How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto (2024)

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Have you ever made sugar-free simple syrup from scratch to later find shiny crystals at the bottom of the jar staring back at you? It can be really frustrating, especially after all the hard work of making it and the sweet anticipation of using it later. Don’t fret, we have answers and we’re here to help!

How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto (1)

Crystallization in simple syrup happens when erythritol recrystallizes under certain circ*mstances.

How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto (2)

Crystals found at the bottom of homemade simple syrup can appear within an hour after being made if the 2:1 water to sweetener ratio isn't followed, or if placed in the fridge.

In case you haven’t heard, we do sell Sugar-Free Simple Syrups that take all the work out of making your own (they come in three flavors: Original, Vanilla, and Caramel, and they're awesome!) but in case you don't have them and you need something now, we’ll share all the tips and tricks on how to make your own when using Lakanto Monkfruit Sweeteners!

What is Simple Syrup? Syrup used to sweeten drinks, originally made with water + sugar. As you can tell it's pretty easy, which is how it got the name “simple syrup.” The only difference in our syrup is that it’s sugar-free, so we use Lakanto Monkfruit Sweeteners in place of sugar.

The secrets to avoiding crystallization in home-made, sugar-free simple syrup

The 2:1 ratio. There has to be twice as much water than sweetener or else the erythritol in the sweetener will crystallize. Just remember: 2 parts water, 1 part Monkfruit Sweetener. For the specific recipe, see next section.

Don’t put it in the fridge! When the sweetener goes through extreme temperature changes (heated up to dissolve it and then cooled down past room temperature) it crystallizes.

Don’t overheat the water and sweetener past what’s necessary. Keep your mixture at medium heat when mixing it in a saucepan on the stovetop. It doesn't need to boil.

Using distilled water helps crystals from forming, however crystallization still happens if the simple syrup is placed in the fridge or if the 2 parts water to 1 part sweetener ratio isn’t followed.

Using Xanthan Gum as a thickening agent to achieve a syrup consistency also helped prevent crystallization to a minor degree, but isn’t necessary if the 2:1 ratio is followed and it’s left at room temperature.

Final Notes:

  • Only make enough simple syrup that will be used within a couple days. We don’t recommend making big batches for future uses because this syrup can’t be refrigerated.
  • To avoid contamination, store the simple syrup in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap.

Sugar-Free Simple Syrup Recipe

  • 1/3 cup Lakanto Classic Monkfruit Sweetener
  • 2/3 cup distilled water
  • optional: 1/8 tsp xanthan gum (if a syrup texture is desired)
  • optional: flavor extract of choice

How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto (3)

How to Make Sugar-Free Simple Syrup

  1. Add water and Lakanto Classic Monkfruit Sweetener to a saucepan on the stove and turn to medium heat. Stir with a latex covered whisk or wooden spoon until it's dissolved (should only be a few minutes). The hottest it should get until dissolving is about 115 F. Once dissolved, remove from heat.
  2. If a syrup viscosity is desired, add xanthan gum and stir. Stir in flavor extract next- be careful of tasting it at this point since the syrup is hot, or wait until it has more fully cooled to add flavoring.
  3. Once cooled at room temperature your simple syrup is ready to mix in with other drinks!
  4. If not using immediately, store simple syrup in a covered mason jar at room temperature and use within a few days.

Recipe Notes:

  • Don't place the jar of simple syrup in a fridge or else it will crystallize. On the other hand, once the simple syrup is mixed into a drink, it’s ok to place the drink in the fridge because therewill be an even higher ratio to water.
  • Using distilled water will help the simple syrup not crystallize since minerals and impurities can trigger the sweetener to do so. It's not necessary to use distilled water, but if you find crystals in your simple syrup later, this can be a good thing to try.
  • If looking to make large quantities of simple syrup, the general recipe is 2 parts water, 1 part Lakanto Classic Sweetener.

Now that you know how to avoid crystallization in simple syrup, check out our other resources: A Complete Guide to Monkfruit Sweeteners, download our Lakanto Baking Guide, or peruse all our Baking Tip articles!

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      Can I heat it in the microwave?

      WHERE ARE THE CHOCOLATE SWEETENING DROPS?

      How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto (2024)

      FAQs

      How To Prevent Crystallization in Sugar-Free Simple Syrup | Lakanto? ›

      The secrets to avoiding crystallization in home-made, sugar-free simple syrup. The 2:1 ratio. There has to be twice as much water than sweetener

      sweetener
      A sweetener is a substance added to food or drink to impart the flavor of sweetness, either because it contains a type of sugar, or because it contains a sweet-tasting sugar substitute.
      https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Sweetener
      or else the erythritol in the sweetener will crystallize. Just remember: 2 parts water, 1 part Monkfruit Sweetener.

