What is the Closest Replacement to Sugar?

November 17, 2025 •

4 min read

According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, allulose is a naturally occurring sugar found in some fruits that boasts a remarkable similarity to sugar's taste and texture. For those asking, "what is the closest replacement to sugar?", allulose emerges as a top contender, offering a low-calorie alternative without the usual bitter aftertaste found in other sweeteners.

Quick Summary

Several sweeteners mimic sugar's taste and texture for baking and beverages. Allulose, a natural low-calorie sugar, is praised for its sugar-like qualities and minimal aftertaste. Monk fruit and stevia are also popular zero-calorie choices, while sugar alcohols like erythritol are useful for bulk.

Key Points

Allulose is the closest replacement: This rare sugar most closely mimics the taste, texture, and baking properties of traditional sugar, with minimal calories and negligible impact on blood sugar.
Stevia and Monk Fruit are zero-calorie options: These plant-derived sweeteners are intensely sweet with zero calories, but may require experimentation to find a brand without an undesirable aftertaste.
Sugar alcohols provide bulk: Erythritol and xylitol offer reduced-calorie sweetness and bulk for baking and confections, but can cause digestive issues in large amounts.
Taste and function vary greatly: The best choice depends on your specific needs, as substitutes differ in taste, aftertaste, and performance in cooking or baking.
Check for safety and potential side effects: While most common sugar replacements are FDA-approved, be mindful of potential side effects, such as digestive issues from sugar alcohols or the toxicity of xylitol to dogs.

What Makes a Sweetener a Good Sugar Replacement?

When searching for a replacement, it's essential to understand that sugar provides more than just sweetness. Sucrose offers bulk, browning properties, and moisture retention in baking, which many substitutes lack. The ideal replacement balances these functional characteristics with a pleasant, sugar-like taste. This is where options like allulose stand out, providing a unique chemical structure that behaves similarly to sugar in many respects.

Allulose: The All-Rounder

Allulose is a rare sugar that the body absorbs but does not metabolize, resulting in almost no calories. It is naturally found in small quantities in figs, raisins, and maple syrup, though commercial products are typically produced from corn.

Taste and Function: Allulose is about 70% as sweet as sugar and lacks the cooling effect or bitter aftertaste associated with many other low-calorie sweeteners. This makes it an excellent choice for a variety of applications, especially baking, where it can caramelize and brown much like sugar, although at a lower temperature. It also helps retain moisture, preventing baked goods from drying out. The FDA even allows allulose to be excluded from the "Added Sugars" and "Total Carbohydrates" declarations on nutrition labels, further highlighting its unique status.

Health Benefits: Beyond its taste, allulose offers significant health benefits, including a negligible effect on blood glucose and insulin levels, making it suitable for people with diabetes. Some studies also suggest it may help with appetite control.

Stevia and Monk Fruit: Zero-Calorie Natural Sweeteners

Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived, zero-calorie sweeteners that are intensely sweet. They are often blended with other ingredients to improve their taste profile and function.

Stevia

Extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, stevia is 200–400 times sweeter than sugar. While it has zero calories and doesn't raise blood sugar, some users report a slightly bitter or licorice-like aftertaste, especially in higher concentrations. Stevia is heat-stable and can be used in baking, but you often need to use a specialized blend to get the right bulk and texture.

Monk Fruit

Monk fruit extract comes from the Siraitia grosvenorii plant and is 150–200 times sweeter than sugar. Its sweetness comes from mogrosides, which are not metabolized by the body, resulting in zero calories. Many people find monk fruit's taste to be very similar to sugar with a less noticeable aftertaste than stevia. Like stevia, it is heat-stable and is often blended with erythritol for a better sugar replacement.

Sugar Alcohols: For Bulk and Reduced Calories

Sugar alcohols, or polyols, are carbohydrates with a sweetness similar to sugar but with fewer calories. Common examples include xylitol and erythritol.

Erythritol

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits and fermented foods. It provides almost no calories, has a low glycemic impact, and is generally well-tolerated, causing less digestive distress than other sugar alcohols. Its taste is similar to sugar, but it does not brown or caramelize, limiting its use in some baked goods.

