What are skinny syrups ingredients?

Skinny syrups have become increasingly popular as a way to flavor coffee, tea, and other beverages without adding calories or sugar. But what exactly are the ingredients in these sugar-free syrups? Here is a comprehensive look at what goes into making skinny syrups.

The Main Sweeteners

Since skinny syrups are marketed as having zero sugar or calories, natural and artificial sweeteners are used in place of regular sugar. The most common sweeteners are:

• Sucralose – An artificial sweetener known under the brand name Splenda. It’s made by chemically altering table sugar (sucrose) and is about 600 times sweeter.
• Acesulfame potassium – An artificial sweetener also known as Ace-K, it’s about 200 times sweeter than sugar.
• Stevia – A natural, plant-based sweetener that comes from the leaves of the stevia plant. It’s estimated to be 200-300 times sweeter than sugar.
• Erythritol – A sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits and vegetables. It has about 70% the sweetness of sugar but with minimal calories.

These sweeteners provide the sweet taste of regular syrup without any sugar or carbohydrates. Products will often use a blend of these sweeteners to achieve the desired taste and sweetness.

Flavorings

In addition to sweeteners, skinny syrups contain natural and/or artificial flavorings to give them distinct tastes. Commonly used flavorings include:

• Vanilla extract – Made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol, it provides a classic vanilla flavor.
• Chocolate extract – Provides a rich chocolate taste.
• Coffee extract – Made from coffee beans to give a robust coffee flavor.
• Mint oils – Oils distilled from fresh mint leaves offer cooling minty flavors.
• Fruit juices – Small amounts of natural fruit juices are used to give fruit flavors.
• Natural flavors – Can come from a variety of plant or animal sources and give flavors like cinnamon, caramel, hazelnut, etc.
• Artificial flavors – Chemically produced in labs to mimic natural flavors.

Skinny syrup brands will often use unique proprietary blends of these flavorings to create their syrup varieties. For example, a salted caramel skinny syrup may contain artificial caramel and vanilla flavors plus natural salt flavoring.

Thickeners

In order for the syrup to have the expected viscous, syrupy texture, thickening agents are used. The most common are:

• Xanthan gum – A polysaccharide commonly used as a thickener and stabilizer in many foods.
• Guar gum – Another polysaccharide thickener made from guar beans.
• Cellulose gum – Used as a thickening agent and comes from the cell walls of plants.
• Locust bean gum – Also known as carob bean gum, this polysaccharide comes from carob seeds.

A small amount of one of these thickening agents is enough to give the skinny syrup a smooth, viscous texture so it can evenly flavor drinks.

Preservatives

To extend the shelf life of skinny syrups, preservatives are generally added. Common preservatives include:

• Potassium sorbate – A mild preservative that inhibits mold and yeast growth.
• Sodium benzoate – A common food preservative that prevents fungal and bacterial growth.
• Calcium disodium EDTA – Helps protect flavors and prevent rancidity.

Using the right blend of these preservatives allows skinny syrups to stay fresh for months or years before opening.

Water

The base of most skinny syrups is water. The water helps dilute all the flavorings, sweeteners, and thickeners to make a syrup consistency.

Colorings

To produce syrups with bright, vibrant colors, artificial FD&C or natural colorings derived from plants, minerals, or animals may be added. Common examples include:

• FD&C Red #40 – Gives a red hue.
• FD&C Yellow #5 – Provides yellow coloring.
• Caramel color – Made from caramelized sugar for brown hues.
• Annatto extract – A reddish-orange natural extract from the annatto seed.
• Turmeric – A vibrant yellow spice.

Color is added purely for visual appeal and has no bearing on the taste.

Vitamins

Some skinny syrups may also be fortified with additional vitamins. Possible added vitamins are:

• Vitamin B12 – Important for energy and brain function.
• Vitamin B6 – Supports metabolism and nerve health.
• Vitamin B5 – Assists with red blood cell production.
• Vitamin A – Essential for immune function and vision.

These vitamins can provide an extra health boost, though the small serving sizes of syrups mean you only get a fraction of your recommended daily intake.

Sugar-Free vs. Naturally Sweetened

There are two main types of skinny syrups:

• Sugar-free skinny syrups – Contain zero sugar and zero calories. They are sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners like sucralose, stevia, and erythritol.
• Naturally sweetened skinny syrups – Sweetened with natural sweeteners like monk fruit and agave nectar and contain some calories and carbohydrates.

