Erythritol Showdown: Powdered vs Granulated
- Adriane
- Mar 1, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Erythritol (Ah-REETH-ra-tall) is one of the most popular sugar alternatives in the U.S., often found in products labeled as “stevia” or “monk fruit” — though it has recently made headlines due to concerns about possible long-term health effects.
While it’s marketed as a natural, zero-calorie sweetener that’s sugar-free and has no impact on blood sugar, it’s less sweet than table sugar and can create a cooling sensation in the mouth.
On my quest to help home cooks navigate the complex world of sweeteners with erythritol, I wrote a super comprehensive blog post — 60 Facts About Erythritol — where we explore its source, production methods, appearance, taste, degree of sweetness, digestion & metabolism, culinary roles, and safety. If you’re new to erythritol, I recommend starting there.
This post focuses on the practical differences between pure erythritol (one ingredient only) in granulated and powdered form. We’ll explore how each affects your recipes, their solubility, cost, and how to choose the right one for your needs.
Crystals Size
Pure erythritol means it has just one ingredient — and contains 99.5% erythritol. It comes in two crystal sizes: coarse and fine.
Coarse crystals are labeled with terms such as granular, granulated, or crystalline erythritol. They look like regular table sugar.
Fine crystals are labeled as powdered or confectioners erythritol. Because it has smaller crystals, it dissolves more easily than granulated erythritol. We can use it as a powdered sugar replacement in frosting and for a smoother consistency in soft, spoonable desserts such as mousse.
💡Kitchen Tip:
Want powdered erythritol without the higher price tag? Just pulse granulated erythritol in a food processor or coffee grinder until fine.
Sweetness
Pure erythritol is about 30–40% less sweet than table sugar. Taste preferences vary, so start with less and add more until you reach your optimal sweetness level.
If you're measuring cups: Start with 1⅓ cups of erythritol to replace 1 cup of sugar. You may prefer up to 1½ cups, depending on your taste.
If you're measuring teaspoons (tsp): Try 1⅓ teaspoons of erythritol for every 1 tsp of table sugar. If that’s not sweet enough, go up to 1½ teaspoons.
Pros of Erythritol
✔️ Zero calories – Most of it isn’t metabolized, and it provides minimal energy.
✔️ Considered natural – Found in nature and derived from natural sources.
✔️ Sugar-like appearance – Looks just like table sugar.
✔️ Non-hygroscopic – Doesn’t absorb moisture, so it stores well in a sugar bowl.
✔️ Heat and pH stable – Can be used in baking and cooking without breaking down.
✔️ Improves taste – Makes other sweeteners taste more “sugar-like.” It's a flavor enhancer.
✔️ Tooth-friendly – Doesn’t contribute to tooth decay.
✔️ Antioxidant effects – Protects us against diseases as it's a free radical scavenger.
✔️ Gentler on digestion – Least likely of all polyols to cause bloating or laxation.
✔️ Zero glycemic index – Not metabolized into glucose, so doesn’t raise blood sugar levels.
✔️ Zero net carbs – Contains 4 grams of carbs per serving, but they aren’t digested.
Cons of Erythritol
❌ Not a 1:1 sugar replacement – Pure erythritol (not blends) is about 30% less sweet than table sugar, so you’ll need to use roughly 1.3 times more to match the sweetness.
❌ Digestive issues – Overconsumption, eating it alone on an empty stomach, or using it in concentrated form may cause bloating, gas, or discomfort.
❌ Cooling sensation – Erythritol creates a cooling effect when it dissolves in your mouth. This can feel odd in baked goods or when sprinkled on food, but it may work well in mint-flavored products or cold drinks. This effect feels like sucking a mint, without the mint flavor.
❌ No browning or caramelizing – Erythritol does not undergo browning during baking and cooking. While erythritol still works in baking and can be creamed with butter, it’s especially well-suited for recipes where a crisp texture is desired, like cookies, graham crackers, or biscotti.
❌ Cost – Erythritol is significantly more expensive than sugar — typically $4 to $20 per pound, compared to about 75¢ per pound for table sugar. Powdered versions cost more, but you can save by grinding granulated erythritol at home.
❌ Not as soluble as sugar – Erythritol doesn’t dissolve as easily as table sugar, especially in cold liquids. Powdered erythritol dissolves better than granulated erythritol.
❌ Recrystallization – Foods and beverages sweetened with erythritol may form crunchy crystals when refrigerated or frozen. To minimize recrystallization, use powdered erythritol instead of granulated in your recipe, or just skip storage by eating it right away.
❌ Storage: Erythritol tends to form lumps even when we think we properly stored it in an airtight container or resealable bag. That does not mean it is unsuitable for eating. By storing erythritol in your freezer or refrigerator, you avoid clumping.
