This study was conducted to investigate the use of sugar alcohols as alternative sweeteners for replacing sucrose in sponge cake. The sponge cakes were prepared with only sucrose or a 50% replacement of sucrose with various sugar alcohols (erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol). The specific gravity of cake batter containing only sucrose was significantly higher and the viscosity was significantly lower than those containing sugar alcohol (p<0.001). Among sugar alcohols, xylitol was the most similar to sucrose. The thermal characteristics, as assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, showed that sucrose delayed gelatinization of cake batter more than sugar alcohol, as the onset temperature and the peak temperature of cake batter containing only sucrose were higher than those containing sugar alcohol. The moisture content of cake containing sorbitol was the highest and that containing only sucrose was the lowest among cakes. The specific volume of cakes containing only sucrose and xylitol were higher and the baking loss rate of those were lower than other sugar alcohols. The volume and symmetry index of cake containing only sucrose were the highest among cakes (p<0.001), and xylitol was similar to sucrose for the above indices. The redness (a) and yellowness (b) values of crust containing only sucrose were significantly higher than those containing sugar alcohols (p<0.001). The a and b values of crumb containing erythritol were the lowest among cakes, showing a pale yellowish color. The microstructure, as assessed by scanning electron microscopy, showed that the cake containing only sucrose had more uniformly and finely distributed pores and a smoother cross section than that containing sugar alcohols. Cake containing xylitol was similar to cake containing only sucrose. Hardness, chewiness, and gumminess of cake containing only sucrose were higher than those containing sugar alcohols, whereas the adhesiveness of cakes containing sugar alcohols were higher than those containing only sucrose (p<0.01). Among sugar alcohols, xylitol was the most similar to sucrose in textural properties. In a sensory quality test, the tenderness and moistness of cakes containing sorbitol and erythritol were higher than those containing only sucrose and xylitol. The overall acceptance of cakes containing xylitol and only sucrose were higher than those containing sorbitol and erythritol (p<0.001). Thus, xylitol is more appropriate as a 50% replacement for sucrose than erythritol and sorbitol when preparing sponge cake.