Joy Filled Eats Natural Sweetener
Looking for an all natural and economical sugar-free sweetener that actually tastes good? You need to try my natural sweetener blend! I’ve found that by using a combination of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia I can save money while enjoying a low carb sweetener that tastes just like sugar.
Joy Filled Eats Natural Sweetener Blend – Xylitol, Erythritol, & Stevia – Low Carb, Keto, Trim Healthy Mama, Diabetic Friendly, Sugar Free
When I started the Trim Healthy Mama diet I was leery about all the recipes using stevia because I have never liked it. All of the grocery store varieties and even the flavored liquid drops have a bitter aftertaste to me. In the past when I stopped using sugar on the South Beach Diet I used artificial sweeteners to replace it. Over the years I’ve read more about the negative effects of artificial sweeteners and I knew I needed to give stevia another try.
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I heard that the Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet natural sweetener, which is a blend of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia, was a game changer so I thought I would give it a try. It really changed my perception of stevia. It had no aftertaste or bitterness.
Because we have a strict food budget I became determined to come up with my own blend of erythritol, xylitol, and stevia. I try to save as many pennies as I can when I shop. Making my own sweeteners, baking mixes, seasonings, and cooking from scratch saves the most.
These Tagalong Cupcakes are one use for my sweetener. Don’t they look yummy? They are sugar-free! But you would never know. Even my husband who isn’t a dessert guy loved them.
You can now mix up your own sweetener that measures just like Gentle Sweet. If you are on a tight budget this helps with this way of eating immensely. I use this sweetener in all my dessert recipes and I’ve subbed in it recipes from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook like the Trimtastic Cake.
You can make everything from Sweetened Condensed Milk to Caramel with this recipe and more.
If you grind this in a food processor it works great as a low carb powdered sugar. It is the best out of the low carb and keto sweeteners!
Ingredients in Joy Filled Eats Sweetener
Xylitol is a natural sweetener. It is a sugar alcohol made from birch trees or corncobs. It has 40% fewer calories than sugar and is a 7 on the glycemic index (white sugar is a 64). Please note that xylitol can be fatal to dogs so don’t share treats containing xylitol with your furry friends.
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol like xylitol. It occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables It has zero calories and no impact on blood sugar. It is produced from glucose by fermentation with yeast.
Stevia is a plant discovered in South America. To make stevia powder a water extraction method is typically used. Stevia is 100 to 200 times sweeter than sugar so a little goes a long way.
Where Do I Buy Sweetener Ingredients?
My natural sweetener recipe is easy and economical. There are many choices on where to order the ingredients from. And I’ve used several brands of these products successfully.
I personally order the ingredients for this natural sweetener from amazon, walmart, thrive market, and iherb.
Thrive Market: My Thrive Market Coupon works on everything from sweeteners and baking supplies to vitamins and beauty products! Thrive has great prices on coconut products, spices, organic health items, baby food, and more especially since they often will email codes for an additional 25-30% off your entire order. Head over to this post to see more of the latest deals at Thrive. My favorite deal is always getting Lily’s Chocolate Chips for $4 a bag!
iherb:
If you are ordering from iherb you save $5 with my link. Generally, you can get the ingredients to make for under $8 a pound. Free shipping is on orders over $20.
I ordered the ingredients from iherb with free shipping. They have a lot of products that work for Keto, Low Carb, and Trim Healthy Mama eating plans. Other products they have that are compatible with THM are oat fiber, psyllium husks, whey protein powder, coconut flour, almond flour, etc. etc. This link takes you right to iherb so you can start making your own sugar free sweetener! Just put each ingredient into the search bar and add to your cart. It’s cheaper to buy the 2.5 pounds but they also have 1 pound bags if you’d like to go small before you commit to a huge bag. It is very very easy.
Amazon:
With free one day and two-day Prime shipping, Amazon is where I order from most often. I can consistently get xylitol and erythritol inexpensively. I buy the largest size stevia and it lasts me about 2 years. And I bake A LOT.
I have tried all of these brands and just buy whichever is the cheapest on the day I order! No big deal.
