Yes, you can bake with erythritol. It holds up in the oven and gives cakes, biscuits and crumbles the bulk that sugar normally provides, but it is about 70% as sweet as sugar and behaves a little differently, so a few small tweaks make all the difference.

This guide is for anyone baking keto or low carb, cutting down on sugar, or baking vegan or gluten free, as Finally. 100% Erythritol is naturally both. It is also handy if you are buying for a keen baker and want to know which sugar alternative to choose. Here at Finally. Keto in Norfolk, erythritol is the ingredient we reach for most, so here is everything we have learnt.

What Is Erythritol?

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, which you will see listed as a polyol on UK labels. It is found naturally in fruits such as pears, melons and grapes, and today it is usually made by fermenting glucose from non-GMO corn.

Finally. 100% Erythritol contains just that one ingredient. It has a light, clean sweetness and a delicately crunchy texture, a lot like caster sugar.

How Much Erythritol Do I Use Instead of Sugar?

Because erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar, use around a third more than the sugar in your recipe for the same sweetness. So 100g of sugar becomes roughly 130g of erythritol.

Plenty of people find they enjoy their bakes a little less sweet, so you can also swap it gram for gram and taste the mixture as you go.

If you would rather skip the maths, our Monk Fruit Sweetener granules and Finally. Demerara are 1:1 sugar replacements, and Soft Brown and Dark Brown swap 1:1 for brown sugar. Each one is built on erythritol, blended with a sweeter natural extract.

What Can You Bake With Erythritol?

Erythritol shines in cakes, muffins, sponges, biscuits, shortbread, crumble toppings and cheesecakes. Anywhere sugar is there for sweetness and bulk, it is an easy swap.

It is less suited to recipes that rely on sugar changing in the heat, such as toffee, brittle or a true caramel sauce, because erythritol does not caramelise. Yeast cannot feed on it either, so in bread dough it adds sweetness but will not help the dough rise.

Why Does Erythritol Sometimes Feel Gritty?

Erythritol does not dissolve quite as easily as sugar, and in some recipes it can form tiny crystals again as it cools. You are most likely to notice this in icing, buttercream, cheesecakes and other no-bake desserts.

The fix is simple. Blitz it to a fine powder in a small blender or spice grinder before you use it. Powdered erythritol also makes a smooth keto icing sugar for dusting over bakes and berries.

Why Does Erythritol Taste Cool?

Erythritol can leave a slight cooling feeling on the tongue, a bit like mint without the flavour. It is most noticeable in plain bakes such as a vanilla sponge.

Warm flavours like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cocoa and citrus zest soften it. So does blending erythritol with another sweetener, which is why our Stevia, Golden and brown sugar alternatives all pair erythritol with steviol glycosides.

Will My Bakes Brown Like They Do With Sugar?

Not quite. Sugar caramelises in the oven and erythritol does not, so your bakes may look paler than you are used to. Check them with a skewer or a gentle press on top rather than waiting for a deep golden colour, or you may over-bake them.

For a richer look and flavour, try Finally. Soft Brown in cookies and blondies, or Finally. Dark Brown in gingerbread and brownies. Neither caramelises, but both bring a brown sugar colour and a molasses-style flavour.

How Do I Keep Erythritol Bakes Moist?

Sugar holds on to moisture, and erythritol does not do this as well. Bakes made with almond or coconut flour can turn out a little dry, so a few habits help:

• Take bakes out of the oven as soon as a skewer comes out clean.
• Swap some of the erythritol for Finally. Soft Brown, whose fine, moist texture helps almond and coconut flour bakes.
• Let bakes cool fully, then store them in an airtight tin.

Try It: A 2-Minute Keto Vanilla Mug Cake

The quickest way to see how erythritol bakes. Makes 1.

• 30g ground almonds
• 15g (about 1 tablespoon) Finally. 100% Erythritol, blitzed to a powder
• ½ teaspoon baking powder (gluten-free if you need it)
• A pinch of Finally. Ancient Spring Salt, fine
• 1 medium egg
• 15g butter, melted
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Mix the ground almonds, powdered erythritol, baking powder and salt in a large mug.
2. Beat in the egg, melted butter and vanilla until smooth.
3. Microwave for 60 to 90 seconds, until risen and just set in the middle.
4. Leave for a minute, then dust with a little more powdered erythritol or top with a spoonful of cream.

The ground almonds and egg bring around 2g of carbs (an estimate, as it depends on your ground almonds). Our guide to reading UK food labels explains how erythritol is counted.

Want more? Our Ancient Spring Salt and Vanilla Whipped Shortbread, Keto Brown Butter Pecan Blondies and Keto Gingerbread Cookies are all waiting on the recipe blog.

Which Finally. Sugar Alternative Should I Bake With?

• Everyday sweetness and icing: Finally. 100% Erythritol, 240g jar or 1kg pouch
• Sponges and everyday baking: Finally. Golden or Monk Fruit Sweetener
• Cookies and blondies: Finally. Soft Brown
• Gingerbread and rich bakes: Finally. Dark Brown
• Crumble toppings: Finally. Demerara, light and crisp

Buying for a baker and not sure which they will like? The Christmas Sweetener Gift Set has seven 70g jars, so they can try every one.

You will find them all together in our Baking Without Sugar collection, with more ideas in our plain-English guide to sweeteners.

Bake Without the Sugar

Use a little more than you would sugar, powder it for anything smooth, and judge your bakes by touch rather than colour. Get those three right and erythritol will happily take sugar's place in most of your favourite recipes.

Ready to start baking? Shop Finally. 100% Erythritol today.

Like all polyols, erythritol may have a laxative effect if you eat a lot in one go. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, please speak to your GP or a registered dietitian before changing your diet.

FAQ

Can you use erythritol instead of sugar in baking? Yes. Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar, so use around a third more for the same sweetness, or swap it gram for gram if you like things less sweet.

Does erythritol caramelise? No. Bakes made with erythritol stay paler than sugar bakes. For a brown sugar look and a molasses-style flavour, use Finally. Soft Brown or Finally. Dark Brown.

Can you make icing with erythritol? Yes. Blitz it to a fine powder first, then use it just like icing sugar in icing, buttercream and cream cheese frosting.

Is erythritol vegan and gluten free? Yes. Finally. 100% Erythritol is naturally vegan and gluten free, with just one ingredient.