Abstract: A sugar-free instant-type pudding and a hydratable dry mix for preparation thereof, the essential ingredients of which are a pregelatinized thickening starch, a non-sugar bulking/dispersing agent, phosphate gelling agents, a non-sugar sweetening agent and small but effective amounts of both carrageenan and an alginate to provide a texture and setting properties in the pudding which closely approximate those of sugar-containing instant puddings and, in turn, traditional cooked-starch puddings.

Abstract: A gelatin dessert mix adapted to be hydrated in an aqueous medium to form a gelled dessert, the mix containing gelatin, acid, buffer, flavor, the sweetener aspartame in an amount to provide sweetness in the gelled dessert, and small but effective amounts of a sugar alcohol and a maltodextrin sufficient to cause the gelled product to exhibit sweetness and taste characteristics closely similar to those of a sucrose-sweetened counterpart product. Also disclosed is a method in which the sweetness and taste characteristics of an edible product in which aspartame is employed to provide sweetness are made to more closely simulate those of a sucrose-sweetened counterpart product by inclusion of a sugar alcohol and maltodextrin therein.