This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
This low calorie candy is your instant candy fix that needs just 3 ingredients and contains less than 10 calories per serving! No sugar and no dairy needed and easily customizable!
Low calorie candy
When it comes to low calorie desserts, my favorite recipes to make are chocolate cake, lava cakes, and this low calorie candy.
It’s no secret that I have a raging sweet tooth, so I’ve been making smarter choices. My downfall has always been candy- hard candy, soft candy, gummy candy. You name it, I love it. Recently, I’ve been wanting to make my own homemade candy, but with a healthy spin.
I’m not one to watch my calories, but if something I enjoy happens to be low calorie, then that’s a massive win in my book. As my sweet tooth is ranging in the evenings, I always need to have sweets on hand. Instead of buying high calorie candy, I’ve started making my own low cal version!
I’ve been meaning to share a low calorie candy recipe for quite some time. It’s the perfect fix when you need a little something sweet and I love how this needs just 3 ingredients. No sugar and no dairy are needed, but you’d never tell. The texture can be soft and chewy or even hard and dense, depending on how you store them! The candy is sweet and easily customizable to your favorite flavors.
With such a raging sweet tooth, I love prepping a batch of these on hand at all times- The entire recipe clocks in at less than 20 calories TOTAL!
How do you make low calorie candy?
The Ingredients
- Fruit tea– Use a strong flavored fruit tea. The tea will be concentrated to intensify the flavor, so you will use 2-3 teabags.
- Granulated sweetener of choice– I used monk fruit sweetener, but erythritol can also be used.
- Gelatine powder– To hold everything together and give the candy an incredible texture.
- Food coloring– Optional, but add some natural food coloring to intensify the colors of the candy.
The Instructions
Start by combining your hot tea with the granulated sweetener until the sweetener has dissolved. Once the tea has cooled to room temperature, transfer it into a small saucepan. Sprinkle half the gelatine powder over the top and whisk very well, until mostly combined. Add the remaining gelatine and whisk well once more.
Now, place the saucepan over low heat and allow it to warm up, until the gelatine has completely dissolved. Remove it from the heat and using an eye dropper or small teaspoon, drop portions of the mixture into a candy mold until it has all been used up. Place the filled candy mold into the refrigerator for 30 minutes, for it to set.
Finally, once the candy has set, gently pop them out of the molds and enjoy.
Tips to make the best low sugar candy
- Taste your sweetened tea before adding the gelatine. The tea should be extremely sweet, as once the gelatine is added, it loses a considerable amount of sweetness.
- Divide the mixture into four small bowls and add natural food coloring to each one for some fun variety.
- When heating up the mixture over the stove, do not let it reach a simmer. It should be heated up to be warm enough to dissolve the gelatine.
- For a low calorie hard candy, keep it stored in the freezer and enjoy them directly from there and let it melt on your tongue.
Storing and freezing low calorie hard candy
- To store: Low calorie candy should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 1 week. Any longer and you risk the candy becoming too soft.
- To freeze: Place leftover candy in a ziplock bag or shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More low calorie dessert recipes to try
Low Calorie Candy
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 2-3 fruit tea bags
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice I used erythritol
- 2 tablespoon gelatine unflavored
- 1 drop food coloring optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the boiling water with the teabags and let the flavor seep into it. After several minutes, add the granulated sweetener and let it dissolve. Remove the tea bags.
- Add the tea mixture into a small saucepan. Let the tea cool to room temperature. Add half the gelatine and whisk into the tea mixture. Add the remaining gelatine and whisk very well.
- Place the saucepan over low heat and stir regularly, until the gelatine has dissolved. Remove from the heat. If adding food coloring, divide the tea mixture amongst four small bowls and add one different color per bowl.
- Using an eye dropper or small teaspoon, add portions of the candy mixture into a candy mold. Once all of the mixture has been used, refrigerate the molds for 30 minutes, until set.
- Pop out the candy from the molds and enjoy.
I love this recipe, though I did make a few tweaks as I’ve made it each time. I have very strict dietary needs, but I love gummy candies. So to customize this to my needs I did the following.
2 tbsp regular unflavored powdered gelatine
6 fruit tea bags I found the kind I bought didn’t produce much flavor.
2 tbsp stevia in the raw baking blend.
And a drop or two of food coloring.
Three only thing I can’t seem to figure out is the last time I made this I had gotten a foam that settled at the top of the gummies after id poured it into a square flat container.
Must one guess was once I stirred the gelatin into the cooled tea. I then placed it on the stove top to melt it further on low and stirred it that this use when the foam appeared. Was I supposed to let it sit without stirring? That’s the only thing I can think of.
Thank you very much
Made these with blackberry/blueberry tea bags and used a mini gummy bear mould. They turned out great. You could use so many different combinations, super easy too, good thing to get kids to make. Thanks.
Thanks for the recipe. Where do you get your candy molds from? Can you please share a link?
Yes- I’ll update it!
I have the best cinnamon spice teabags and wondering if those will work. Also wondering where you can buy fruit flavored teabags?
Will be making this soon can i use agar agar as am a vegan perfect for my office snacks will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya