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Best Sugar Substitutes

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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
So Nourished Erythritol Sweetener Granular
DureLife
Xylitol Erythritol-Free Granulated Birch Sweetener
No Aftertaste

Whether you're on the Keto diet or you're diabetic, this sweetener comes in handy for low-carb baking.

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No Aftertaste
Bottom Line

Whether you're on the Keto diet or you're diabetic, this sweetener comes in handy for low-carb baking.

Pros

This versatile birch sweetener is healthier than corn- and fruit-based sugar substitutes. There's no disgusting aftertaste, either. It's available in 1-5 pound bags. It's delicious in baked goods.

Cons

Check ingredients; some experienced reactions. It's not organic.

Best Bang for the Buck
Pyure Organic All-Purpose Blend Stevia Sweetener
Stevia In The Raw
Plant-Based Erythritol-Free Sweetener
Best for Coffee

Stevia's a favorite due to its natural flavor that doesn't overpower while you bake or sweeten coffee.

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Best for Coffee
Bottom Line

Stevia's a favorite due to its natural flavor that doesn't overpower while you bake or sweeten coffee.

Pros

This sweetener is safe for low-carb or Keto diets and great for diabetic coffee drinkers. You can order it in packets or as a whole. There are no calories to worry about.

Cons

Some have reported side effects to Stevia; check the label.

Lakanto Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar Substitute | NON GMO
Splenda
Brown Sugar Blend, Erythritol-Free Sweetener, 1 lb
Best for Bakers

This 50/50 mix of brown sugar and Splenda sweetener blend adds a sweetened punch with half the calories.

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Best for Bakers
Bottom Line

This 50/50 mix of brown sugar and Splenda sweetener blend adds a sweetened punch with half the calories.

Pros

Splenda's brown sugar substitute is perfect for healthy baking for diabetics. It's delicious on cereal and in cookies. It's a low-calorie way to enjoy rich treats. It only takes half the amount of brown sugar.

Cons

There are calories, if you're looking to cut them altogether.

NOW Foods Xylitol, 2.5-Pound
NOW Foods
Xylitol, 2.5-Pound
Low Calorie/Carb

The sugar alcohol xylitol is a great choice for those who follow the Keto diet, since it has a very low glycemic impact.

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Low Calorie/Carb
Bottom Line

The sugar alcohol xylitol is a great choice for those who follow the Keto diet, since it has a very low glycemic impact.

Pros

Pure sugar alcohol; not blended with other substitutes. Minimal glycemic impact; ideal for sweets and desserts. Contains 1/3 the calories of other sugar substitutes.

Cons

May have an unpleasant aftertaste. Does not dissolve easily in beverages.

Swerve Bakers Bundle (2 pack)
Micro Ingredients
Erythritol-Free Sweetener
Zero Calories

This simple sugar substitute provides a natural bass flavor for baking and Keto-friendly dishes.

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Zero Calories
Bottom Line

This simple sugar substitute provides a natural bass flavor for baking and Keto-friendly dishes.

Pros

Allulose gives you an erythritol-free way to sweeten your coffee and baked goods without guilt or sugar concerns. It's a plant-based sweetener made from raw ingredients without an aftertaste.

Cons

It's quite expensive compared to others. Some don't think it's sweet enough.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
September 08, 2021
30
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considered
8
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researched
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Buying guide for Best sugar substitutes

Written by Michael Pollick, and fact-checked by Andrea Boudewijn
Updated October 2023

For centuries, pure cane or beet sugar has been the most common form of food and beverage sweetener. While consuming large quantities of added sugar is inadvisable, entirely avoiding sucrose and high fructose corn syrup is a nearly impossible task. Sugar is naturally occurring in healthy fruits and vegetables, but it’s also often hidden in popular everyday foods.

Fortunately, there are several sugar substitutes on the market. Many are derived from natural sources and can be swapped out for sugar in recipes without sacrificing taste. These sugar substitutes also have the benefit of being much lower in calories than sugar and don’t necessarily produce unwanted glucose spikes in the bloodstream.

Indeed, diabetics and dieters alike can benefit greatly from the introduction of these sugar substitutes into their daily routines.

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Did you know that the average American consumes about 22 teaspoons of sugar per day?

Why should you use sugar substitutes?

Wondering why it might be wise to avoid added sugar and use substitutes instead? Excess sugar consumption is not just bad for your teeth, it’s also associated with high rates of diseases like diabetes. Pure sugar is high in carbohydrates, which can cause unwanted spikes in blood glucose levels.

Sugar is also high in calories without having much nutritional value, so substitutes are useful for those seeking to lose weight. (Remember, though, that weight loss is more complicated than simply cutting out sugar. While incorporating alternatives may help reduce calorie intake, it’s not the only factor involved in shedding pounds.)

Expert TIp
Artificial sugar substitutes tend to create more dense, flatter cakes and cookies.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Types of sugar substitutes

Here are the main types of sugar substitutes along with their pros and cons:

Artificial sweeteners

Including things such as aspartame (Equal) and sucralose (Splenda), artificial sweeteners are used to sweeten drinks and other foods without adding calories. They’re useful for those who may want to avoid added calories but who still want to enjoy sweet beverages and treats. There’s some evidence, however, that artificial sweeteners may have unintended effects on our body’s processes, including hormone production. Some artificial sweeteners may also cause digestive issues in specific individuals.

