Swerve & Other Sugar Substitutes For Baking

Many people ask me how they can decrease the sugar in our scrumptious recipes or what sugar substitutes I use in my own cooking and baking at home. They may be asking because they have had health issues where they are supposed to avoid sugar or decrease it OR they want to avoid having those issues and be healthier. That makes a lot of sense and it is smart to be proactive about your health.  

For the last year, I have been using a natural sweetener called Swerve. The video above talks about the product. Before we begin, let me just say that I am not getting paid for this post. I just wanted to share it since people were asking and I have had good results with it. I have lost nearly 20 pounds now and using Swerve has been one thing that has helped me get there. Switching to low-carb recipes like cauliflower rice has also helped a bunch.

So without further ado, here are some FAQs about Swerve and other sugar substitutes for baking.

Swerve FAQs

What is swerve?

Swerve is a natural sweetener made from powdered erythritol and ingredients found in select fruits and starchy root vegetables. It’s a calorie-free sweetener that contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or flavors. It’s also non-glycemic, which means it’s safe for people with diabetes to use as it has no effect on blood sugar or insulin levels. As an added bonus, it’s very similar in taste and appearance to granulated sugar. In fact, it even caramelizes like sugar.

Why do I use Swerve?

1. It tastes good. (In my opinion, you will have to try it to decide for yourself).
2. It works well in cooking and baking.  
3. Swerve is easy to find via Amazon and Walmart.
4. It has no net carbs, no sugar response in the body, and no calories.

How do you substitute sugar for Swerve in baking?

The best part is that you can swap sugar and Swerve on a 1:1 basis. So 1 cup of sugar equals 1 cup of Swerve.

Does Swerve sweetener have an aftertaste?

No, Swerve tastes just like sugar so don’t expect any bitter aftertaste.

Where do I buy Swerve?

I typically buy Swerve on Amazon (here is a link). If you decide to purchase it through that link Southern Plate gets a very small commission. 

How do you store Swerve?

Store Swerve in an airtight container either in your refrigerator or freezer to keep any lumps from forming.

What are some recipes that use Swerve?

Here is just a sample of recipes where you can use Swerve as a sugar substitute:

• No Bake Chocolate Cookies
• Elvis Presley Cake
• Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Quick & Easy Low-Sugar Chocolate Mousse
• Buttermilk Pie Recipe
• Cheesecake Fluff
• Easy Tiramisu Recipe
• Butter Roll Dessert Recipe With Crescent Rolls
• Low-Carb Berry Crisp
• Microwave Brownie in a Mug Recipe

If you ever want to troubleshoot when baking with Swerve, check out these baking tips from the official Swerve website.

Sugar Substitutes for Baking FAQs

What are some other sugar substitutes?

Now, Swerve is my favorite sugar substitute, but there are several available:

• Honey
• Agave nectar or agave syrup has less glucose and lower GI than sugar, but more fructose.
• Unsweetened applesauce (a common substitute in vegan recipes).
• Fruit and vegetable puree like beetroot, carrot, or banana.
• Fruit juice concentrate is another alternative.
• Monk fruit liquid or powder.
• Molasses, but it’s important to know that this will give baked goods a darker color and a richer flavor, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!
• Maple syrup also adds a richer flavor, especially when compared to honey.
• Coconut sugar or coconut palm sugar. Coconut sugar is similar to brown sugar in both taste and color.
• Xylitol
• Stevia is available in liquid or powder form. Stevia is a plant native to South America that’s 200 to 300 times sweeter than normal white sugar. Yep, really. But it’s a good sugar substitute for diabetics as it has no calories and no impact on blood sugar levels.
• Cane sugar
• Dates, whether that’s whole dates, date syrup, or date sugar.
• Brown rice syrup
• Corn syrup

What is the healthiest sugar substitute for baking?

The healthiest sugar substitutes for baking are natural sweeteners like honey, pure maple syrup, apple sauce, molasses, and fruit. 

How do you substitute sweeteners for sugar in recipes?

Many sweeteners are a 1-to-1 substitute. But to see about your particular artificial sweetener I found a great article about baking and cooking with sweeteners from All Recipes here.

And for your reference here is a table from the Swerve website that shows you how to substitute natural sweeteners in recipes:

This is not a paid advertisement for Swerve. It is just my opinion and is meant to be educational only. Always check with your doctor to see if this sweetener is right for your situation.