Baking Question

Hi all - I think I've seen a few posts that lead me think we've got a few bakers on here.

I'd like to make a gingerbread cake or maybe some speculos cookies for a potluck next week -- I have found some keto recipes to try but they both say "sugar substitute of your choice" -- does anyone have a recommendation between Swerve, Stevia, Lankanto/monkfruit, Xylitol, erythritol? From what I've read, Splenda may not be a good alternative in baking because you use a different volume due to the sweetness? Both receipes are pretty low in sweetner and I'm considering just leaving it out and making them more spicy but wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts.

I actually personally hate the taste of stevia, it leaves a terribly bitter aftertaste and I choose to use splenda even though it supposedly has a slight metabolic impact. it has never been a problem for me though.

If you use the Baking splenda, it is actually formulated to measure just like sugar per volume (not weight)- so 1 Cup of baking splenda is equal to 1 Cup of sugar.

I think its the opposite for stevia products. many of them are much sweeter than sugar so you do have to adjust... but I think some of the ones they make for baking also are formulated to measure like sugar, you just have to check the package.

I think it's mainly based on your preference for taste!
I would recommend using at least SOME sweetener if it does call for sugar or you may end up just getting a "bread" flavor instead of cake or cookies...Good luck!

Thank you -- I am a recipe tinker-er and that rarely goes well with baking, this will be an adventure, lol.

Have in mind that xylitol is a SA, and really carbohydrate. Plus it is a poison to dogs.

And it can cause really bad gas. Like really really bad. Most Splenda mixes has dextrose. Dextrose is sugar. One packet can be considered " 0 sugar = 0 calories", but if you use the backing mix, it can have a significant amount of sugar.

From what I read, Swerve is supposed to be the least gas forming and the best for baking. And it is well tolerated by most people. (Causing the least gas)

Erythritol by itself can have a cooling like effect. Try to make a small batch and test on you and someone else.

Maybe I will give the swerve a try; I read on the recipe that Xylitol is bad for dogs - it made me question if it's good for humans!

Makes me sick enough to wish I were dead...

Janet, the Swerve does or the xylitol?

The Xylitol and the eryth...? And Malatol. Unfortunately these are in alot of sugar-free products.

YEP!!!

If i want to be doubled over in bed for 1/2 a day....

When I miss them on the label and ingest them in even small amounts, I honestly pray to "purge" but it doesn't (unlike real dumping syndrome). I just have to wait, sometimes for hours or into the next day, for it to pass and the pain to end.

For instance my favorite SF popsicles changed from Splenda to SA (Malatol, if I remember) and I didn't know. I was curled up in bed crying and had no idea why... They are also in most protein bars.