16 Healthiest Candy Options in 2025

When a sweet craving hits, what are the healthiest candy options to eat? Is there even such a thing as healthy candy? The answer, thankfully, is yes. 

Contrary to popular belief, candy isn’t directly related to adverse health effects. This may sound strange at first, but a study published by the National Library of Medicine showed that people who enjoy candy in moderation aren’t directly at risk of negative health effects. 

And to help you find the perfect treat, we've rounded up the best healthy candies for those who want to watch their intake of calories, saturated fat, added sugar or all three. Our curated guide also highlights healthy candy that has minimal or no added colorings and flavorings and has as minimal an ingredient list as possible that prioritizes natural ingredients. 

Of course, even when eating the healthy candies listed here, it’s important to enjoy candy, as with all foods, in moderation. Since most candy comes in small portions, a piece or two is usually fine.

As outlined by the American Heart Association, most adults will also want to keep added sugar consumption below 25 grams daily for women and 36 grams for men. Additionally, make sure to be extra careful with sweet treats if you have blood sugar-related health complications like diabetes.

So, with those health notes covered, what are the healthiest candies to indulge in relatively guilt-free? From gummies to chocolates, read on for 16 healthy sweets that taste good while also not being too bad for you.  

 Jump to Section

• How We Select the Healthiest Candy To Eat
• 16 Healthiest Candy Options
• What Is the Healthiest Candy?
• How To Choose Healthy Candy

How We Select the Healthiest Candy To Eat

At Cozymeal, we are passionate about connecting our audience with culinary experiences and food-based guides, including content centered around nutrition and the healthiest foods to eat. 

While we have experience creating guides for already healthy foods, such as the healthiest fruit or healthiest Greek yogurt, we also want to help our readers choose the best products at the store in less healthy categories like candy. 

To create this guide to the healthiest candy, we first looked to our own knowledge of healthy candy, including our team’s favorite healthy sweets. Then, we conducted in-depth research to confirm that our top picks are healthy and to discover even more healthy candy choices. Lastly, the content is reviewed by a nutritionist as one final check to ensure we only recommend the healthiest candy on the market. 

We also ensure that each healthy candy choice meets the following set of criteria.

Our guide to the healthiest candy:

• Has candy with under 250 calories per serving.
• Recommends candy that includes little to no added sugar, prioritizing those with healthy added sugar ingredients like honey where possible. 
• Suggests sweets that contain minimal saturated fat.
• Covers a range of categories, including chocolates, chocolate bars, hard candy and gummy candy.

The result is a guide that is almost guaranteed to have a healthy candy for every taste and dietary need. We even offer some top tips on how to choose the healthiest candy at the store if none of these sweet treats are available.

16 Healthiest Candy Options

1. Alter Eco Brown Butter Dark Chocolate 

Our first pick on this list of the healthiest candy is a decadent brown butter dark chocolate bar by Alter Eco. This standard-size organic chocolate bar is made with 70% cacao and free of artificial sweeteners, additives, and gluten — it also includes fleur de sel de Guérande, a special artisanal salt.

The only drawback is how calorie-dense dark chocolate is in general. However, the richness of this healthy dark chocolate means that many will only want to eat a few pieces, keeping the serving size down. On top of being organic, the bar is also gluten-free, has no corn or soy ingredients and uses Fairtrade ingredients. 

If you've tried the brown butter flavor and want to branch out, this healthy candy brand makes many other dark chocolate bars with similar nutritional values, including mint-, coconut toffee- and orange-flavored organic dark chocolate. 

Alter Eco Brown Butter Dark Chocolate Nutritional Info (per 30-gram serving):

• Calories: 180 
• Carbs: 13 grams 
• Protein: 2 grams  
• Fat: 14 grams 
• Sodium: 50 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 8 grams 
• Added Sugar: 8 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 3 grams 

2. Russell Stover Sugar Free Chocolate Candy (Assorted)  

As a chocolate and candy brand with a prominent sugar-free chocolate lineup, Russell Stover deserves a mention on this guide to the healthiest candy. The brand’s sugar-free assorted bag features five kinds of chocolates, including mint patties, peanut butter cups and caramels.

With all the sweet intentions and none of the actual sugar, this is a lovely option if you want to give your partner the best Valentine's candy. It's also a good choice for diabetics, especially if you're looking for gifts for those who can only eat no- or low-sugar candy.

However, it's important to note that each piece has around 60 calories. Therefore, portion control is important to avoid eating too many chocolates. Despite being a healthier candy, they also don't have much nutritional value, so aim to only eat one or two pieces per day. 

