Freeze Dried Candy: History, Flavors & Varieties

Snack History Nostalgia Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

There are thousands of varieties of candy and dozens of ways to consume them. Some like licking their treats, some like eating them cold, while some enjoy them microwaved. There are some people who prefer freeze dried candy. Have you ever wondered how freeze dried candy is made and why it has become so popular lately? Is it really worth the hype that has been created around it nowadays? 

There’s nothing special about freeze dried candy. It’s as simple as it sounds, you freeze and dry your favorite candy, and even the taste is usually the same as the original. The difference is, you get slightly bigger versions of your favorite treats and they usually get light and crunchy. There are a few steps to follow if you want to freeze candy at home, but the main idea is to freeze it and remove the ice by sublimation. As the process is fairly new, it seems like a mystery to many people, but you can definitely give it a shot at making your favorite freeze dried candy at home.

Top Freeze Dried Candy You Must Try

While you can make freeze dried candy with pretty much any treat, there are some that come out better than others. As the trend of freezing treats is getting more and more popular, people are starting to set their preferences for freeze dried treats. Handmade freeze dried treats are gaining huge popularity, and the altered texture raises curiosity in customers. The crunchiness makes them a great snack for movie nights and friends’ gatherings. Here are the top ten most popular freeze dried candies you should not miss.

1. Freeze Dried Sour Patch Kids

Over the years, Sour Patch Kids has truly become an iconic treat, which comes from its unusual flavor. As the slogan states too, first it’s sour, then it’s sweet. “Sour then sweet” is the catchline of the brand. Now you can add one more to that list, freeze dried. Freezing and drying give sour patch kids an unusual texture and make them a lot bigger. The chewiness is gone and you get sweet and sour crunchy puffs. 

As popular as sour patch kids have become over the years, freeze drying doesn’t make them less desirable. They may become more of a subject of curiosity. Have you ever tried to freeze dry sour patch kids?

2. Freeze Dried Candy Corn

When Halloween comes around the corner, everyone is looking for orange and white Candy Corn to include in their Halloween candy baskets. This year, try a frozen dried version of this popular holiday treat. You won’t be disappointed. If you’ve ever thought that the flavor of candy corn was very dense, then this freeze dried candy is for you. The method makes them tasteless and intense, and they look almost the same size as the original ones.

Maybe holiday candy is not subject to experimentation, but you can add extra spirit with fascinating freeze dried candy corn to your trick or treat baskets.

3. Freeze Dried Charleston Chew

Everyone has probably had a bite or two of Charleston Chew, but have you ever had Charleston Chew? Yes, you can make freeze-dried candy from chocolate too, and surprisingly, it’s a very special one. Freezing the Charleston Chew gives it a rather unusual, wafery texture, which is perfectly accented by the vanilla flavor inside. 

Having freeze dried Charleston Chew almost feels like having Charleston Chew waffles. What can make this iconic candy more desirable? Try the freeze dried version and you’ll understand what we mean.

4. Freeze Dried Skittles

Skittles is one of the most iconic candies in the history of candy manufacturing. There are a variety of skittles that you can have according to your mood or the holiday season. But what about freeze dried skittles? You can absolutely “taste the rainbow” while you are eating this freeze dried candy, as it intensifies the flavor and just bursts in your mouth. Another fascinating thing is that skittles become crunchy instead of chewy after you freeze dry them. 

Have you ever thought about eating freeze dried skittles? Their surfaces crack, they get crunchy, and the flavors are even more appealing to your mouth. You can enjoy your favorite flavors while being astonished by the weird texture.

5. Freeze Dried Milk Duds

If you enjoy Milk Duds, you are probably a fan of its chewy texture. They are chocolate-covered caramel balls, which are not usually round at all, but still have not lost popularity for a very long time. If you ever thought milk duds could not get any better, try the freeze dried version of the candy. They become inflated after freezing with all the air that has already been inside of the candy. They might not be perfectly round, but they are without a doubt the perfect treat.

When you look at these freeze dried candies, they don’t even look like milk duds, they are more like caramel puffs, but the flavor is there and the weird texture just increases the curiosity and pleasure of enjoying the treats.

6. Freeze Dried Jolly Ranchers

When you think of nostalgic childhood candy, Jolly Ranchers will surely come to mind. They were popular treats, especially among middle school children, who would get crazy about how long they could last. It’s never too late to give a new life to good old nostalgic treats. Freeze dried candy balls from Jolly Ranchers will surely make you extra jolly.

When Jolly Ranchers are freeze dried, they become light, airy, and get a puffy texture, which causes them to melt in your mouth instead of lasting for hours. But don’t get disappointed, you can still enjoy your favorite flavors of jolly ranchers and maybe even more now.

7. Freeze Dried Starburst

Are you the one who enjoys fruit chews? If that’s so, Starburst might be one of your favorites. Have you ever tried a frozen dried version of the candy? Fruit chews were transformed into fruit crunchies as a result of the process. Dehydration intensifies the flavors, and you get to enjoy extra fruity flavors while eating this freeze dried candy. 

There are a variety of flavors available for freeze dried starburst, as in the original one. If you have a sweet tooth, you should try these mouth-watering treats. They are almost everyone’s favorites, which is another reason to give freeze dried candy a shot.

8. Freeze Dried Hi-Chew

Hi-Chew is not very different from regular chewy fruit-flavored candy, but it’s a similarly fun and delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth. The huge variety of flavors makes it even more desirable. Have you ever thought about what could give this totally ordinary fruit candy an extraordinary hit? Try freeze dried Hi-Chew. Freeze dried candy has all the flavors of the original one, but it becomes light and crunchy. 

Eating freeze dried Hi-Chew is like an explosion of flavors in your mouth. The good thing is that it’s not sticky anymore, so you don’t have to worry about it getting caught in your teeth.

9. Freeze Dried Bit-O-Honey

Even though Bit-O-Honey is not a chocolate-based candy bar, it has gained significant popularity since the 1920s. The original version is fairly hard to bite and chew. Who could imagine this stick-to-your-tooth candy could become so airy and puffy that it would melt in your mouth?

This freeze dried candy is nothing more than an ordinary Bit-O-Honey, bursting with the flavors of sugar and honey, but the difference is that this time you get crunchy and crispy snacks to enjoy. And don’t forget, they get so big, if it wasn’t for flavor, you could never guess what you were eating.

10. Freeze Dried Swedish Fish

Swedish Fish has been on the market since the 1950s. Over the years, it has become one of the most famous movie theater candies in the US. The flavor of Swedish Fish might be the subject of debate, but it’s without a doubt that this candy has taken first place among the most popular candies. What could make Swedish fish more fun? Of course, turning it into a freeze-dried version. The process removes all the moisture from the candy, and you get a crunchy, marshmallow-like treat that melts in your mouth. 

Freeze dried Swedish Fish will surely be a hit in every family who adores this candy. No matter if the taste is berry or cherry, it will definitely burst in your mouth.

Bottom Line 

Over the years, candy manufacturing has changed a lot. There have been newer methods of production. Many famous candies are now considered iconic and what’s more, they have become associated with holidays or special occasions. Freeze-drying method is among the newest methods of candy manufacturing. This relatively new hype is rapidly rising around the world.

If you’ve ever imagined enjoying your favorite treat in a different shape and texture, try freeze dried candy. There are various handmade freeze dried candies available but do not hesitate to try and make one at home. You can turn your favorite treat into a fascinating masterpiece.