For all those times you crave sweets on a keto diet, this homemade keto candy is a winner! Made with just 3 ingredients, it has just 1 gram of carbs.
The Best Keto Candy
Candy should be something anyone on any kind of diet be able to enjoy occasionally.
As most of us know, candy is made up of sugar (and a little bit of fat) and is NOT keto friendly. However, making your own is SO easy to do, and tastes just as good as any candy out there.
This keto candy recipe is a game changer.
It takes just 5 minutes to make and it needs just 3 ingredients!
No sugar and no grains are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture is hard on the outside but slowly melts in your mouth, like any good hard candy. It’s sweet and buttery, and easy to customize with your favorite nuts or a layer of chocolate.
Oh, and it has less than 1 gram of carbs per serving!
Ingredients needed
If you’ve made any of my other keto desserts before, you’ll probably have everything in your pantry right this second. Here is what you’ll need:
- Butter- Use salted butter, but if you don’t, add a 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
- Heavy cream- Bring your cream to room temperature, so it doesn’t scorch the pan.
- Granulated sweetener of choice- I used allulose, but a brown sugar substitute works.
- Vanilla extract- Optional, but gives a light vanilla flavor.
How to make keto candy
Simple is an understatement when it comes to this recipe. It follows a simple 3-step process and the hard part is waiting for it to set!
Ready to make some sugar free candy?
Step 1- Melt the ingredients
Start by adding your butter into a small saucepan and melt it on medium heat. Once melted, add the heavy cream and sweetener.
Step 2- Gently boil
Next, bring to a gentle boil and stir continuously, until it bubbles and turns golden brown. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature and once it reaches 290F, remove the pan from the heat.
Step 3- Let the candy set
Now, transfer the candy into an 8 x 8-inch pan lined with foil. Refrigerate until firm, before breaking apart into pieces.
Tips for success
- I recommend investing in a candy thermometer, as it is the best judge of when your candy is ready.
- Allulose is my preferred keto sweetener, as it dissolves just like sugar does, without crystallizing. The other keto sweeteners will work fine, although may be prone to being a little grainy once set.
- Fold through your favorite chopped nuts into it, before letting it set.
Storage info
Wondering what is the best way to store candy? Here are best pratices:
- To store: Candy should be stored in the refrigerator, in a sealed container. It will keep fresh for up to 1 month. If you prefer a softer candy, keep it at room temperature in an airtight container.
- To freeze: Place leftovers in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
What kind of candy can you have on keto?
For anyone with a sweet tooth, knowing which candy is suitable for a low carb diet is imperative.
Unfortunately, the market is saturated with tons of candy options that boast being sugar free. However, the number of hidden carbs is atrocious. Most times, these candies have just as much carbs as traditional, full-sugar candy.
While homemade candy is easy, cost-effective, and delicious, here are 6 of the BEST keto friendly candy brands with over 25 options that you can find online and in grocery stores.
Project 7 sour candy
Coming in classic childhood flavors such a sour apple rings, sour fruit gummies, and sour worms, Project 7’s gummies are also plant based and low calorie, with just 60 calories per bag.
Net carbs per serving: 6 grams.
Project 7 sweet candy
If you aren’t a fan of sour candy, Project 7 also has a sweet range. These include gummy bears, licorice twists, gummy guppies, and lollipops. Their net carbs are slightly lower, and you can trial out each one in their popular variety packs.
Net carbs per serving: 4-5 grams (depending on which one).
Kiss my keto gummies
You may have heard of the guys from Kiss My Keto through their popular snack bar range. They’ve recently come out with some gummy candy. They come in four flavors- watermelon slices, fish friends, gummy bears, and tropical rings. Each bag is also super low in calories, at 40 calories a pop.
Net carbs per serving: 2 grams.
Stevita hard candy
With flavors such as grape, orange, cherry, and strawberry, Stevita’s keto candy range is perfect for those who love fruit-flavored hard candy (where are my jolly rancher fans?!). Each candy is naturally sweetened, yet contain NO added sugar.
Net carbs per serving: Less than 1 gram.
GO BETTER chocolate peanut butter cups
Who doesn’t love a good Reese’s peanut butter cup? If you don’t want to make a homemade version, the next best thing are these GO BETTER chocolate peanut butter cups.
Net carbs per serving: 2 grams.
Smart Sweets
Higher in carbs than other keto candy out there, Smart Sweets have a handful of keto friendly options. These include Swedish fish and gummy worms.
Net carbs per serving: 9- 12 grams.
More keto candy recipes to try
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all sugar free candy is low in carbs. Twizzlers, Werther’s Original, and Jelly Belly all have a sugar free range. However, their carbs are almost on par with their full-sugar counterpart. Unless the net carbs are listed (and they are low), assume that sugar free candy is full of carbs.
Either Kiss My Keto gummies or Kevita hard candy are the lowest carb candy. They both have fewer than 3 grams net carbs per serving.
None of the Hershey’s ‘Zero Sugar’ range is suitable for a keto diet. This includes their peppermint patties, candy bars, and jolly ranchers.
Keto Candy with 3 Ingredients | 5 Minutes and 1 gram carbs!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons butter salted
- 1 cup granulated sweetener of choice I used allulose * See notes
- 2/3 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- Line and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with tin foil and set aside.
- In a deep pot or saucepan, add your butter and melt it over low heat. Once it has melted, add the sweetener, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, if using it, and bring it to a simmer. Once it begins to simmer, stir it regularly until it begins to bubble. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature and once it hits 145C/290F, remove it from the heat.
- Transfer the candy into the lined pan and refrigerate until firm. Once firm, break apart into pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
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I just dropped a small piece in my hot tea. Nice!
I don’t have candy thermometer, but the Thermapen that I use when grilling worked just fine. You are right you need to watch it every second because the temp went from 230 to 290 in seconds. I’m wondering if I add some organic sugar free peanut butter if I might end up with a PB fudge version?