Erythritol substitutes
Erythritol substitutes — 6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Xylitol
¾ of the amount of erythritol
Sugar alcohol that is about as sweet as sugar, so a little sweeter than erythritol, with about 40% fewer calories than sugar. It behaves much like erythritol in most applications.
The best substitutes for erythritol are xylitol, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener, depending on your dietary needs and recipe requirements.
- Verdict —
- Tweak it
- Best for —
- baking
Updated 3 Oct 2026 · no sponsored swaps
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of erythritol | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xylitolbaking | ¾ × the amountTweak it | Tweak it |
| 2 | Steviabeverages | 1 tsp stevia powder or ½ tsp liquid stevia per 1 cup erythritol | No verdict on record |
| 3 | Monk fruit sweetenerbaking | ¾ × the amountTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Allulosebaking | Same amountWorks | Works |
| 5 | Sucralosebaking | ¾ × the amountTweak it | Tweak it |
| 6 | Regular sugarbaking | ¾ × the amountTweak it | Tweak it |
Xylitol
similar, slight cooling effect · similar texture
Sugar alcohol that is about as sweet as sugar, so a little sweeter than erythritol, with about 40% fewer calories than sugar. It behaves much like erythritol in most applications.
- Best for
- baking, beverages, desserts, candy, diabetic-friendly recipes
Sweeter than erythritol, so start with about ¾ as much and add to taste. It has a slight cooling effect and can cause digestive upset in larger amounts. Xylitol is toxic to dogs, so keep anything made with it away from pets.
Stevia
very sweet, slight aftertaste
Natural zero-calorie sweetener that's much sweeter than erythritol. No calories or carbs.
- Best for
- beverages, frosting, low-carb baking, diabetic-friendly recipes
- Texture
- no texture change
Much sweeter than erythritol - start with less and taste. May have slight aftertaste.
Monk fruit sweetener
similar, no aftertaste · similar texture
Zero-calorie sweetener. The granulated kind is usually a blend made to measure like sugar, which makes it a little sweeter than erythritol; pure monk fruit extract is far more concentrated.
- Best for
- baking, beverages, desserts, candy, diabetic-friendly recipes
For a granulated blend that measures like sugar, start with about ¾ as much and add to taste. Many of these blends are themselves mostly erythritol, so check the label if you are avoiding it. For pure monk fruit extract, follow the package conversion.
Allulose
similar taste and texture
Rare sugar with similar sweetness to erythritol and minimal calories. Very similar in most applications.
- Best for
- baking, beverages, desserts, ice cream, diabetic-friendly recipes
Similar sweetness to erythritol with minimal calories. Good for natural recipes.
Sucralose
similar taste and texture
Artificial sweetener. Granulated sucralose that measures cup for cup like sugar is a little sweeter than erythritol; pure sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sugar.
- Best for
- baking, beverages, desserts, candy, diabetic-friendly recipes
Use only a granulated product made to measure like sugar, starting with about ¾ as much. For packets, liquid or pure sucralose, follow the package conversion.
Regular sugar
similar taste and texture
Traditional sugar, somewhat sweeter than erythritol and with far more calories and carbs.
- Best for
- baking, beverages, desserts, candy, general cooking
Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar, so use about ¾ cup of sugar per cup of erythritol. More calories and carbs than erythritol. Not suitable for diabetic or low-carb diets.
Questions
5 questionsCan I use xylitol instead of erythritol?
Yes, xylitol is a good substitute for erythritol. It is about as sweet as sugar, while erythritol is about 70% as sweet, so start with about ¾ as much. It is toxic to dogs, so keep it away from pets.
What's the difference between erythritol and xylitol?
Erythritol and xylitol are both sugar alcohols. Xylitol is about as sweet as sugar and has about 40% fewer calories than sugar; erythritol is about 70% as sweet, has almost no calories and is less likely to cause digestive issues. Both have a cooling effect. Xylitol is toxic to dogs.
Can I use stevia instead of erythritol?
Yes, stevia can work as a substitute, but it's much sweeter than erythritol. Use about 1 teaspoon of stevia for every 1 cup of erythritol.
Is erythritol safe for diabetics?
Erythritol doesn't raise blood sugar levels, which is why it is used in sugar-free recipes. Whether it suits your own diet is a question for your healthcare provider.
Why does erythritol have a cooling effect?
Erythritol has a cooling effect because it absorbs heat when it dissolves in saliva, creating a cooling sensation similar to mint. This is a natural property of erythritol.
Tips for substituting erythritol
10 tips- Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar but with zero calories. Blends sold as 1:1 sugar replacements are as sweet as sugar, so if the recipe uses one of those, swap in xylitol or sugar at the same amount rather than ¾
- Erythritol has a slight cooling effect in the mouth, similar to mint
- Erythritol doesn't caramelize like sugar, so adjust baking techniques accordingly
- Erythritol doesn't raise blood sugar levels
- Erythritol is heat-stable and can be used in cooking and baking
- Erythritol works well in both hot and cold applications
- Erythritol can be used in most recipes that call for sugar
- Erythritol has a similar texture to sugar, making it good for baking
- Erythritol is less likely to cause digestive issues than other sugar alcohols
- Erythritol is naturally occurring in some fruits and fermented foods