Xylitol might have natural ingredients but is processed in a very unnatural and actually unhealthy way. I prefer raw unrefined coconut palm sugar, coconut palm syrup or better even yacon syrup (but more expensive). Personally I don’t like preparing food in the microwave though.
It has been discovered so far is that microwave heating has unfavorable effects on fats and proteins causing assimilation issues for the person who consumes the food. Microwaves are powerful enough to rupture the cell walls in the food; there is no doubt that fragile proteins are altered in the process. In addition, Swiss studies have shown that microwave heating causes unfavorable changes in vitamin content and the availability of these nutrients for absorption in the gut.
The radiation from microwave cooking destroys and deforms the food molecules and creates new compounds completely unknown in nature. Irradiation creates the exact same type of compounds in food as does microwaving – radiolytic compounds.

ok thanks for asking this question because i have wondered this myself

I didn’t know what it was either. Looked it up and am more comfortable using stevia or rice malt syrup.

its a sugar substitute, I prefer raw, coconut or palm sugar dependant on what the other ingredients are coconut adds a slight coconut taste, palm a more caramelised taste and raw sugar just cuts the acid with little or no change in taste and no aftertaste, I grow stevia and use the whole leaves in vegetable recipies that call for sugar.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol. There are good and bad points about it. I use it in small doses. It has no bitter aftertaste like Stevia.

Good answers to alternatives; honey sounds good and would give quite a distinctive flavour.

I have dropped sugar from our diets. All recipes that call for sugar I have replaced with either Honey or Vanilla.

I’d recommend some research on this one, theres all sorts out there about its benefits but also how it causes a gut imbalance. Hop onto google and see what you think

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/xylitol-not-as-sweet-as-its-cracked-up-to-be/

Xylitol is a natural replacement for sugar

Xylitol is a sweetener extracted from fruits and vegetables and is used in drinks and sweets, it has much less calories than cane sugar. Stevia is a plant, and the sweetener is extracted from the leaves. Stevia is less expensive and is mor available as a natural sweetener. Coconut Sugar is another natural product and is really better to use in baking. Avoid artificial sweeteners, aught to be removed from sale, because they are toxic. Whatever you use, do your research before you decide, and be better informed.
Personally I use Stevia liquid for drinks and use Coconut sugar for baking.

you can use Stevia or any other artificial sugars

Xylitol has the same sweetening ability as sugar, so you can use the same quantity of sugar as xylitol when baking.