Russell Stover Sugar Free Chocolate Candy Nutritional Info (per two pieces):

• Calories: 120 
• Carbs: 18 grams 
• Protein: 2 grams 
• Fat: 5 grams  
• Sodium: 25 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 0 grams 
• Added Sugar: 0 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 2 grams 

3. LILY'S Creamy Milk Chocolate Style Bar  

Sometimes you crave a good old-fashioned milk chocolate bar. And if you're searching for the healthiest candy, LILY'S comes out on top in the milk chocolate category. This brand’s chocolate bar is a showstopper among its lineup of chocolate treats, providing a delicious flavor without the added sugar usually seen in milk chocolate bars. 

This healthy candy bar is made with unsweetened chocolate, erythritol and cocoa butter, as well as skim milk, Stevia extract and a few other ingredients that combine to create a simple, smooth treat for any time of day.

Even though it's considered one of the healthiest candy options, eating too much of this chocolate can still cause detrimental effects like weight gain, so be sure to only indulge in a few squares each day.  

LILY'S Creamy Milk Chocolate Style Bar Nutritional Info (per 31-gram serving):

• Calories: 130 
• Carbs: 18 grams  
• Protein: 2 grams  
• Fat: 10 grams 
• Sodium: 25 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 3 grams  
• Added Sugar: 0 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 6 grams 

4. Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Mini Bars

This next pick is an awesome answer for the next time someone asks you, “What is the healthiest candy?” These vegan-friendly dark chocolate coconut bars by Unreal are made with only three ingredients: shredded coconut, rich dark chocolate and a mere 3 grams of sugar.

The limited ingredient list definitely makes this one of the healthiest candy bars to go for if you’re craving a Bounty bar alternative. While there is minimal coconut per bar, you will be getting some nutritional benefits from the coconut.

As the Cleveland Clinic points out, coconut has fiber and can even boost energy and reduce inflammation. While eating coconut as it comes is always best, you still get some of these benefits from this healthy candy bar. 

Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Mini Bars Nutritional Info (per 15-gram bar):

• Calories: 70 
• Carbs: 8 grams  
• Protein: <1 gram 
• Fat: 5 grams  
• Sodium: 0 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 3 grams  
• Added Sugar: 3 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 1 gram

5. Endangered Species Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar  

If you're on the hunt for another of the healthiest candy bars in the dark chocolate category, Endangered Species makes some of the best chocolate bars for your needs. The brand is known for offering an “extreme dark” chocolate bar, made with 88% cocoa (which is Fairtrade). It also includes ingredients like chocolate liquor, cane sugar, soy lecithin and a dash of aromatic vanilla. 

This top pick on our list of the healthiest chocolate bars also earns extra points for its animal conservation efforts (hence the brand name: Endangered Species). The Extreme Dark bar specifically brings awareness to the struggles of jaguar populations. 

While a portion is quite high in fat and calories, you do get 4 grams of fiber and only 3 grams of added sugar, plus no sodium. As with all options on this list of the healthiest candy, practice portion control and this chocolate bar can be part of a balanced diet. 

Want to support Endangered Species some more? If so, you'll be pleased to learn that this healthy candy brand has other chocolate bars, such as 72% Dark Chocolate with Almonds & Sea Salt (bringing awareness to the plight of Eurasian eagle-owls) and 72% Dark Chocolate with Cherries (which supports puffins). 

Endangered Species Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar Nutritional Info (per 28-grams):

• Calories: 180 
• Carbs: 11 grams  
• Protein: 3 grams  
• Fat: 13 grams  
• Sodium: 0 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 3 grams  
• Added Sugar: 3 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 4 grams 

6. Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups 

Imagine the perfect chocolate peanut butter cup without all the unnecessary added ingredients. Justin's is a candy brand that executed this perfectly. This healthy candy for adults perfectly pairs the richness of dark chocolate with the nostalgia of a peanut butter cup. 

As one of the healthiest candy options available, Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are a variation of the original treat made with organic peanut butter and chocolate. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Plus, this candy is sold in pre-portioned packets of two, making portion control easy. As two peanut butter cups have 220 calories, plus 14 grams of fat and 16 grams of added sugar, you may need to portion them further (eating one at a time or even cutting one in two) to meet your specific dietary needs. 

If you don't like peanut butter or want to vary it up, you can also get cashew butter and almond butter variants with a similar nutritional profile. Milk chocolate variations are also on offer, which, surprisingly, have a similar nutritional profile and are great for kids. However, you do miss out on the health benefits of dark chocolate when going for the milk variety. 

