Mannitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sugar substitute in confectionery and baking. It is 60% as sweet as sucrose (sugar), but contains only 2.6 calories per gram (sugar has 4/g) making it a good substitute when looking to reduce calories. Mannitol is effective at retaining moisture within products, making it valuable in applications where moisture loss can ruin the product, such as baking and chocolate-making. It is also commonly used for coating hard candies. Diabetics often use Mannitol as a sweetener because it does not increase blood glucose levels as much as sucrose does.
