Sugar Substitute - which is best?

[ScoutTN]

I have never used these before, but now I need to (just a bit) to make some recipes.  

If you use one, which one and why? 

[prairiewindmomma]

I prefer stevia of all of them, but try hard not to use any of them.

[KatieJ]

 Xylitol, monk fruit, erythritol are all natural sweeteners. I prefer a blend rather than any one. 

My source is THM if anyone is interests. 

Aspartame, sucralose,sweetnlow, etc are artificial and stay away from those. 

[Harriet Vane]

Honey is by far the healthiest option. Use less than the recipe calls for because it is so sweet and also because the liquid will make the finished product wetter.

Do not use artificial sweeteners ever--they're unbelievably unhealthy.

[Sallie Mae]

1 hour ago, KatieinMich said:

Xylitol, monk fruit, erythritol are all natural sweeteners. I prefer a blend rather than any one. 

My source is THM if anyone is interests. 

Aspartame, sucralose,sweetnlow, etc are artificial and stay away from those. 

I have been using monk fruit, but I would like to try a blend. Do you have a suggestion of what I could try? Is there a name brand and where should I by it.

Do you mind letting me know what THM is? Thank you.

[PrincessMommy]

There's also maple syrup and coconut sugar.  

I like stevia.  In baking I like coconut sugar.

[KatieJ]

1 hour ago, Sallie Mae said:

I have been using monk fruit, but I would like to try a blend. Do you have a suggestion of what I could try? Is there a name brand and where should I by it.

Do you mind letting me know what THM is? Thank you.

Thm is Trim Healthy Mamma. I buy Monkfruit sweetener at Costco. Swerve is another brand I have purchased at local stores or from Amazon. I have used the powdered and brown sugar version of Swerve. I don’t have any bags at the  moment,, it’s all in Tupperware. Mostly I use the Thm blends. 

It is not an exact science when swapping out sweeteners inplace of sugar. Start with less and add more as needed. Monkfruit is said that be equal , meaning using the same amount, but I find it not as sweet, which is ok for most  things. Not overly helpful, sorry. It’s a learning curve for sure. 

 

While I agree whole heartedly  that honey and probs lay maple syrup are the best natural sweeteners out there, I am trying avoid diabetes, and keeping my A1c down means low glycemic sweeteners, if any at all. I don’t bake much anymore. 

Edited February 18, 2020 by KatieinMich

[ScoutTN]

3 hours ago, Harriet Vane said:

Honey is by far the healthiest option. Use less than the recipe calls for because it is so sweet and also because the liquid will make the finished product wetter.

Do not use artificial sweeteners ever--they're unbelievably unhealthy.

Honey is out. I am diabetic. It's glycemic index is higher than refined sugar.  I need something granular, that measures like sugar, to use occasionally for sauces or keto type desserts later on when my blood sugars are stable. 

Edited February 18, 2020 by ScoutTN

[Matryoshka]

Honey, maple syrup, and agave, while less processed than white sugar, are still full of sugar.

I like stevia. If baking with it, I'll use 2T to maybe 1/4 cup of one of the sweeteners above, or blackstrap molasses, and replace the rest with stevia - I like to use one without all the bulky fillers to make it the same volume as sugar - I have a handy conversion chart.

[ScoutTN]

1 hour ago, PrincessMommy said:

There's also maple syrup and coconut sugar.  

I like stevia.  In baking I like coconut sugar.

I can't do maple syrup because of diabetes. Need a low carb/low glycemic index product. 

[Pen]

“Just Like Sugar” granular table version might work for you.  In some recipes it is great.  And I believe it to be a very safe substance. But it doesn’t cook the same as sugar so in some recipes it doesn’t work at all.   If you needed safe lemonade or some such it should work fine.  And might also for something like a keto chocolate mousse variant done without cooking, for example with thick whipping cream. 

 

You may be able to make recipe adjustments with something else that isn’t granular, or choose recipes that work for substances you can safely use.  

Erythritol / Swerve is likely to work well for baking as a substitute in recipes, but I don’t know about its health aspects. 

[ktgrok]

For taste, I prefer Splenda hands down. 

For health, Erthritol is my second choice as far as flavor, and is more "natural". But can have a tingly feeling. 

[Pen]

https://www.justlikesugar.com/

ime the table top white granular is good.  The one meant to be like brown sugar is ghastly.  

(I can taste that it comes from citrus in part—with a sour note along with the sweet, but don’t find that bothersome.) 

