SPLENDA
No, you don't HAVE to use Splenda. It just so happens that most of the
folks who've submitted our recipes seem to favor this brand. If you DO use
Splenda, please avoid Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and Splenda Sugar Blend, both of
which -- just as the name implies-- are blends of Splenda and (gasp!)
sugar.
Our posted recipes make use of both Splenda packets and Splenda
Granular, which measures and pours like sugar.
So what do you do if you've got granular Splenda and the recipe you're
using calls for packets?
Simple. Each packet contains THE SWEETNESS OF 2
teaspoons of sugar. Follow the guidelines in the table below.
EQUAL
This product comes in the same forms and strengths as Splenda, so you can use them interchangeably. Like Splenda, each packet of Equal contains the sweetness of 2 teaspoons of sugar.
SWEET 'N LOW
This product comes in packets, bulk and liquid form. Although the packets may be used interchangeably with Splenda packets, the concentration of the bulk product is far different from sugar. Please use the chart below for conversions.
STEVIA
Stevia is a good sweetening option for
those not wishing to use artificial sweeteners. Taken from the leaves of a
South American plant, this is a natural sweetener which is roughly 30 times
sweeter than sugar. Exercise caution when using Stevia, however. Too much can
actually make your results taste bitter!
Granular Splenda to Stevia conversions may
be done using the chart below. If a recipe lists Splenda in terms of teaspoons,
tablespoons or cups it is Granular Splenda which measures just the same as
sugar.
For Splenda packet to Stevia conversions,
you'll first need to convert the packets to teaspoons, tablespoons or cups using
the table above. Then, refer to the chart below.
This chart is for purposes of guidelines
only. Different brands of Stevia may have slightly different
conversions.
TRUVIA
It sounds like Stevia's cousin and kindasorta is since Truvia is a stevia product. In its packet form, Truvia contains the same level of sweetness as Splenda packets, so if you've got Truvia and a recipe which uses Splenda
packets, use them at a 1:1 ratio. If you've got Truvia and the recipe
calls for measurable Splenda, follow the instructions for measurable
Splenda to packet conversion.
Late spring 2010, Truvia finally launched its spoonable product. Unfortunately, the conversion for this product differs from others, so the Splenda to spoonable conversions will be will be trickier. (3/4 teaspoon of the spoonable product contains the same level of sweetness as a packet of Truvia.)
If the recipe you're using calls for Splenda packets and you have spoonable Truvia, first you'll need to convert your Splenda into teaspoons, tablespoons or cups of sweetness using the Splenda conversion chart at the top of the page. Once you know how many teaspoons, tablespoons or cups you're talking about, use the second column of the conversion chart for Truvia below. Confused? That's okay. Ask for help if you need it.
If your recipe calls for measurable Splenda and you're using spoonableTruvia, simply convert using the second column of the chart below.
PUREVIA
This is yet another new Stevia product on the market. Purevia comes in either stick shaped packets or traditional sachets, both containing the same level of sweetness as Truvia and Splenda (equals the sweetness of 2 teaspoons of sugar.) So, if you've got Purevia and a recipe calling for Splenda
packets, use them at a 1:1 ratio. If you've got Purevia and the recipe
calls for measurable Splenda, follow the instructions for measureable
Splenda to packet conversion.