Candy corn is a popular Halloween treat that has been around since the 1880s. The small, triangular, yellow, orange, and white pieces of candy are meant to resemble kernels of corn. With its bright colors and unique shape, candy corn is a staple during the fall and Halloween season. But is this nostalgic candy actually sugar free? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Candy Corn Made Of?
Candy corn is made from sugar, corn syrup, confectioner’s wax, salt, dextrose, gelatin, sesame oil, artificial flavor, honey, yellow 6, yellow 5, and red 3. So right away we can see that real sugar is a primary ingredient in candy corn. The ingredients are combined, heated, and shaped into the familiar triangular shape before being packaged.
Some key ingredients in candy corn that contain sugar are:
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar adds sweetness.
- Corn syrup – Corn syrup is made from cornstarch and contains glucose which is a simple sugar.
- Dextrose – Also called glucose, dextrose is a simple sugar found in plants.
So candy corn contains not just one, but multiple sources of sugar like table sugar, corn syrup, and dextrose. This gives candy corn its distinctive sweet flavor that people love.
Nutritional Profile of Candy Corn
Looking at the nutritional values of candy corn further confirms that it is not sugar free.
Here are the nutrition facts for a typical serving of candy corn (about 20 pieces or 28g):
| Calories | 140 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 85mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34g |
| Sugars | 32g |
The most telling numbers here are the 34g of total carbohydrates and 32g of sugars in a single serving. For comparison, the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25g of added sugars per day for women and 36g for men. So candy corn provides more than the recommended daily amount of added sugars in just a handful of pieces.
Clearly, nearly all of the carbohydrates in candy corn are from sugar. This breaks down to over 100% of the recommended daily value of added sugars. So candy corn is almost entirely made up of sugar sources like sucrose, corn syrup, and dextrose that give it its characteristic sweetness.
Sugar Alcohols in Candy Corn
Some candy corn products may contain sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, maltitol, or xylitol. Sugar alcohols provide a sweet taste with fewer calories than regular sugar. They also do not spike blood glucose levels as much as regular sugars. However, sugar alcohols can still cause digestive issues when consumed in excess.
Here are some examples of candy corn ingredients containing sugar alcohols:
- Sorbitol – Derived from glucose, provides sweetness with 60% less calories than sugar.
- Maltitol – Made from maltose, maltitol has 75-90% the sweetness of sugar.
- Xylitol – Found in plants, xylitol has a similar sweetness as regular sugar but with 40% fewer calories.
So while sugar alcohols like these may be present in some candy corn products, they are still considered an added sugar, even if they have slightly fewer calories than regular sugar. Candy corn containing sugar alcohols can’t be considered sugar free. The primary sweeteners are still sugar-based.
Does Candy Corn Have Any Nutritional Value?
With so much sugar and so few other nutrients, candy corn offers very little nutritional value.
There are only trace amounts of fat, protein, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins.
However, some people may be surprised to know that candy corn does contain small amounts of certain vitamins and minerals.
| Vitamin/Mineral | % Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Niacin | 2% |
| Vitamin B6 | 2% |
| Thiamin | 2% |
| Zinc | 2% |
As you can see, a serving of candy corn provides 2% of daily recommended amounts for certain B vitamins like niacin, B6, and thiamin. It also contains 2% of the daily value for the mineral zinc.
While better than nothing, this is still a very minimal amount of micronutrients. The vitamins and minerals are likely added during manufacturing rather than naturally occurring.
So candy corn can’t be considered a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, healthy fats, or any other beneficial nutrients. It is essentially pure sugar and corn syrup with some added colors and flavors. The tiny amounts of added vitamins and zinc do not offset the massive amount of sugar.
Can You Make Candy Corn Sugar Free?
It is possible to make modified lower sugar or sugar free versions of candy corn at home. This involves swapping the main sweeteners for lower calorie sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. For example:
- Xylitol or erythritol for sucrose
- Stevia extract instead of corn syrup
- Tagatose as a replacement for dextrose
Combining these sugar free sweeteners can produce candy corn with a similar sweet flavor but without the high amounts of sugar. However, the texture and flavor will likely differ from regular candy corn.
Sugar free candy corn may also use sugar replacements like:
- Allulose
- Monk fruit extract
- Inulin fiber
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose are also popular sugar substitutes but may have an aftertaste.
