Wouldn’t it be sweet if sugar stopped being something we needed to quit? Even better, how nice would it be if instead of reading about the countless drawbacks of the much adored candied habit, we could enjoy some benefits of it? Looking back in almost every aspect of human lives, I realize that rarely do we, humans, desire something so strongly without putting our minds and efforts together to make it come true. At least we try! In the case of sugar as well, we tried and luckily, we have succeeded and the name of the gain is xylitol. The sugar substitute xylitol is derived from birch bark or from corn. Dentists approve that it is actually good for the teeth since it prevents cavities and it doesn’t contain aspartame of GMO. It contains 40% less calories and 75% less carbohydrates than sugar. Also, it doesn’t mess with the blood sugar levels and it has the ability to freshen the breath.
When it comes to cooking with the sugar substitute xylitol, there are certain tips you need to know beforehand:
- Xylitol has the ability to absorb a lot of moisture, therefore you’ll need to adjust the recipes a little bit to your new, healthy sweetener. You just need to remember to remove the cookies from the oven a little earlier than usual in order to maintain the softness.
- Don’t use xylitol with baking breads that rise because yeast and xylitol don’t go together. However, this characteristic has a good side, xylitol doesn’t feed candid
- High heat has nothing on xylitol as it remains stable during the process. This characteristic might prevent you from getting a carmelized state, but you can use another type of sweetener if hard crack is your goal for the desert you’re preparing that day.
- You can also use xylitol as a substitute for brown sugar. Add 1 to 2 tsps of molasses for every cup of xylitol you’ll use.
- Xylitol usually crystallizes when it is refrigerated in the form of jam, syrup or sauces. This can be solved by adding just a little bit of xantham gum to the crystals before using it with the rest of the ingredients.
- The sugar substitute xylitol doesn’t come with negative side effect, on the contrary, if used in moderation it can be beneficial for your health. Taking too much of it can cause mild gastrointestinal problems.