      How to make simple syrup that doesn't crystallize? ›

      Here's our method: Bring 2 cups of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Continue to simmer the syrup, covered, for 10 minutes, and then let it cool completely. The syrup can be refrigerated for at least two weeks without crystallization.

      How to prevent crystallization? ›

      Crystallization may be prevented by adding an interferent, such as acid (lemon, vinegar, tartaric, etc.) or glucose or corn syrup, during the boiling procedure.

      What additive prevents crystallization? ›

      Commercially jellied products often contain corn syrup, which serves as an interfering agent to prevent crystallization. Only use corn syrup in recipes calling for it. Crystals form when the mixture is cooked too slowly, or too long. Cook jelly at a rapid boil.

      How to avoid crystallization in simple syrup? ›

      To prevent the crystals from forming you need to prolong the heating or cooking time. Instead of just bringing the sugar and water to a boil you need to simmer it covered for 10 minutes. In this process you inverted enough of the sugar and water without changing the flavor.

      How we will avoid crystallization in syrup? ›

      Keep your mixture at medium heat when mixing it in a saucepan on the stovetop. It doesn't need to boil. Using distilled water helps crystals from forming, however crystallization still happens if the simple syrup is placed in the fridge or if the 2 parts water to 1 part sweetener ratio isn't followed.

      What 3 ingredients can help interfere with crystallization? ›

      Interfering agents are things like cream, butter, and egg white. The agents cover the crystals and prevent huge crystals from forming. Boiling the sugar syrup to the correct temperature is very critical, as is ensuring that the sugar is completely dissolved.

      What can be done to avoid crystal formation? ›

      Avoidance of crystallization by glass formation

      Crystal formation upon dehydration can be avoided by forming a glass. Glasses are amorphous, and form by a continuous process (no interface or solidification front is involved).

      How do you control the crystallization process? ›

      For batch crystallization processes, three feedback control methods, namely, control chart-based switching between nucleation and ripening steps, concentration or supersaturation control, automated direct nucleation control, and polymorphic feedback control are covered.

      How do you inhibit crystallization? ›

      This can be achieved by selecting a specific solvent or by using additives. Additives preferentially adsorb onto different growing crystal faces and inhibit/promote crystallization in certain directions. Additives may directly influence the size of the metastable zone width (MSZW).

      Why does adding too much solvent prevent crystallization? ›

      It is very important that you add the minimum amount of boiling solvent in order to get a saturated solution. If you add too much solvent, the solution may be too dilute for crystals to form.

      In what temperature is sugar syrup crystallized? ›

      The temperature range is from 244° to 250°F. Hard ball stage is candy that is more rigid than that in the firm ball stage, and the syrup forms thick threads as it drips from a wooden spoon back into the saucepan.

      How do you make syrup that doesn't crystallize? ›

      Add lemon juice, or citric acid. You also need to clean the sides of the pot while you are boiling your syrup. The sides of the pot contained undiluted sugars, so when they touch the syrup your syrup will crystalize. If you're adding sugar and water together, don't bring it up to a boil.

      What to do with syrup that has crystalized? ›

      What to Do. To melt the lumps of sugar and return them to a liquid state, place your container of maple syrup in a pot of simmering water. Add 1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) of water to the syrup container per 1 cup (250 ml) of syrup and heat gently. You can also do this step in the microwave.

      Is syrup bad if it crystalizes? ›

      Crystallization occasionally occurs in maple syrup. It is a natural occurrence. The crystals are harmless. The crystals can be melted down in a pan on your stove or simply discarded.

      What keeps candy syrup from crystallizing? ›

      Keeping the lid ajar will allow some steam to escape as the sugar continues to cook. Add a little acid (such as a touch of lemon juice) or corn syrup to the sugar-water mixture before cooking; they help interfere with crystallization.

      What sugar substitute doesn t crystallize? ›

      Allulose is about 70% as sweet as white table sugar with only 10% of the calories (2). What is this? It's becoming increasingly popular in baked goods because it doesn't crystallize like other sugar substitutes like the sugar alcohols erythritol or xylitol, but still has the sweet taste you're looking for.

      When cooking a sugar syrup to prevent crystals from forming you may do what? ›

      Add some glucose syrup (see the photo bellow) or corn syrup to your sugar syrup – that will prevent crystallization.

      How do you get crystals out of syrup? ›

      To melt the lumps of sugar and return them to a liquid state, place your container of maple syrup in a pot of simmering water. Add 1 to 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) of water to the syrup container per 1 cup (250 ml) of syrup and heat gently. You can also do this step in the microwave.

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