Corn syrup is a thick, sweet liquid made from cornstarch that's used to sweeten foods and change their texture. If you've ever looked at the ingredients on a bottle of pancake syrup, a jar of jelly, or a candy bar wrapper, you've probably seen corn syrup listed.

Making corn syrup involves breaking down cornstarch into simpler sugars using heat and special enzymes. The result is a clear or slightly golden liquid that mixes easily into other ingredients. Candy makers use corn syrup because it helps prevent sugar crystals from forming, which keeps caramels smooth and taffy chewy. Bakers add it to frostings and glazes to give them shine and help keep them from drying out.

A related product, high-fructose corn syrup, appears in many sodas and processed foods. It costs less than sugar to produce, which is one reason food manufacturers use it.

Corn syrup isn't the same as maple syrup, which comes from boiling tree sap. Maple syrup has its own distinctive flavor, while corn syrup tastes simply sweet without much other flavor. Many breakfast syrups contain corn syrup mixed with artificial maple flavoring rather than real maple syrup.