Cracker Barrel's Pancake Syrup Isn't As Pure As We Initially Thought

The popular restaurant chain Cracker Barrel sells an incredible amount of pancakes and syrup every year — about 75 million pancakes and 55 million bottles of syrup to be exact. It helps that the beloved chain's breakfast menu is accessible all day every day. But if that's not enough for you and you can't get enough of Cracker Barrel breakfast, then you should be stocking up on Cracker Barrel's syrup through its online store. In addition to Cracker Barrel kitchenware and classic candies, you can pick up the very same pancake syrup that it uses every day in its restaurants.

However, if you're a maple syrup connoisseur, you might be disappointed to find that Cracker Barrel's syrup is not as pure as you might expect. The label clearly states that it is "100% pure," but on closer examination, it also clarifies that it is only 55% maple syrup, while the rest is made up of cane syrup. One eagle-eyed customer noticed that they avoid any claims of false advertising with some deceptive labeling. "Pure natural PANCAKE syrup. NOT 'real grade A maple.' They don't offer that," reads a two-star review.

Cane syrup is an ingredient that is made by boiling sugar cane juice in large kettles until a syrup forms. It is derived from the same sugar cane that is the source of most common sugars and is a popular ingredient used in the cuisines of the American South.

Though they come from the same source, cane syrup has a remarkably more complex flavor than simple sugar. Cane syrup has a slightly bitter and toasted character to it thanks to the hours spent being cooked down in kettles. This gives it a greater pungency than other neutral sweeteners like corn syrup.

These characteristics make it a great substitution for maple syrup because it has the same combination of bittersweet notes that make pure maple syrup so delightful. So, while Cracker Barrel's claims of 100% purity might be off-putting to the maple syrup fundamentalists of the world, cane syrup does serve as an appropriate counterpoint to maple.

There's nothing wrong with Cracker Barrel's syrup if that's what you prefer, but if you want to find real maple syrup, then it helps to know what to look for.

The first thing to look out for is deceptive advertising. Cracker Barrel isn't the only company that uses the term "pancake syrup" to avoid any claims of false advertising. It's a common sight in grocery store aisles and should be avoided if you're looking for 100% maple syrup. These are often corn or cane syrups combined with maple syrup or maple extract to try and recreate the flavor of maple syrup.

Pure 100% maple syrup has to be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture and must meet its standards to be considered grade A syrup. The real deal will say "pure maple syrup" somewhere on the bottle because that's all they can include. No additives are allowed. True maple syrup is simply the boiled-down form of sap from a maple tree.