I am always freaky about which products I buy to round out my pantry. And because of this, I have relied heavily on Ideal Sweetener now for about two years for every dessert I’ve made, loving the flavor and how every product made with the sugar substitute tasted every time (it’s really like sugar).

As well, I take very seriously the ability to create recipes you can replicate at home; so if a product isn’t available, how can you buy it?

So what happens when the product suddenly disappears from stores, the prices more than doubles on amazon.com, and the company doesn’t return your email?

I take things into my own hands.

Availability (or lack thereof) aside, let’s consider cost. Ideal costs $1.21 per ounce.

The ingredients to make it cost: (Xylitol) $.38/ounce + (Splenda) $.79/ounce = $.59/ounce

That’s a cost savings of $3.28 per pound!

Believe me, that adds up quickly.

Tip: Worried about your dog eating xylitol? Swap in erythritol instead.

I also admit that I am so over putting my faith and hopes in store-bought products, only to have them disappear from the shelves forever and leaving me at square one. I’ve decided that to simplify, I’m putting together a stable of ingredients that I can make myself and have on hand at all times without panicking about placing yet another order for products. I have things to do, darn it. I don’t have time to cry over products.

And neither do you.

Tip: Xylitol carbs are negligible, so calculate only the carbohydrates from Splenda.

Looking for my hack for the Ideal Brown Sugar Sweetener? Simply click here for the Brown Sugar Baking Blend recipe and use the finished recipe (below) in place of Ideal.

Ideal Baking Blend Sweetener Recipe

1 cup xylitol granular

1 cup Splenda granular

Process in a blender or a food processor to create a slightly more powdery product and to combine ingredients thoroughly. Store in a sealed bag or container.

Measures cup per cup like Ideal sweetener and sugar.

Makes 2 cups sweetener.

Nutritional Information per teaspoon of sweetener: Calories: 5, Carbohydrates: 0.2 g*

Nutritional Information per tablespoon of sweetener: Calories: 15, Carbohydrates: 0.6 g*

Nutritional Information per cup of sweetener: Calories: 240, Carbohydrates: 10 g*



*I used Fitday.com which calculates a cup of Splenda at 21 carbs.