Walmart:
Over the last year or so I’ve been buying more and more groceries from Walmart. They offer free shipping over $35 and have many low carb products in addition to having more choices in the store.
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Joy Filled Eats Natural Sweetener - Low Carb, THM, Sugar Free
Ingredients
Weight measurements:
- 16 oz xylitol *** (or allulose)
- 12 oz erythritol (or allulose)
- 2 tsp Better Stevia or any pure stevia extract
Cup measurements:
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons xylitol (or allulose)
- 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons erythritol (or allulose)
- 2 tsp Better Stevia or any pure stevia extract
Instructions
Powdered Sweetener
- Process the ingredients in the food processor for a few minutes if you are planning on using it in chocolate, beverages, or icing.
Granular Sweetener
- For baking and candy making, you can just mix the ingredients together by hand.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that xylitol is fatal to dogs so don’t share treats containing xylitol with your furry friends. You may prefer to not have it in your pet-friendly house at all.
I used your link to iHerb.com and didn’t get a discount nor free shipping. (So I cancelled the order)
Hi Pam, promotions can change so I generally check a few places before ordering.
Is xylitol poison to our feline friends?
Here is some info: http://pets.thenest.com/xylitol-harmful-cats-4576.html
What could I do if I do not want to use xylitol? We have a dog and if she happens to get a hold of anything it would be bad news for her. Thanks.
Can i just use a cup of stevia??
It would be way too sweet.
Taryn – are you familiar with swerve and sukrin? I’m new to all this low carb stuff and trying to figure out something I use for baking that is cup-for-cup replacement for sugar. I’ve tried the swerve in cheesecake and pumpkin pie and don’t have any issues with after taste or cooling affect but it leaves a weird powder stuff on top with a thin crunchy layer of ‘sugar’. The sukrin I’ve tried in flourless peanut butter cookies and holy cow the cooling affect was awful. Any suggestions? I don’t want to use xylitol because I have dogs. I miss baking
I’ve used sukrin and swerve a bit. My preference is the blends with xylitol. We don’t have pets so I don’t have to worry about having it in the house. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. I would check out Carolyn’s blog All Day I Dream About Food. She uses swerve in many of her recipes and may have a tip on why your cheesecake and pie has a crunch layer.
I love Carolyn’s blog. Her’s has been great, as has I Breathe Im hungry too. Kristie’s keto youtube videos are also awesome. I’m stocking my pantry with new baking stuff (almond flour (honeyville ordered, have tried bob’s), hazlenut flour, stevia powder (momys knows best – with steviasides). Its all so new to me. That was the only thing wrong with the cheesecake and pumpkin pie (trying to figure out an alternate for thanksgiving) I used my normal recipes and just replaced the sugar in the cheesecake with swerve. The same for pumpkin pie, I used my traditional libby’s recipe but replaced the sugar with swerve and the evap milk with cream. Any tip’s are welcome 🙂
My tip is to go to any of the sites you mentioned, especially Joy Filled Eats (and I’d add Low Carb Yum-The fabulous Lisa) and follow their recipes. These women are professionals in my book and dedicated to us– their fans by painstakingly answering questions on their recipes. Try the pumpkin pie dump cake on this site with whipped cream instead of cream cheese and you’ll think you’re in thanksgiving heaven. I too have a file on pininterest that is labeled ‘to be modified’ but thought I never need to ever do that with all these wonderful women who have already blazed the trail and done all the heavy lifting. Bless them all!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I have struggled to find a sweet blend that I really enjoyed and could be shared with non-THM eaters discretely. I did make some modifications based on the brands I was using and our preferences but your recipe gave me something to build on. I really enjoy several of your recipes and thank you for sharing with all of us!
I’m so glad to have found this. I have these ingredients in my cupboard, but have not known how to get them to taste good on their own. My question is, do I use this one for one as a substitute for sugar? Or, should I look at the Gentle Sweet website and go by their chart? That chart shows 6 TBSP of gentle sweet in place of a cup of sugar.
Thank you!
I normally sub half the amount of my sweetener for the amount of sugar called for.