Xylitol

Derived from birch or other plant sources, xylitol is as sweet as sugar but with about 40% fewer calories. It is known for its dental health benefits as it doesn't cause tooth decay. However, consuming large quantities can cause digestive issues. Crucially, xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and should be kept away from pets.

Comparison of Top Sugar Replacements


Feature	Allulose	Stevia	Monk Fruit	Erythritol	Xylitol
Sweetness (vs. Sugar)	~70%	200–400x	150–200x	~70%	100%
Calories	Negligible	Zero	Zero	Zero	2.4 kcal/g
Taste Profile	Closest to sugar, no aftertaste	Can have a bitter aftertaste	Less aftertaste than stevia	Slightly cooling effect, no aftertaste	Closest to sugar taste
Baking Properties	Excellent browning, retains moisture	Requires special blends for bulk/moisture	Requires special blends for bulk/moisture	Does not caramelize or brown well	Retains sweetness well, no caramelization
Glycemic Impact	Minimal effect on blood glucose	No impact on blood sugar	Negligible effect	Zero glycemic impact	Low glycemic index
Digestive Impact	Well-tolerated in moderation	Generally well-tolerated	Well-tolerated	Well-tolerated in moderate amounts	Can cause bloating/diarrhea

How to Choose the Right Sugar Replacement for You

Selecting the best sugar replacement depends heavily on your intended use and dietary needs. If your priority is achieving a taste and baking performance that is as close to sugar as possible, allulose is arguably the best choice. Its ability to brown and caramelize, combined with a clean taste and minimal effect on blood sugar, makes it ideal for serious bakers and those following low-carb diets.

For those who prioritize zero calories and don't need baking functionality, stevia and monk fruit are excellent options for sweetening beverages or other products. You'll need to experiment with brands to find one that best suits your taste, as the aftertaste can vary. Blends of monk fruit and erythritol are a popular choice for balancing sweetness with a good taste profile.

When it comes to bulking agents for baked goods or sweetening chewing gum and hard candies, sugar alcohols like erythritol and xylitol are effective. Erythritol is often preferred due to its lower risk of digestive side effects. Always exercise caution with xylitol if you have pets at home.

Conclusion

While no single product is a perfect, universal substitute for sugar, allulose currently stands out as the closest replacement in terms of functionality and taste profile. Its low-calorie count, minimal impact on blood sugar, and superior baking performance make it a versatile option for many. However, the best choice is a personal one, depending on your health goals and culinary needs. Experimenting with a few different options, or even using a blend, can help you find the best solution for your lifestyle. Regardless of the replacement, maintaining an overall healthy diet rich in whole foods remains the most beneficial approach to health.

Authoritative Outbound Link

For more information on the FDA's evaluation and labeling guidance for allulose, you can refer to their official statements on their website: FDA: Additional Information about High-Intensity Sweeteners Permitted for Use in Food in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Allulose is widely considered one of the best sugar replacements for baking because it caramelizes, browns, and retains moisture similarly to traditional sugar. Other options like monk fruit and stevia are often sold in baking blends with other ingredients to help with bulk and texture.

Allulose is a strong contender for the healthiest sugar replacement due to its near-zero calories, minimal impact on blood sugar, and functional properties that allow for healthy baking. It does not cause the same digestive issues as many sugar alcohols.

Both stevia and monk fruit are natural, zero-calorie sweeteners, but their taste profiles differ slightly. Stevia can sometimes have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste, while monk fruit is generally considered to have a cleaner, more sugar-like taste with less aftertaste.

Sugar alcohols like erythritol are approved as safe by the FDA and have no glycemic impact. However, excessive consumption can lead to digestive discomfort such as bloating or diarrhea, though erythritol is generally better tolerated than xylitol.

Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and should never be given to them. Ingesting even small amounts can cause a severe drop in blood sugar and potentially liver failure.

While honey and maple syrup are less processed and contain some nutrients, they are still high in calories and function similarly to sugar in the body, impacting blood sugar. They should be consumed in moderation and are not a low-calorie alternative.

Sucralose is a zero-calorie, synthetic sweetener that is heat-stable and a very common replacement for sugar. While it offers a very sweet taste and functionality for baking, some may prefer a more natural option, and it's important to consume it within safe limits set by health authorities.