Price
At the time of publishing, the cost of a pound of pure granulated erythritol varies from $4 to $12 in stores across the United States. By comparison, table sugar averages $1,05 per pound in May 2025, making erythritol roughly 4 to 11 times more expensive per pound.
Because erythritol is about 30% less sweet, we need more of it to match sugar’s sweetness. When adjusted for sweetness, the real cost per “sugar-equivalent” pound is even higher — making erythritol 6 to 20 times more expensive than sugar.
Even after the Cleveland Clinic study led to a noticeable price drop from 2022 to 2023, erythritol is still far from cheap—though it’s generally less expensive than other bulk sweeteners like allulose and xylitol.
Money-saving tip: You can save by buying large bags of erythritol, from 3 to 6 pounds, which cost around $4 a pound. Check out Micro Ingredients, or Whole Earth. Most 1-pound bags cost $ 6 to $ 12.
Certified organic erythritol prices range from about $4.50 to $12 per pound. All organic options are made in China from non-GMO corn. Certified organic erythritol doesn’t cost much more than conventional, yet it offers all the advantages I explain in my Guide to Organic Sweeteners.
Powdered erythritol dissolves faster than granulated erythritol because it has finer crystals. It tends to cost more and is especially useful in frosting, glazes, and for a smoother consistency in soft, spoonable desserts such as mousse, curds, and custards. Check out my Guide to Powdered Sugar Replacements, where I compare erythritol products.
What's Out in Stores in 2025?
I invite you to browse my 2025 Erythritol Buying Guide to stay updated on the latest products and brands to hit stores. All pure erythritol products currently sold in U.S. stores share the same key features. They’re made in China from non-GMO corn and offer consistent specs across brands:
Calories:
Zero cal/serving
0.4 cal/gram
1.2 to 1.6 cal/tsp
3.6 to 4.8 cal/Tbsp
58 to 77 cal/cup
40 cal/100g
Metabolic Impact:
Zero glycemic index
Zero net carbs
Zero sugar
Health & Diet Compatibility:
Tooth-friendly
Vegetarian & vegan
Keto diet-friendly
Low-carb diet-friendly
Paleo diet-friendly
Gluten-free
Other Details:
Made from corn
Made in China
30–40% less sweet than sugar
1) Organic
Organic sweeteners must be processed, handled, and packaged according to a long list of strict rules set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the National Organic Program (NOP). These include being sourced from plants grown on farms using practices that maintain or enhance the soil and water quality while conserving wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife—among many other requirements.
Also, if it's organic, it's non-GMO. The use of genetic engineering, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is prohibited in organic products. It means organic erythritol cannot come from processes that involve genetically engineered yeast.
So, is organic erythritol worth it?
Yes—Absolutely! Especially when it comes to erythritol and other sweeteners made abroad. I dig deeper into the reason why in my 2025 Buying Guide to Organic Sweeteners.
2) Granulated
3) Powdered
Tell it Like it Is
Erythritol is often promoted as the perfect sweetener — zero calories, tooth-friendly, blood sugar–friendly, gentle on digestion, and a close match to table sugar in look and taste. But here are a few facts worth knowing:
❌ Not truly “calorie-free”
Erythritol has far fewer calories than sugar, but it’s not zero. One cup provides around 75 calories. By law, any sweetener with less than 5 calories per serving (1 tsp = 3–4g) can be labeled calorie-free. That’s why erythritol (1.2–1.6 cal per teaspoon) is legally “zero-calorie,” even though it’s not calorie-free in practice. And because pure erythritol is about 30% less sweet than sugar, you’ll need to use roughly 1.3 times more to match the same sweetness. That bumps the real calorie count to around 1.6–2.1 calories per sugar-equivalent teaspoon.
❌ Considered natural, yet synthetically made
While erythritol is found in fruits, mushrooms, and fermented foods, it’s only present in trace amounts. The erythritol sold in stores is produced through fermentation from corn — a process that makes it a synthetic sweetener, not an extract. As I explain in 5 Misconceptions about Natural Sweeteners, the FDA view is that erythritol can be labeled that way even though it’s "made artificially." Read more in Natural Sweetener: Not What You Might Think.
❌ Not the “perfect” sweetener
Every sweetener comes with tradeoffs — and erythritol is no exception. Common complaints include:
• Doesn’t dissolve easily
• Doesn’t brown in baked goods
• Has a cooling effect or off-taste
• Can create a gritty texture in cold or baked foods.
If these are deal-breakers for you, consider trying an erythritol blend that improves texture and flavor. LEARN MORE:
For all erythritol blends in stores, go here
For blends with stevia, go here
For blends with monk fruit, go here
For blends with sugars, go here
For 1:1 Sugar Replacement with erythritol, go here
Disclosure
WhatSugar Blog is reader-supported. When you buy through Amazon links on this website, this blog may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you—A one-woman business relying on Amazon affiliate commission to avoid ads.
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