Have you heard of erythritol and wonder what in the world it is? Here's all you need to know and why it's a fantastic sugar substitute!
The first time I ever saw or heard of erythritol I shunned it. I could barely say the name correctly let alone open my mind to using it. I was perfectly content with using stevia as my natural sugar free substitute and I still am and love my stevia.
I have been a stevia snob. But my good blogging friend Carolyn, from All Day I Dream About Food has been using it for a good long time and it peaked my curiosity, but again I've been happy with my recipes using stevia and I think all of you have as well.
Although I am perfectly content using stevia, I always receive many emails and comments saying some of you still find a bitter aftertaste even with the brands I recommend. I never taste an aftertaste and it must be because I'm so used to using it for so long now. My hubby will still notice in some no bake recipes or frosting so I decided over the last year to start experimenting with it.
Many of you know over the course of about 6 months I've been writing a cookbook and during this time I combined erythritol with stevia. I can only say that the results have been absolutely phenomenal in my baked goodies and treats. After attending BlogHer Food in Miami and speaking with the president of Swerve, I knew it was time to bring you some information here on the blog in hopes to enlighten you as well on this fantastic product.
WHAT IS ERYTHRITOL?
- It's pronounced, (a-rith-ri-tall).
- It is NOT an artificial sweetener like aspartame or Splenda. It is naturally occurring in plants and fruits and vegetables like grapes, melons and mushrooms.
- It is a sugar alcohol most often used in chewing gums, mouthwash, cough drops and mints.
- It has no calories and does not spike blood sugar. Zero on glycemic index. It is Non- GMO.
- Not to be confused with xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol which can cause gas, bloating and laxative effects.
- It measures cup for cup for sugar, but is only about 70% as sweet as table sugar. ( This is why combining it with stevia which is 300 times sweeter than sugar is a great choice).
IS IT SAFE & WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
I wouldn't be using it for my family or recommending it if I didn't believe in it as a safe product for my family and myself. Before it is even digested in the large intestine, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and basically eliminated unchanged.
So only about 10% actually enters into the small intestine. Because of this it does not typically cause any laxative effects like xylitol and maltitol would. We have been using it regularly with no problems in our family.
The season I like the brand Swerve is because I've tried other granular erythritol products from a few other brands and found them very gritty in the final product. Swerve has both a granular as well as a confectioner's sugar type product.
Both work well in baked goods, but of course when you want a recipe to have the look of confectioner's sugar that choice would be best. Mostly to bake I've been using the granular, but again either would work well.
Today Swerve has kindly offered to give away samples to 3 Sugar-Free Mom readers. You can choose between the granular version or the confectioner's version. Both are 1 pound in weight.
THIS GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Just enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win some Swerve! 3 winners will be chosen. Contest ends on June 21, 2014 at midnight, EST. USA residents only please. Winners will be notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours.
References:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/497773-erythritol-vs-stevia-vs-xylitol/
https://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/erythritol.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythritol
Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post. Swerve sweetener provided me samples of their product to try as well as product to provide for this give away. All opinions are 100% my own.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Carol Cohen
I'm very curious about this product! Stevia is my usual sweetener, but I would love to try this as well! If Sugar Free Mom suggests it, it must be great!
Brenda
awe thanks Carol!
Shannon
I've been using Xylitol for some time now. I would be very interested to try Swerve. My fiance is diabetic so its important for us to have an alternative to sugar that is not an unhealthy artificial sweetener either. Thank you for the opportunity!
Teri
I would love to try it!
Jessica (Savory Experiments)
Nope, I had never heard of it, but now I'm intrigued. Thanks for the introduction!
Audra
Great post! I've always wondered about erythritol. Thanks for breaking it down for us!
Crystal Rose
I've never tried it before.
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen
I've never tried it. I like knowing more about products so the info you provided is very helpful to me so I can make an informed decision.
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Yes, I have - thanks!
Nancy@SeasonsOfJoy
I would love to try this! Thanks for the info!
Megan
I have never tried it! But I would love to!
Patti
Would love to win!! Thank you...
Jamie H.
I love Swerve and use it for all my sugar-free baking.
Alyssa
I'm excited to hear about this! I read that truvia contains erythritol and didn't know much about it. Thank you for the info!
Leslie
I have tried granulated Swerve and really like it. I've never tried the powdered kind and would love to try that one.
Thanks!
Leslie
I've used Swerve a few times now and I've always been very pleased with the outcome. I absolutely cannot taste a difference in my sweets.
Lori
Good to know, a must try for me now!
Thanks for sharing!
Kelly
I've tried xylitol in the past but never erythritol. It is expensive so I haven't wanted to waste my money. I'd love the opportunity to try it.
Angela {Mind Over Batter}
You saved me a google search! I was actually going to look up erythritol this week. I'm not really a fan of Stevia due to the aftertaste, but I'm really curious about trying erythritol and stevia together just to see how it will work on baked goods.
I have a question - Since erythritol is only 70% as sweet as table sugar, how much stevia would you use to compensate for the remaining 30% measurement-wise? Did I mention I'm a stevia in baked goods virgin?
Brenda
It really depends on the recipe as to how much stevia I would use and to which kind of stevia, whether powdered, pure or liquid. so far I've not used more than 1/3 or 1/2 cup of erythritol to some of my treats and with that I've often added about 1/2 teaspoon to a 1 teaspoon of liquid stevia.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
We love Swerve!! Great post that's packed full of some wonderful information!
Brenda
Thanks Angie!
Sonja
I would love to try Swerve! I've been trying to find a sugar substitute that my family won't complain about.
Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls
Thanks for the info ... I would never have thought to try it because I'm like you: very happy with my stevia. Now I might step out of my Stevia box and try another sweetener.
Brenda
Thanks Ann! I'm finding I like combining both, working really well for me.
Pamela
Have to try this, sounds good!
Maria
BTW, for those who don't have the powdered version of erythritol (or any sweetener, I think), putting the granular in a 'magic bullet' with the flat blade attachment will powder it up in seconds! I'd read where others had tried it, and so I bit the bullet (pun intended 🙂 because I had need of powdered 'sugar', and I was truly impressed. (I didn't go out and buy a Magic Bullet for this. I didn't want to spend $100, or even $50 for one, so about 3 years ago I bought a knock off at Rite Aid for $15 with the same amount of containers, lids, etc. I use it about 3 times a week and has not failed me yet. AND, last year, ALDI had their knock off (Crofton brand) for $20. I bought one for a friend, identical in every way to the Magic Bullet. I'm not affiliated with either Rite Aid or ALDI. Just a retiree with a fixed/limited income pinching pennies 🙂
Maria
I am currently using Xylitol, but will be ordering Swerve. The Swerve website indicates that a food store about 1.5 miles from me carries it, but when I couldn't find it on the shelf I asked. Not even the manager had heard of it! So disappointed.
Elizabeth
I'm a xylitol girl, so have yet to try this. Would love to win a bag; thank you for the giveaway.