle are golden syrup, a pale variety, and black treacle, a darker variety similar to molasses. Black treacle has a distinctively strong, slightly bitter flavor, and a richer color than golden syrup.

Light Treacle is just called treacle in the U.S., but it doesn't seem to be as common here as in the UK. One can find Golden syrup in some stores, but when baking or making certain candies, people are more likely to use Corn syrup. Maple syrup is also popular in the U.S.

If your gingerbread cake comes out dry, there could be a few reasons. Overbaking the cake, overmixing the cake, or the oven being too hot will lead to a dry cake.

If your cake was cooked to the proper temperature, chances are it is still edible even if it sunk in the center. Check that it's baked through the middle, then try a small piece of your cake. It might not taste good if the ingredient measurements were off. Notice the texture to make sure it's not too dense or spongy.

Likewise, if your cake isn't brown enough it is likely because it is under-cooked or the recipe used insufficient egg or sugar.

Also known as light treacle, golden syrup makes its way into recipes with treacle in the title, like this Blood Orange Treacle Pudding.

In the U.S., golden syrup is usually sold under the name of light treacle, but it's not readily available in many grocery stores. In cooking recipes, molasses and light treacle are often used interchangeably because their textures and flavor profiles are similar.

Treacle and molasses taste similar, so they make great substitutes. Because they're both byproducts from the sugar-refining process, both treacle and molasses have a rich, sweet, and caramel-like flavor.

What is another name for black treacle? ›

Both have a deep, aromatic flavour that adds a unique finish to food and drink recipes, but they are subtly different, with treacle tending to be a sweeter product that has less of a bitter profile than molasses. Compared to treacle, molasses is thicker in consistency and darker in colour.

The Best Molasses Substitutes

Honey, dark corn syrup, and maple syrup can also be used to replace molasses in recipes.

It gives a distinctively dark colour, burnt caramel flavour and moisture to baked dishes.

Cup for cup, golden syrup is a great replacement for light or dark molasses. Use it as you would for baking gingerbread or cookies.

A standard substitute for brown sugar is to take 1 Cup = 200 g of white granulated sugar, and mix-in 1 tablespoon of molasses/treacle. There's a lot of flavor in that tablespoon.