Those looking to avoid all sugar and calories will want sugar-free skinny syrups. People who prefer more natural ingredients may opt for versions with natural sweeteners despite the small amount of calories.

Common Skinny Syrup Brands

Some popular brands of skinny syrups include:

• Torani – A major syrup brand that offers a line of sugar-free skinny syrups in flavors like toasted marshmallow and gingerbread.
• Monin – Produces skinny syrups sweetened with sucralose and stevia in unique flavors like hibiscus and yuzu citrus.
• Jordan’s Skinny Syrups – Made with sucralose and stevia. Flavors include white chocolate, pineapple, and pumpkin spice.
• DaVinci – Offers naturally sweetened skinny syrups using agave, monk fruit, and stevia. Flavors like caramel, hazelnut, and amaretto.
• Skinny Mixes – Brand that uses stevia and erythritol as sweeteners. Flavors include maple, toasted marshmallow, and pumpkin spice.

Uses for Skinny Syrups

There are many ways skinny syrups can be incorporated into beverages and foods:

• Add to coffee or tea to flavor lattes, mochas, and other hot drinks.
• Flavor milk, plant-based milks, or protein shakes.
• Sweeten yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese.
• Blend into smoothies to add flavor without extra calories or sugar.
• Mix with seltzer or soda water for flavored sparkling waters.
• Drizzle over fruit, crepes, waffles, or pancakes.
• Stir into plain Greek yogurt to make a sweet dip or dressing.
• Blend with ice for refreshing sugar-free Italian sodas or “mocktails.”

Skinny syrups offer endless possibilities for guilt-free flavor. Try different combinations to find your favorites.

Nutrition Facts

Here are the basic nutrition facts for a 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving of typical sugar-free skinny syrup:

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	0
Total Carbohydrates	0g
Total Sugars	0g
Protein	0g
Total Fat	0g

As you can see, sugar-free skinny syrups contain zero calories, carbs, sugar, protein, and fat per serving. This makes them ideal for those managing their weight, blood sugar, or other health conditions.

Naturally sweetened skinny syrups will provide around 20 calories and 5g of carbohydrates per tablespoon.

Are Skinny Syrups Keto-Friendly?

Most sugar-free skinny syrups are considered keto-friendly because they do not contain any sugar or carbohydrates. They are sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners that do not spike blood sugar or insulin levels. This makes them a good option for people following a ketogenic diet.

However, some keto followers prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners altogether. In that case, monk fruit-sweetened skinny syrups would be the best keto choice as monk fruit does not affect ketosis or blood sugar.

Are They Gluten-Free?

The majority of skinny syrups are gluten-free. They do not contain any gluten-based ingredients like wheat, barley, rye, or malt.

However, it is still important to check labels for gluten-free confirmation if you have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. Some skinny syrups may be processed in facilities that also process gluten products. But most brands produce gluten-free varieties.

Do Skinny Syrups Expire?

Yes, like any food product, skinny syrups do eventually expire. The shelf-life depends on the specific ingredients, packaging, and storage. Unopened skinny syrups typically last 1-2 years from the manufacturing date before expiring.

Once opened, skinny syrups should be used within 3-6 months for best quality and safety. Look for any changes in appearance, texture, or aroma that may indicate spoilage. Discard if expired.

To maximize freshness, store opened skinny syrups in the refrigerator and make sure bottles are tightly sealed. Proper storage helps extend the shelf life.

Are They Safe?

When consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, most health experts consider sugar-free skinny syrups safe for regular use. The sugar substitutes like sucralose and stevia have been extensively studied and FDA approved.

There are some concerns about potential side effects if consumed in excessive amounts. Issues like gastrointestinal distress, headaches, and nausea have been reported. But this would require drinking multiple servings per day.

Those with sensitivities to sugar alcohols like erythritol may also want to moderate their intake. And women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before regularly consuming artificial sweeteners.

Conclusion

Skinny syrups manage to deliver the delicious flavors and sweetness of regular syrups while eliminating nearly all the sugar, carbs, and calories. This makes them an appealing way to liven up beverages and foods without guilt.

By using combinations of non-nutritive sweeteners, natural flavors, vitamins, thickeners, and preservatives, brands are able to create sugar-free syrups in flavors ranging from basic vanilla to wild mango habanero.

While moderation is still advised, skinny syrups can be a keto-friendly, gluten-free, and diabetic-safe method for satisfying a sweet tooth craving with minimal effects on health. Experiment with different brand varieties to find new ways to customize coffees, teas, smoothies, and other foods and drinks without added calories or carbohydrates.