Can you use all xylitol for the erythritol part ? I have 10 #’s of xylitol and don’t want to buy eryhritol if it won’t make to much of a difference. Thanks ?
Any suggestions for plastic containers to take this sweetener mix on-the-go that won’t make a mess when using it? I was buying the little packets that THM came out with and that was convenient, but now that I have the ingredients to blend my own, I need a way to take it with me. I came across a “shaker” cup (or so it was called) at the grocery store yesterday that may work since it has a wide mouth to fill and pourable top (although a little wider than necessary but that’s ok), but thought I’d ask the experts. 🙂 Thanks!!!
Update: Found suggestion in file on THM Drive Thru Sues Unite FB page that says to put dry ingredients in baby formula dispenser…this might be what I’m looking for.
That’s a great idea. I was thinking about the little disposable condiment cups. You could reuse them. Like these: http://amzn.to/2daFcUz
Those are what I’ve been using to take my collagen to work to put in my coffee. 🙂
Update again: I don’t know if the google image link below will work, but I also found these mixer magik cups for $1 each and Christmas Tree Shops yesterday. I’m going to try using them to store some sweetener and collagen at work. With practice I’m hoping I can use the pour spout to pour in just the right amount without going overboard. My only concern is the screw on lid doesn’t seal as tight as I would like (but it’s what you’d expect for the price) and I can just put in the amount I’d think I could use up in a reasonable amount of time. I know a mason jar would suffice at work but the plastic gives me the option to toss them in my bag on the go– I’m a little rough on stuff and sometimes clumsy so I try to stay away from carrying glass items and forgetting I have them! Sorry for all the replies, but I couldn’t find anything suitable at first and thought I should share my finds. I’m a Drive Thru Sue to the core with and it’s been hard for me to get on plan and stay on plan so I’m trying to eliminate as many excuses as I can any way I can find to do so.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTW1usM5naoDTDqDsTkmjyvtnkDzTbxduCqL69pdtZwmgNH4Yg
Good morning Taryn. Thank you for your site. I’m having a great day because I live overseas (Turkey) and discovered iHerb through your site (and your readers who posted that iHerb ships overseas). iHerb does indeed ship overseas. It isn’t free to Turkey but you get 4 lbs per shipment for under $10 that I can see. Considering I have to rely on the generosity of friends traveling to bring me supplies this is an incredible find. So I have a couple of questions: 1) as I will be a frequent customer of iHerb I would like you to get credit for all my purchases. So does this mean that each time I order I have to first go to your site and then go to this recipe to click on the link that takes me to iHerb? 2) if the answer to 1 above is yes is it possible for you to post affiliate links where they are easy to get to, like your front page or a place that says click for affiliate links? 3) I created my first order (of many) today and cannot see where you got the credit. I’d like to know so I wrote the company as well. If you send me your email I’ll send you the order and you can see that you get the credit. Thanks again. This will change my life in such a good way and you’ll be a fan favorite of any future visiting friends! 😉
Hi Ros, if you make your first iherb order through my link you become my customer. There is no need to click through the link each time. Thank you so much for asking! As long as you used my link or code I will get the credit. My email is taryn [at] joyfilledeats [dot] com if you want to forward me the order. I can check on my end too 🙂
I already have some THM Stevia. Do you know how it compares to Better Stevia? 1:1?
A few reads have said the THM stevia is a little sweeter than Better Stevia. I have not tried it myself.
One caveat about erythritol…it will cause GI issues if you eat alot in one day. Its not just the xylitol that does it, but erythritol seems to be the least likely to and the one you can eat the most of.
I dont use xylitol as its more apt to cause GI issues than erythritol. I just add a slight tsp of stevia with the erythritol in a recipe. It gives a better flavor profile, more like sugar. And makes up for the less sweetness of erythritol compared to same amt of sugar. So i can sub erytritol for sugar, cup for cup, in recipes. I use only stevia in drinks or dairy.
The only stevia i like is NOW brand glycerite (liquid). The SweetLeaf powder was the best powder i found, after trying oh so many brands. I liked that it had inulin. But it would clump up n be a cement brick after a yr in my cupboard. The glycerite has never gotten weird on me. I buy an 8oz bottle n it hangs out a long time in my cupboard. The Sweetleaf powder also had more bitterness than the NOW glycerite.
