Jolly Ranchers are a popular hard candy produced by the Hershey Company. These colorful, fruit-flavored candies are a nostalgic treat for many. With their sweet taste and chewy texture, it’s no wonder Jolly Ranchers remain a favorite candy today.
But with increased attention being paid to sugar and carbohydrate intake, many candy lovers are left wondering – are there carbs in Jolly Ranchers? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional makeup of this classic candy.
The Ingredients in Jolly Ranchers
To understand if Jolly Ranchers contain carbohydrates, we first need to examine the ingredients that go into them. According to the nutrition facts label, the ingredients are as follows:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Apple juice concentrate
- Malic acid
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Carnauba wax
- Artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1, etc)
The main ingredients in Jolly Ranchers are sugar and corn syrup. These are both carbohydrates. Sugar (sucrose) is made up of glucose and fructose while corn syrup primarily contains glucose. So we know that two of the main components of Jolly Ranchers are carbohydrates.
Nutritional Information on Jolly Ranchers
Looking at the nutritional label on a standard Jolly Rancher, we see the following:
| Serving size | 1 piece (3g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 |
| Total fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 0mg |
| Total carbs | 5g |
| Sugars | 4g |
The key item we want to pay attention to here is total carbohydrates. Per serving size of one Jolly Rancher (3g), there are 5 grams of total carbohydrates. This confirms that Jolly Ranchers do contain a significant amount of carbohydrates, around 5 grams per piece.
The Carbohydrates Come from Sugar
As we learned from the ingredients list, the carbohydrates in Jolly Ranchers come from the large amounts of sugar and corn syrup. Both table sugar (sucrose) and corn syrup are nearly 100% carbohydrates by weight.
Table sugar is about 50% glucose and 50% fructose. Glucose and fructose are simple sugars or monosaccharides. When combined together as sucrose, they form a disaccharide.
Corn syrup is primarily glucose too. So the carbohydrates derive from all the glucose molecules that make up both cane sugar and corn syrup in a Jolly Rancher.
What Types of Carbohydrates Are in Jolly Ranchers?
Since the carbohydrates come from the sugar and corn syrup, they are in the form of simple sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose.
These are all simple carbohydrates, meaning they are made up of one sugar (monosaccharides) or two sugars bonded together (disaccharides).
Jolly ranchers do not contain complex carbohydrates like starch or fiber. Complex carbs are long chains of sugar molecules that take longer to digest.
So the 5 grams of carbs in a Jolly Rancher come entirely from simple sugars like glucose, fructose, sucrose rather than complex carbs.
The Carb Count Adds Up Quickly
While 5 grams of carbohydrates in a single Jolly Rancher may not seem too high, it adds up fast if you eat multiple pieces.
For example:
- 5 Jolly Ranchers = 25 grams of carbs
- 10 Jolly Ranchers = 50 grams of carbs
- 20 Jolly Ranchers = 100 grams of carbs
As you can see, downing a whole bag of Jolly Ranchers can send your carb intake soaring. This is important to be mindful of for anyone following a low-carb or ketogenic diet.
Jolly Ranchers May Impact Blood Sugar
The carbohydrates in Jolly Ranchers come entirely from simple sugars. This means they can lead to spikes in blood sugar when consumed.
Glucose from the sugar and corn syrup can enter the bloodstream rapidly after eating Jolly Ranchers. This may cause a quick rise in blood glucose, especially in large amounts.
For people with diabetes or prediabetes, the influx of fast-acting carbohydrates can be a concern. They may need to enjoy Jolly Ranchers only occasionally and in moderation to prevent blood sugar spikes.
What About Sugar-Free Jolly Ranchers?
Jolly Rancher does offer a line of sugar-free hard candies. These are sweetened with alternative sweeteners like xylitol, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium instead of sugar.
The nutrition facts on sugar-free Jolly Ranchers shows they contain:
- 0 grams of sugar per piece
- Less than 1 gram of net carbs per piece
So sugar-free Jolly Ranchers are extremely low in carbohydrates and will not affect blood sugar levels like the regular ones. They can be enjoyed freely by people monitoring their carbs or blood sugar response.
