Homemade Sugar Free Hard Candy
If you miss having some treats in your candy dish, check out these homemade sugar free jolly ranchers.
This keto friendly hard candy recipe is a simple way to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping it low carb! Because who said you couldn’t do both? Our Jolly Ranchers™ dupes are the perfect sugar free copycat, and the best part is, you can make them any time you want with just five simple ingredients!
Did you know that maltitol, which is used as a substitute in a lot of sugar free candy, can cause various negative side effects? Most notably, maltitol causes stomach issues! However, the great thing about our zero sugar candy recipe is that we use sugar free honey! How do we do it? Well, we use monk fruit extract as the sweetening agent. We also use a no-sugar alcohol, and that way, you won’t have tummy issues. We wanted to make sure that our keto candy contained a sugar alcohol free alternative to maltitol. That way, enjoying these tasty treats wouldn’t get you close to your net carb macro limit!
We’ll also be going through the different colors and molds that can be used to make these keto friendly candies. So don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice your favorite flavors or shapes with this recipe. Get ready for keto Halloween candy, or better yet, a keto year round treat that can be enjoyed any time of the year. So what are we waiting for? Let’s make some candy!
Jump to recipe sections:
- Are sugar free homemade jolly ranchers easy to make?
- What is the most popular Jolly Ranchers™ flavor?
- Do I need special equipment to make hard candy at home?
- Why are these homemade jolly ranchers healthier for you?
- What’s in zero sugar Jolly Ranchers™?
- How do I customize homemade jolly ranchers?
- Can you use silicone molds for hard candy?
- How can I make homemade keto lollipops?
- Why use citric acid to make hard candy?
- Can homemade hard candy go bad?
Are sugar free homemade Jolly Ranchers™ easy to make?
We love how easy these hard candies are to make at home. The process all takes place on the stovetop, so you don’t have to worry about watching the oven. The trick to making perfect homemade sugar free candy is to keep an eye on the bubbles. That’s right! Once you see the bubbles start to get large, you know you’re almost ready to pour the mixture into molds.
From there, it’s as simple as refrigerating the candy until it’s hard. Then, you can pop the candies out and enjoy. We also love using wax twisting paper to wrap each of the candies, especially if these are for a gift or to put in a candy bowl at work.
What is the most popular Jolly Ranchers™ flavor?
The most popular Jolly Ranchers™ flavor is watermelon! All of the flavors are delicious, but it seems that most people can’t resist the refreshing flavor and color of this flamingo pink treat.
Do I need special equipment to make hard candy at home?
You only need a small saucepan for this recipe. If you don’t have a silicone mold, you can pour the mixture into a baking sheet and break up the candy into chunks. This recipe also makes delicious keto lollipops.
Why are these homemade Jolly Ranchers™ healthier for you?
Homemade hard candy is healthier because you can use clean ingredients. If you’ve ever taken a look at the ingredients on the back of the bag on zero hard candy, you’ve probably noticed there’s a lot of chemicals. More often than not, these candies contain sugar alcohols which can cause some serious tummy aches as well as other artificial sweeteners. You don’t need to compromise when you’re working towards eating healthy. Make your own sugar free Jolly Ranchers™ at home so you know exactly what’s going into your recipe.
How can you make keto candy without sugar alcohols? Use our sugar free syrup. We never use any added sugar or sugar alcohols and instead we sweeten with monk fruit extract. There are many different flavors to choose from including sugar free strawberry syrup and keto friendly maple syrup.
What’s in zero sugar Jolly Ranchers™?
Zero sugar Jolly Ranchers™ contain maltitol, which is commonly used as a substitute in a lot of sugar free candy. However, although it is used in a lot of products, it can cause serious negative side effects. Most notably, maltitol causes stomach issues! That’s why we wanted to make sure that our zero sugar candy recipe is made with sugar free honey. It’s important to us to use ingredients that won’t give you tummy aches, so our sugar free honey uses monk fruit extract as the sweetening agent. We also use a no-sugar alcohol, as we wanted to make sure that our keto candy contained a sugar alcohol free alternative to maltitol.
How do I customize homemade Jolly Ranchers™?
You can customize homemade jolly ranchers by their color, flavor, packaging, and shape. In terms of color, food coloring can be used to make different colors. Like traditional jolly ranchers, it’s always a good idea to match coloring to the flavor of the candy. In terms of flavors, the classic flavors for Jolly Ranchers™ are cherry, blue raspberry, grape, green apple, and watermelon, so the colors that usually are used in these candies are red, blue, purple, green and pink! In this recipe, we show you how to make the candy with a peach flavoring as well!
Can you use silicone molds for hard candy?
In terms of using silicone molds for hard candy, it is best to not use flexible rubber molds. These molds are the least suitable for making any type of hard candy, as they are used for cream cheese and butter mints. Also, clear plastic molds and soap molds are not good to use either. Other molds, even fun shaped ones, are safe to use!
How can I make homemade keto lollipops?
You can make homemade keto lollipops by making this hard candy on a stick. You can purchase a candy mold that has a cutout area where you can place a baking lollipop stick before the candy hardens. Place one in the mold after pouring your mixture, and don’t pick it up until the mixture has become solid. Once it has, carefully, take out your homemade keto lollipop from the mold and enjoy!
Why use citric acid to make hard candy?
The reason for the use of citric acid to make hard candy is to add a tart flavor to candies that are fruit-flavored. For example, candies that have a sour coating on the outside of them are created using a mixture of citric acid and sugar. Citric acid is not a necessary ingredient in this recipe.
Can homemade hard candy go bad?
It is pretty difficult for homemade hard candy to go bad! Hard candy in general has an indefinite shelf life if they are stored in a way that is effective. Make sure to wrap your candy individually to help prevent them from being exposed to moisture. Also, make sure to keep them in a cool place, to prevent them from changing shape.