So theres another option, just sub erythritol for the Gentle Sweet and add a little stevia glycerite. Easy peasy.
I got the products you suggested to make the sweetener and I find it not sweet at all. have to add more sweetener to make it sweet enough. very dissatisified with results.
Hi Brunella,
Sweetness really does vary based on a person’s palate. If you are used to using Super Sweet or Truvia this is indeed less sweet than those. You can always add a bit more stevia until it is the sweetness you prefer. You might find this chart handy: http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/sweetener-conversion-chart/
Did you try using it in a specific recipe? I can help you troubleshoot.
Hi my brand of stevia says it “measures cup for cup like sugar”. What should I increase the stevia measurement to for this recipe? Also, do you have a recipe for the super sweet blend using the conversion for the above mentioned stevia brand?
It can’t be pure stevia then. That is what you need for this recipe. Stevia is much much sweeter than sugar. Which brand do you have?
It’s the great value brand from Walmart.
I’m pretty sure that is stevia mixed with erythritol.
It doesn’t say so on the bag.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Granulated-No-Calorie-Stevia-9.7oz/37415081?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=37415081&placement_id=irs-106-t1&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=19256f6b-c26f-4e9a-9602-39cc6e72898c&customer_id_enc&config_id=106&parent_item_id=16618678&parent_anchor_item_id=16618678&guid=35546c2a-3ff8-4201-8619-9b552f582993&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n
Is stevia the only ingredient?
The ingredient list is as follows: Maltodextrin, Stevia
Ahhh… ok. So maltrodextrin is actually made from corn and very similar to sugar in terms of how your body processes it. It is not allowed in the Trim Healthy Mama diet and most low carbers avoid it too except in small amounts. That sweetener will not work in this recipe. Here is some info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltodextrin
Thank you SO much!! I have 10 pounds of Xylitol and wanted to make my own Gentle Sweet. My husband doesn’t like alternative sweeteners but he does like Gentle Sweet. I just made a batch…now to try it out on some Skinny Chocolate! :oD
Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes! Thanks for the sugar coupon, I have my ingredients on the way! Can I just mix the whole contents of each item and call it good? Thanks, Deanna
I wouldn’t recommend it. That is way more stevia than you need. That little bottle lasts for at least 4-5 batches of this sweetener. And I prefer more xylitol than erythritol. It only takes a few minutes to weigh or measure the ingredients 😉
I am SOOO confused on your recipe for gentle sweet……
12 oz. OR 1 1/2 cups plus 2 T. erythritol
16 oz. OR 2 cups plus 2 T. xylitol
2 tsp. Better Stevia
It makes no sense to me and I’ve read it over and over.
12 oz of what?? or 1.5 cups of what??
Please help clarify, I just ran out of gentle sweet and Id love to make my own. Thank yoU!
Yes. You can weigh it on a kitchen OR measure with a measuring cup. I weigh it on a kitchen scale. I just put my big mason jar on it and pour in the sweetener.
So I use the kitchen scale to weigh 16oz xylitol, 12 oz erythritol, and then measure in 2 tsp stevia.
Or you can use the cup measurements.
Ahhhh i understand now. Thank you. It was the way it was worded, it didn’t make sense to me. Thanks!!
Can I mix this in a Vitamix blender?
Yes. If you are going to bake with it you don’t need to mix it at all. For icing, beverages, and skinny chocolate it works better if it is finer.
I have had great luck with Trader Joe’s stevia powder. Make sure you get the smaller and more expensive jar. It goes a long way. I find that if I add it to the erythritol it helps to sweeten it up and also takes away some of the cooling effect. It also measures the same as sugar. I accidentally ordered xylitol this last time and so I am thrilled to find this as soon as my new order of erythritol gets here. I have had great success with the NOW brand and so will stick with that. Thanks!
I have xylitol and erythritol, but only liquid pure stevia, how much of it should I use in your recipe?
Hi Karine, According to this chart it would sub 1:1 for the stevia powder. http://www.stevia.net/conversion.html