Jolly Ranchers and Keto Diets
The ketogenic or “keto” diet is a very low carb, high fat diet. It aims to get the body into a state of ketosis for fat burning.
Keto diets typically limit carbs to around 20-50 grams per day. Because of the high carb content from sugar, Jolly Ranchers are generally not keto-friendly.
Just a few Jolly Ranchers could account for a large chunk of someone’s total daily carb allowance on keto. They are best avoided or eaten only in very small amounts to stay in ketosis.
Sugar-free Jolly Ranchers, however, can definitely be part of a keto diet. With less than 1 gram of carbs each, they fit easily into a keto carb budget.
Do Jolly Ranchers Have Gluten?
Jolly Ranchers are considered gluten-free according to the Hershey Company.
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. Since no grains are used in Jolly Ranchers, they do not contain gluten.
This makes Jolly Ranchers safe for people with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. They can enjoy these classic candies without worrying about gluten exposure.
Jolly Rancher Flavors
Jolly Ranchers come in a wide variety of fruit and sweet flavors. Popular flavors include:
- Cherry
- Watermelon
- Green Apple
- Grape
- Blue Raspberry
- Fruit Punch
- Lemon
- Orange
- Strawberry
- Cinnamon
The total carbohydrate amount is the same no matter what the flavor – around 5 grams of carbohydrates per piece.
So cherry, watermelon, apple, and other flavor Jolly Ranchers all have the same carb content from the sugar and corn syrup.
Are Jolly Ranchers Vegan?
Jolly Ranchers are considered vegan friendly. They do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
The sweeteners, flavors, and colors used to make Jolly Ranchers are all plant-based or lab-produced. The only potential non-vegan ingredient is confectioner’s glaze.
Confectioner’s glaze is made from the secretions of lac bugs. However, Hershey’s has confirmed their confectioner’s glaze is 100% synthetic rather than insect-derived.
So vegans can enjoy Jolly Ranchers without ingesting any animal products. Just beware that they are high in sugar, which should be minimized on a healthy vegan diet.
Jolly Rancher Nutrition Facts
Here is the full nutrition facts label for Jolly Ranchers:
| Serving size | 1 piece (3g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 |
| Total fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 0mg |
| Total carbs | 5g |
| Sugars | 4g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, these candies are almost entirely carbohydrates from sugar, with no protein or fat.
Jolly Ranchers Have More Carbs Than Many Candies
Compared to some other popular candies, Jolly Ranchers have significantly more carbohydrates.
For example:
- Skittles have 13g of carbs per 1 oz serving
- M&Ms have 27g of carbs per 1 oz serving
- Jolly Ranchers have 25g of carbs per 5 pieces
So gram for gram, Jolly Ranchers contain more carbohydrates largely from sugar than Skittles or M&Ms do.
This may be something to consider for people comparing candy options.
Ways to Reduce the Carb Count
If you want to enjoy Jolly Ranchers but reduce the carbohydrate impact, here are some tips:
- Choose sugar-free Jolly Ranchers
- Eat just 1-2 pieces at a time
- Opt for smaller Jolly Rancher Mini sizes
- Drink plenty of water to help digest the sugar
- Consume them just occasionally as a treat
Practicing portion control with Jolly Ranchers is key to prevent excess carbohydrate and sugar intake.
The Bottom Line
Jolly Ranchers contain around 5 grams of carbohydrates per piece, which comes entirely from simple sugars like sucrose, glucose, and fructose.
The high sugar content can cause blood sugar spikes, so caution is advised for diabetics and low-carb dieters.
Sugar-free Jolly Ranchers are very low in carbs and sugar, so they can be enjoyed on a keto diet or by those monitoring their blood sugar.
Overall, enjoying Jolly Ranchers in moderation along with other wholesome low-carb foods can allow you to satisfy your sweet tooth while still meeting your health goals.