Artificial sweeteners typically have zero or very limited calories and also tend to be extremely sweet, much sweeter than sugar, so less is required to sweeten foods. Most artificial sweeteners are a poor choice for baking, however, despite being ultrasweet.

Sugar alcohols

Common sugar alcohols like xylitol have fewer calories than sugar and occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. They’re often used to sweeten processed foods, and research shows that certain sugar alcohols actually improve dental health. The downside? Sugar alcohols may lead to gastrointestinal distress if consumed in large quantities.

Novel sweeteners

These are natural substances that are approved as sweeteners by the F.D.A. but only in certain forms. Stevia, for example, is a novel sweetener, but only some forms of Stevia are F.D.A.-approved. Novel sweeteners are often calorie-free. There’s also evidence that some novel sweeteners may have health benefits, such as the ability to lower blood pressure.

Natural sweeteners

These are naturally occurring substances that may be used to sweeten food products (e.g., honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar). These sweeteners are nearly identical to sugar, though companies often use misleading claims to market products that contain natural sugars as healthier. Natural sweeteners are not necessarily healthier than sugar, however. Honey, for example, has been shown to reduce inflammation but is still metabolized like sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

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Expert TIp
Taste your sugar substitutes before using them in baked goods like cakes and cookies. Some, like coconut sugar, have a very distinctive flavor that can alter the taste of your final product.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Difference between sugar and sugar substitutes

The most significant difference between sugar and sugar substitutes is the number of calories. Often, sugar substitutes have zero or very few calories. Most natural sweeteners, however, contain just as many (if not more) calories compared to sugar.

Drawbacks of using substitutes

Some studies show that eating foods with zero-calorie sweeteners may have the opposite effect intended and may promote weight gain. For instance, some research shows that an increased intake of very sweet substitutes may boost one’s desire for sweetened foods. There’s also no telling what the long-term impact of consuming sugar substitutes may have on the body and overall health.

Certain substitutes may have immediate concerning effects on the body. Some people, for instance, may have allergic reactions to specific substitutes. Other individuals complain that alternatives like aspartame cause headaches and may act as a trigger for migraines. Several sugar substitutes also cause gastrointestinal distress.

Sweetness level

Not all substitutes are made equal. You may need to add extra to your coffee or baked goods to sweeten them as you would with sugar. Other sweeteners may be extremely sweet, so you’ll need to add less compared to sugar.

Sugar substitute prices

Sugar substitutes vary widely in price depending on the brand and the type of sugar substitute in question (e.g., natural, synthetic, etc.). Synthetic alternatives tend to be less expensive, however, while natural sugar substitutes vary between 50 cents to $1 or more per ounce.

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Expert Tip
Store your sugar substitutes in an airtight container to avoid absorption of water or other kitchen scents.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert

Tips

  • Adding sugar to baked goods is the easiest way to sweeten them, but sugar also affects the texture and consistency of those delicious brownies, cookies, and cakes we all enjoy. It’s possible to use sugar substitutes in baking, but expect a few key differences in your finished product. Desserts made with sugar alternatives may have a lighter appearance, lack volume, and have a denser consistency.

  • You may need to use more or less of a sugar substitute compared to regular sugar. Often, a product’s packaging will provide handy quantity guidelines.

  • Check the packaging to find out whether you also need to adjust the baking time when using a particular sugar substitute.

  • You can also use fruit to sweeten your desserts. Use a combination of fruit and sugar substitutes in your next baked concoction.

  • Most natural sweeteners are a poor choice for diabetics since they have essentially the same effect on blood sugar levels as plain white granulated sugar.

  • Those little packets of artificial sweetener aren’t identical even if they look similar. Sucralose, for instance, is much sweeter than aspartame, so you may need to use different amounts when sweetening your coffee or tea.

  • Not all sugar substitutes are appropriate for baking. Some even lose their sweet taste when heated. Check package instructions to find out if a particular sweetener is suitable for use in baked goods.

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Not all sugar substitutes taste the same. Some have a slight aftertaste. You may need to test a few to find one that works for you.

FAQ

Q. Are sugar substitutes healthier than regular sugar?

A. Not necessarily. While you may hear that sugar substitutes and alternatives contain vitamins and minerals that are not found in sugar, most sweeteners aren’t, in fact, nutritionally superior. Research shows that there are a few select substitutes that may have health benefits, but the evidence isn’t conclusive in all cases.

Q. Will I lose weight if I switch to sugar substitutes?

A. Maybe. But the bottom line is that weight loss results from a calorie deficit. If you swap your sugary beverage for something else that's high in calories, don’t expect weight loss to follow.

Q. What are low-glycemic foods and sweeteners?

A. Low-glycemic foods and sweeteners have a less drastic effect on blood sugar levels than high-glycemic foods. They are absorbed slowly into the bloodstream, so they do not cause blood sugar spikes.

Q. Are artificial sweeteners carcinogenic?

A. You may have heard rumors that sweeteners like aspartame can cause cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, however, no hard evidence links aspartame consumption to increased risk of cancer.

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