Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener that is used as a sugar substitute. It is derived from birch bark and often used in sugarless chewing gum. Xylitol actually has dental health benefits in that it can prevent tooth decay. However, that’s not what we’re interested in here.

Xylitol can be used in cooking and baking. While many claim that it has little to no aftertaste, I find that it has a “cool” aftertaste. Although it is considered a healthy sugar substitute, xylitol is actually a sugar, in fact it is a sugar alcohol and can be challenging for some to digest –beware. Xylitol has about 30% less calories than sugar and is low on the glycemic index.

I have recently started to experiment with xylitol in my gluten free recipes; if you’d like to, check out my xylitol sweetened Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge and my Jelly Donut Cupcakes (where the xylitol is sprinkled on top of the cupcake in place of white sugar).

I recommend purchasing xylitol from The Ultimate Life. It’s sugar free, corn free, fructose free, and free of any artificial ingredients, or animal products of any kind.

Here are all my gluten free dessert recipes using xylitol.