We present a detailed yet easy-to-follow discussion of the mathematical treatment of time-resolved spectroscopic data in a model-based approach. This is accompanied and complemented by an example of a colorful and pedagogically rich chemical reaction: the permanganate oxidation of sugars in basic aqueous media (often known as the chameleon reaction). Our "sweet" approach allows both students and lecturers to tackle the problem of a model-based analysis of time-resolved data in a simple manner and one step at the time, while also exercising programming and data analysis skills--fundamental for present and future chemists of all levels.