15+ Sugar Free Christmas Candy Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is sugar-free candy ok for diabetics? ›

Yes, children and adults with diabetes can and do eat candy. The key is moderation and making sure to track the number of carbohydrates and calories eaten. Sugar-free candies can be better for blood sugar levels, but they still contain carbs and calories.

For this sugar-free hard candy recipe from Sweet Smarts, we'll be using the following ingredients: ¼ teaspoon plant-based flavoring oil. 1 ½ cups of erythritol. ½ cup of water.

John's Healthy Sweets Hard Candy. If you prefer hard candy over chewy, grab a bag of Dr. John's hard candy. These sugar-free candies are tooth-friendly and a great choice for those with diabetes (as are these chocolate recipes you won't believe are diabetic-friendly).

Many sugar-free treats get their sweetness from substances called sugar alcohols. These compounds, including maltitol, isomalt, xylitol, and sorbitol, contain neither sugar nor alcohol (in the traditional sense). Rather, they provide sweetness from compounds that human intestines cannot absorb as readily as sugar.

In fact, stevia does not contribute to increased glucose and insulin levels. One of the most important biological effects of stevia is opening calcium channels in pancreatic beta cells mediated by the active constitute of S. rebaudiana, steviol. This stimulates insulin secretion in response to glucose.

Twizzlers, 2 Strawberry Twists These are almost pure sugar. “Sometimes people with diabetes want to use their favorite candy to treat a low blood sugar incident,” says Norwood. “It's permission to eat sugar when they otherwise feel they shouldn't be eating it regularly.” Carbohydrate count: 18 g.

Sugar substitutes taste sweet but don't contain sugar. They have fewer calories than sugar, and some have no calories at all. Foods labeled “sugar-free,” “keto,” “low carb” or “diet” often contain sugar substitutes, which fall into three categories: artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols and novel sweeteners.

Mushrooms, spinach, kale, soybean sprouts, celery, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, radishes, and asparagus are among the vegetables with the lowest sugar content available. Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

What food tastes sweet but has no sugar? ›

Mashed bananas, pureed dates, unsweetened applesauce and canned pumpkin can add sweetness while retaining moisture and lowering fat content in quick breads, pancakes, cookies, muffins and more. Cookbooks, baking websites and blogs frequently include substitution information.

However, small amounts of candy can fit into a diabetic meal plan in the form of a starch, fruit, or carbohydrate exchange. Never use chocolate candy to treat low blood sugar. The fat in chocolate can slow digestion, making you feel like you have low blood sugar, and causing you to eat more.

Although hard candies are where our story began, we also make indulgent soft caramels, long lasting chewy caramels, and No Sugar Added caramels.

Con: Sugar-Free Candy Costs More

Due to high demand and the cost of ingredients, candy with zero sugar is usually more expensive. Manufacturers charge more for these products because they use synthetics that cost more to source. It's difficult to make candy that tastes good without sugar.

The sweet taste of artificial sweeteners triggers cephalic phase insulin release, causing a small rise in insulin levels. Regular use changes the balance of our gut bacteria. This could make our cells resistant to the insulin we produce, leading to both increased blood sugar and insulin levels.

Sugar substitutes don't affect your blood sugar level. In fact, most artificial sweeteners are considered "free foods." Free foods contain less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrates, and they don't count as calories or carbohydrates on a diabetes exchange.