As for prepackaged candy corn, some major brands now offer no sugar added or lower sugar varieties. These are sweetened with maltitol, sorbitol, or stevia leaf extract instead of pure sugar.
So with some substitutions, it is possible to recreate candy corn using sugar free sweeteners and get a similar sweet treat without the high sugar content. But in its original traditional recipe, candy corn is not sugar free.
Is Candy Corn Gluten Free?
Candy corn is considered gluten free, meaning it does not contain wheat, barley, rye, or their derivatives.
Pure candy corn is made with ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, waxes, colors, and flavorings. None of these contain gluten. However, some brands may add barley malt as a flavoring, binding or coloring agent. Barley malt contains gluten.
So check the ingredients carefully if avoiding gluten. Most major brands of candy corn do not contain barley malt or other gluten sources though. Candy corn is naturally gluten free since its main ingredients are sugars and starches that are not based on grains containing gluten.
Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can enjoy traditional candy corn without issue. But it still contains large amounts of sugar, so portion control is advised even if gluten free.
Is Candy Corn Dairy Free or Vegan?
Candy corn is dairy free and considered vegan in its classic form. The ingredients do not contain milk, butter, eggs or any other animal products.
However, some specialty candy corn may include ingredients like:
- Confectioner’s glaze (shellac) – Derived from beetle secretions
- Carminic acid – Red food coloring from cochineal insects
- Bone char – Used as a filtering agent in sugar
So check labels and contact manufacturers to verify that your candy corn is vegan and does not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Traditional candy corn and most major brands should be dairy free and vegan friendly already though.
Specialty Candy Corn Flavors
While original candy corn is not sugar free, some exciting specialty flavors have emerged with lower sugar or sugar free alternatives:
| Flavor | Sugar Free? |
|---|---|
| Caramel apple | No |
| Pumpkin spice | No |
| Strawberry | No |
| Chocolate | No |
| Cotton candy | Yes |
| Jelly beans | No |
As seen above, exciting flavors like caramel apple, pumpkin spice, and chocolate candy corn are popular for fall. Most of these contain regular sugar amounts.
However, some sugar free varieties use sugar alcohols and stevia instead. These allow people on a low sugar diet to still enjoy the unique colors and flavors of candy corn with less guilt. Cotton candy flavor is one example that comes in a sugar free version.
So while classic candy corn is decidedly not sugar free, modern twists provide more options for people looking to cut back on sugar without sacrificing this popular Halloween treat.
Making Healthier Candy Corn
Because candy corn is pure sugar, it’s difficult to make a healthy version from scratch. But there are some ways to cut back on sugar slightly:
- Use sugar free syrups like stevia and monk fruit based syrups to reduce the need for corn syrup.
- Swap some sucrose for lower calorie sugar alcohols like erythritol or xylitol.
- Add nuts, seeds, or dried fruit to give a protein and fiber boost.
- Use dark chocolate or carob instead of milk chocolate for antioxidants.
- Focus on portion size and limit yourself to 10-15 pieces.
Candy corn will never be a health food. But these adjustments can help reduce some of the sugar and increase beneficial nutrients marginally.
The bottom line: candy corn will always be a sugary treat. But you can still integrate it into your diet in moderation during the Halloween season. Be sure to account for the extra sugar and balance it out with healthier foods throughout the day.
Conclusion
Candy corn has been a popular Halloween and fall time treat for over a century, prized for its festive colors and sugary sweet flavor. While new varieties may use sugar replacements, traditional candy corn is decidedly not sugar free.
It contains sugar in the form of sucrose, corn syrup, and dextrose as its primary ingredients. These provide over 100% of daily recommended sugar intake in a single serving.
Candy corn offers little nutritional value beyond sugars and a few added vitamins. It does qualify as gluten free and vegan, though some specialty ingredients like confectioner’s glaze may not be vegan.
While candy corn will never be healthy, there are some ways to moderately improve its nutrition or reduce sugar when making your own. Overall though, candy corn is a sugary confection meant to be enjoyed in moderation during the Halloween season.
So don’t feel guilty indulging in this nostalgic treat occasionally. But be sure to balance it out with a healthy diet and active lifestyle the rest of the year. Moderation and portion control are key to enjoying candy corn without going overboard on sugar and calories.
