Molasses vs. Maple syrup — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Production and Classification

Molasses, also known as black treacle, is a byproduct of the sugar refining process. Sugar cane or sugar beets are crushed to extract their juice, which is then boiled to create a concentrated syrup. The sugar crystals are then separated from the syrup; the remaining syrup is molasses. 

Maple syrup is produced by tapping maple trees and collecting the sap that flows out. The sap is then boiled to evaporate the water content and concentrate the sugars, resulting in thick, sweet maple syrup. The production process is labor-intensive and requires specific weather conditions for the trees to produce sap, which makes maple syrup relatively expensive compared to other sweeteners, including maple syrup.

Maple syrup and molasses are both classified as natural sweeteners.

Appearance, Taste, and Use

Molasses is a thick, dark syrup with a viscous texture made from sugar cane juice or sugar beet juice. The quality of molasses can vary depending on the refinement process, with lighter molasses being sweeter and darker molasses being more bitter. Either way, it usually has a strong flavor. Molasses is often used in baking, especially in recipes for gingerbread, molasses cookies, and baked beans.

Maple syrup, on the other hand, is a thinner, lighter syrup that is made from the sap of maple trees. It has a distinct, sweet taste that is often described as "woodsy." Maple syrup is commonly used as a topping for pancakes and waffles, but it can also be used in baking and cooking.

Macronutrients and Calories

Molasses is somewhat denser in nutrients, containing 75% carbohydrates, 22% water, and 3% other nutrients. Maple syrup, on the other hand, consists of 67% carbohydrates, 32% water, and 1% other nutrients.

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison

Molasses

3

Protein: 0 g

Fats: 0.1 g

Carbs: 74.73 g

Water: 21.87 g

Other: 3.3 g

Maple syrup

2

Protein: 0.04 g

Fats: 0.06 g

Carbs: 67.04 g

Water: 32.39 g

Other: 0.47 g

Contains more FatsFats	+66.7%
Contains more CarbsCarbs	+11.5%
Contains more OtherOther	+602.1%

Contains more ProteinProtein	+∞%
Contains more WaterWater	+48.1%

Carbohydrates

Molasses is higher in carbohydrates compared to maple syrup. Per 100g serving of molasses provides 74.8g of carbs, whereas maple syrup contains 67g.

All 100% of carbohydrates found in these sweeteners are made up of net carbs, as they do not contain dietary fiber.

Molasses is 25 times higher in fructose and seven times higher in glucose, while maple syrup contains two times more sucrose.

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Molasses

2

Starch: 0 g

Sucrose: 29.4 g

Glucose: 11.92 g

Fructose: 12.79 g

Lactose: 0 g

Maltose: 0 g

Galactose: 0 g

Maple syrup

1

Starch: 0 g

Sucrose: 58.32 g

Glucose: 1.6 g

Fructose: 0.52 g

Lactose: 0 g

Maltose: 0 g

Galactose: 0 g

Contains more GlucoseGlucose	+645%
Contains more FructoseFructose	+2359.6%

Contains more SucroseSucrose

+98.4%

~equal in Starch ~0g

~equal in Lactose ~0g

~equal in Maltose ~0g

~equal in Galactose ~0g

Vitamins

These natural sweeteners are good sources of most B-group vitamins, except vitamin B12 and vitamin B9 or folate.

Molasses provides 335 times more vitamin B6, 22 times more vitamin B5, and 11 times more vitamin B3. At the same time, maple syrup is 635 times richer in vitamin B2 and almost two times richer in vitamin B1.

Maple syrup falls in the top 10% of foods as a source of vitamin B2. A 100g serving of this sweetener covers 98% of the daily needed vitamin B2 value.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Molasses

4

Maple syrup

2

Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3	+1048.1%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5	+2133.3%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6	+33400%
Contains more CholineCholine	+731.3%

Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1	+61%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2	+63400%

~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg

~equal in Vitamin A ~0IU

~equal in Vitamin E ~0mg

~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg

~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

~equal in Vitamin K ~0µg

~equal in Folate ~0µg

Minerals

Molasses is overall richer in most minerals, containing 43 times more iron, 27 times more copper, 16 times more phosphorus, 12 times more magnesium, seven times more potassium, and two times more calcium.

Maple syrup is, however, five times richer in zinc. It is also somewhat lower in sodium.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Molasses

7

Maple syrup

3

Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium	+1052.4%
Contains more CalciumCalcium	+101%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium	+590.6%
Contains more IronIron	+4190.9%
Contains more CopperCopper	+2605.6%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus	+1450%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium	+2866.7%

Contains more ZincZinc	+406.9%
Contains less SodiumSodium	-67.6%
Contains more ManganeseManganese	+90.1%

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index of pure Canadian maple syrup has been measured to be 54 (1). This falls in the low to moderate category.

The glycemic index of molasses has not yet been researched. However, researchers looked into the possibility of using sugar cane-derived filtered molasses concentrate as a natural functional component that could alter how carbohydrates are metabolized and lower the glycemic index of meals and beverages (2).

Sources.

1. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/114/5/1625/6320814
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267871575
3. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001031
4. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1024/0300-9831.75.3.211
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1756464614003077
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7469035/