[MEmama]

We prefer Swerve. Of all that we’ve tried it’s the only one that doesn’t taste “off” or noticeable to me. 

[Rachel]

I think stevia tastes best, but even a small amount upsets my stomach. 

[Pawz4me]

I prefer Splenda. I’ve tried stevia and monk fruit for something more natural, but they both taste absolutely vile to me. 

[Sallie Mae]

I had an acquaintance tell me to stay away from Splenda. I didn't have time to ask why, but I'm trying to get something that better than artificial sweeteners. I really only use a sweetener in my hot tea and I've gotten use to Monk fruit. I would like to try to make some iced tea and add a slight bit of sweetener. I've never really made iced tea at home, so I don't have very refined taste regarding how iced tea with a different sweetener would taste vs. good ole' sugar. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Just Kate]

I also use THM. Their Gentle Sweet is wonderful. It is a blend of erythritol, xylitol, and stevia. They also make a xylitol-free version of you have dogs (xylitol can be deadly to dogs). At the grocery store, I like Pyure, Swerve, or Truvia. If you purchase a stevia blend, watch out for those that contain maltodextrin, as it has a very high glycemic index, yet it is often included in stevia blends. 

[Pen]

1 hour ago, Sallie Mae said:

I had an acquaintance tell me to stay away from Splenda. I didn't have time to ask why, but I'm trying to get something that better than artificial sweeteners. I really only use a sweetener in my hot tea and I've gotten use to Monk fruit. I would like to try to make some iced tea and add a slight bit of sweetener. I've never really made iced tea at home, so I don't have very refined taste regarding how iced tea with a different sweetener would taste vs. good ole' sugar. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

The Just Like Sugar I linked above is good in ice tea imo.  It adds some positive fiber as insulin.

Monk fruit is fine too.

 

Inulin.   Not insulin-  Autocorrect problem 

Edited February 18, 2020 by Pen

[klmama]

OP, coconut sugar has low glycemic index, and it measures like cane sugar.  The flavor isn't as sweet, but it tastes okay and is fairly predictable. 

[Chris in VA]

I find stevia to be a hormone disruptor. I got hot flashes on occasion from it, and actually would get a shotened period back after months of not having a period during periM if I had it over a couple days. I do use it now that I am fully menopausal.

 

Swerve is ok but monk fruit works really well, except it isnxt as sweet (so, not that great in coffee, for example, but good in baking). 

Edited February 18, 2020 by Chris in VA
posted too soon

[Scarlett]

No real help on the artificial sweeteners——I am of the belief they are very bad for us.  My weakness is Diet Coke and one of my resolves is to cut it out of my life this year.  I don’t drink it at home....but when out I find myself craving it...I also love unsweetened tea so I am trying hard to switch to that when I am craving a Diet coke.  The Only other time we use it is for mixed drinks....also trying to just not do that.....

Other than that,  I have worked hard to change my taste buds with regard to sugar.  I switched to plain Greek yogurt....at first I needed honey, but now fruit is plenty sweet for me in plain yogurt.  I tried to eat a sweet yogurt the other day and found it gross!  I also have really really cut out the sweet junk food.  And when I am presented with a yummy dessert ( like my moms pecan pie) I eat about a 1/3rd of a normal size serving.  Just a taste.  
 

Sorry to t/j.  I know I didn’t really answer your question. 

[Ellie]

17 hours ago, Sallie Mae said:

I had an acquaintance tell me to stay away from Splenda. I didn't have time to ask why, but I'm trying to get something that better than artificial sweeteners. I really only use a sweetener in my hot tea and I've gotten use to Monk fruit. I would like to try to make some iced tea and add a slight bit of sweetener. I've never really made iced tea at home, so I don't have very refined taste regarding how iced tea with a different sweetener would taste vs. good ole' sugar. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Mr. Ellie and I have used artificial sweeteners for many years; presently, Splenda is our favorite. It measures just like sugar and has no aftertaste in the gallon of sweet tea I make every other day. 🙂

I know that artificial sweeteners can be bad for some people, but I have gone as long as a year without using any, and I haven't noticed any issues or changes or anything.

Sweeteners like monk fruit and xylitol (which is natural even though it has a chemical-sounding name) are good, but they are way more expensive than Splenda. Also, I can use xylitol  without problems, but erythritol hurts my stomach.

[ktgrok]

I will say that the sweetener in most diet soda, acesulfame or whatever it is, is addictive as heck. 

I go through withdrawal when i cut it out or back. 

Splenda and others don't have that effect on me, just that acesulfame whatever the heck.