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Nov 19, 2023

The 15 Best Keto Candy Substitutes for Your Favorite Sweets

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Not sure how to satisfy your sweet tooth on the keto diet? Don't worry — there are plenty of keto-friendly options out there.

We rounded up the best keto candy to help you kick your craving without kissing keto goodbye.

Satisfy your sweet tooth without the sugar by swapping these keto-friendly treats with your favorite candy.

If you follow a keto diet, you already know that sugar and too many carbs are off the menu when you’re trying to reach ketosis, the fat-burning state.

Although there's no strict definition, keto is all about that super low carb, high fat life. In general, people on the keto diet shoot for no more than 20 to 50 grams of carbs a day and zero added sugars.

That means keto candy is sugar-free and sometimes high in fat. But how can candy possibly taste sweet without a little glucose, you ask?

Instead of that glycemic-spiking stuff from sugarcane, keto candy uses sugar substitutes like erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit so you can enjoy a sweet treat now and then without messing with your keto #goals.

If the candy aisle's got you asking "Is butter a carb?," don't stress, Regina. Essentially, you’re looking for ingredients that won't raise your blood sugar and kick you out of ketosis.

When perusing the ingredient list on the back of every candy pack, here's what to look for:

You’ll want to look for zero grams of added sugar, but don't stop there. Your body doesn't process all sugar substitutes the same way, so some are more keto-friendly than others.

Your body can't digest these sugar subs, so you can subtract the full amount from the total carbs to get the net carbs.

These sugar alcohols will provide some calories because your body will digest about half the sugar, so you can only subtract a portion to find the net carbs.

Keep on scrollin’ to get the lowdown on all our top picks, including nutritional content, price, and available flavors.

Score some sweets without breaking your budget.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: allulose and monk fruit

New nutty-chocolaty cup, who dis? If you’re a Reese's lover, consider converting to these dark chocolate keto cups.

Made with hazelnut butter instead of PB, this healthier alternative (filled with organic cacao butter and topped with Himalayan sea salt) should def satisfy your cravings. It also comes in almond and coconut butter flavors if hazelnut isn't your jam.

Buy Go Better Keto Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cups.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: stevia

If you’re feeling a little less jolly without your Jolly Ranchers, consider trying these non-GMO stevia-sweetened substitutes. Packaged in cute little tins and available in orange, strawberry, cherry, or grape flavor or in a variety pack, they’re proof that keto doesn't have to mean #FOMO when it comes to candy.

Buy Stevita Naturals Hard Candy.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: maltitol

They look like peanut M&Ms, they taste like peanut M&Ms… but, thankfully for your keto diet, they’re not peanut M&Ms. Reviewers say these maltitol-sweetened treats taste super close to the real thing, without all the sugar and carbs.

Just keep in mind that while the label lists 1 gram of net carbs, you can subtract only half the carbs from maltitol, meaning you’ll get 8.5 grams of net carbs per serving.

Buy Atkins Endulge Chocolate Peanut Candies.

Price: $$$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: allulose, stevia, and monk fruit

Embrace sugar-free peachy sweetness with these yellow-orange crystalline Os.

OK, so apparently they don't taste exactly like the real thing, and they contain tapioca fiber, which is considered a no-no for some hardcore keto abiders. (Totally your call. Technically, it's a keto-friendly, naturally occurring dietary fiber.) On the bright side, they’re free of artificial sweeteners.

Buy SmartSweets Peach Rings.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: natural flavors and tapioca fiber

If you need a pick-me-up, these naturally sweetened lollipops just might be it. These little lollies are gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. They do contain tapioca fiber, though, which some keto followers avoid due to its potential to cause a glycemic spike (but technically it's keto-friendly).

Buy Koochikoo Sugar-Free Organic Lollipops.

Price: $$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: maltitol and sucralose

Calling all lovers of classic M&Ms: Atkins strikes again with this believable dupe.

This product is sweetened with maltitol, which has some carbs, so despite what the package says, you can't subtract all 14 grams of sugar alcohol to get the net carbs. Instead, these chocolates will provide 8 grams of carbs once they’re digested.

Buy Atkins Endulge Chocolate Candies.

Price: $$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: maltitol and apple juice from concentrate

Haribo who? These adorable gummy bears look as cute as the real thing and taste pretty dang good too.

Just keep in mind that despite what the label claims, these don't technically have 0 grams of net carbs because they contain maltitol. With 11 grams of net carbs, these are best saved for when you’re looking for a special treat rather than a go-to snack.

Buy Brach's Sugar Free Gummy Bears.

Price: $$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: stevia and erythritol

While it's not a perfect swap for Almond Joy, this bar should satisfy your salty chocolate-almond cravings. Sweetened with stevia and erythritol and made with fair trade, gluten-free, and non-GMO ingredients, these bars also have seriously rave reviews.

Buy Lily's Sweets Salted Almond & Milk Chocolate Bar.

Price: $$$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: maltitol

Thanks to Hershey's Sugar-Free Chocolates, you don't even have to betray your favorite candy bar brand to go keto. According to reviewers, they’re so delish that even your non-keto friends might want in.

Since they’re sweetened with maltitol, though, you can't subtract the full amount of sugar alcohol. Plus, eating too much of a product with sugar alcohols could give you an upset stomach.

Buy Hershey's Sugar-Free Chocolates.

Price: $$$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: allulose, tapioca fiber, and natural flavors

If you’ve been missing gummies that make your lips pucker, SmartSweets Sour Gummy Bears might be for you. Like other gummy alternatives, they’re def not the lowest-net-carb option out there, but they’re a good option to enjoy every now and then.

Some reviewers complain about the teeny-tiny bag size, but given the carb content, the portion is pretty realistic if you want to keep things keto.

Buy SmartSweets Sour Gummy Bears.

Price: $$$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: allulose and natural berry flavor

SmartSweets strikes again with this alternative to your fave Scandinavian fish. With 18 grams of net carbs, these are likely an occasional, single-pack indulgence for most keto followers, but there just aren't any lower-carb gummies on the market. And sometimes, you just gotta satisfy those sweet, sweet Swedish fish cravings.

Buy SmartSweets Sweet Fish.

Price: $$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: erythritol

Saying goodbye to Snickers is tough, but saying hello to ChocoRite Crispy Caramels isn't. They’re free of artificial sweeteners, and reviewers say the hardest part is eating just one. Compared to keto chocolate competitors, these are supposedly especially *convincing.*

Buy ChocoRite Crispy Caramels.

Price: $$

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: erythritol

In case you missed it, Snickers Pecan was a limited-edition version of the candy bar staple that sold out in 24 hours. Fortunately, you can still get a taste of (keto-approved) chocolate-pecan flavor with these nut clusters. They’re free of artificial sweeteners, and reviewers say they’re tasty and easy on the tummy.

Buy ChocoRite Pecan Clusters.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: xylitol and erythritol

These aren't quite as sour as Warheads, but that might be a blessing in disguise for anyone who used to down those bad boys until their tongue went raw. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and sweetened with natural flavors, these just might become your go-to desk candy.

Buy Dr. John's Healthy Sweets Sugar Free Signature Sours Hard Candy.

Price: $

Nutrition per serving:

Sweetened with: erythritol

Mint-chocolate-loving keto peeps, rejoice: These "fat bombs" truly are the bomb. Though some reviewers complain about the price, if you have a mint-chocolate craving, these are for you.

Buy SlimFast Keto Mint Chocolate Fat Bombs.

We scoured the internet for the best keto candy so you don't have to. Here's how we picked the best of the best:

Keto candy: not so different from your everyday candy — except, of course, that it's low carb and sugar-free and won't knock you out of ketosis. While eating too much of the stuff still won't help your health, it serves as an ideal occasional keto-friendly treat to soothe your sweet tooth.