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Nutritional Info (per 40-gram pack):

• Calories: 220 
• Carbs: 20 grams 
• Protein: 4 grams 
• Fat: 14 grams  
• Sodium: 120 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 16 grams 
• Added Sugar: 16 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 1 gram

7. Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems

Chocolate‑covered peanuts are a classic, and Unreal’s version is our next pick of the healthiest candy that you'll want to try right away. Rounding out our chocolate options in our healthy candy guide is this fan favorite, made with dark chocolate, roasted peanuts and a candy shell colored with natural vegetable sources like beet juice and spirulina.

This almost guilt-free candy is also vegan and gluten-free. Plus, all ingredients are non-GMO and Fairtrade. Those with soy allergies will also be pleased to learn that none of this common allergen can be found here. So, next time you go to grab the more well-known chocolate-covered peanuts, why not give these healthy candies a go instead? 

Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems Nutritional Info (per 30-gram bag):

• Calories: 150 
• Carbs: 16 grams  
• Protein: 3 grams  
• Fat: 10 grams  
• Sodium: 15 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 13 grams 
• Added Sugar: 12 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 2 grams 

8. SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites

This delicious, sweet gummy treat brand hails from Canada. A few of the brand's offerings feature on this list of the healthiest candy, with SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites being some of the most popular.

These healthy candies are low in sugar, with no added sugar, and are high in fiber for a candy. What's best is that we find these no-added sugar sweets don't taste sugar-free at all, resembling other sugar-packed watermelon candies on the market.

And, while we would recommend only eating a few at a time, a whole 50-gram bag has just 130 calories and 3 grams of naturally occurring sugar, meaning indulging in the whole bag once in a while isn't that big of a deal. 

SmartSweets Sourmelon Bites Nutritional Info (per 50-gram bag):

• Calories: 130 
• Carbs: 40 grams  
• Protein: 0 grams 
• Fat: 0 grams  
• Sodium: 100 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 3 grams  
• Added Sugar: 0 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 6 grams 

9. SmartSweets Sweet Fish

If you enjoy Swedish Fish, you’ll love this SmartSweets alternative. Sweet Fish looks like Swedish Fish with its iconic red shade and fish shape, but skips the added sugar. 

Each bag has 3 grams of naturally occurring sugar, plus 6 grams of fiber, 130 calories and no major allergens. Not only is there no added sugar, but this healthy candy has a whopping 92% less total sugar compared to its counterparts, too. Now, that’s sweet!

SmartSweets Sweet Fish Nutritional Info (per 50-gram bag):

• Calories: 130 
• Carbs: 40 grams  
• Protein: 0 grams  
• Fat: 0 grams 
• Sodium: 100 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 3 grams  
• Added Sugar: 0 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 6 grams 

10. YumEarth Organic Jelly Beans

Jelly beans have always been popular, but this type of sweet is tricky to find among the healthiest candy options. But, YumEarth has stepped in to offer a healthy version of this all-ages favorite. 

YumEarth's jelly beans are not only organic, but also allergy-friendly, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and free from artificial dyes and flavors. These are also one of the best Halloween candy options, thanks to the individual portion size and allergy-friendly status, and even come in an egg-shaped Easter candy version in the spring. 

Those watching calories will notably be interested in this low-calorie candy, with a bag having only 50 calories. The one drawback is that each 14-gram bag has 11 grams of added sugar (which is 22% of the daily recommended allowance for adults and around 45% for kids, depending on age). Therefore, while a healthier candy for sure, these should still be enjoyed in moderation as a treat. 

YumEarth Organic Jelly Beans Nutritional Info (per 14-gram serving):

• Calories: 50 
• Carbs: 13 grams 
• Protein: 0 grams 
• Fat: 0 grams  
• Sodium: 20 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 11 grams  
• Added Sugar: 11 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 0 grams 

11. Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears

Gummy bears are delicious. That’s a fact. They're also one of the most popular snacks in the U.S. But finding organic gummy bears can be a challenge. Luckily, Black Forest offers USDA organic gummy bears in conveniently portioned pouches. Flavors in each pack include orange, apple and strawberry, as well as cherry, lemon and pineapple. 

These bears are some of the healthiest candies you can enjoy because they’re made with real fruit juice, organic tapioca syrup, gelatin and other natural flavors. The colors come from natural sources like black carrot juice, red beet extract and yellow turmeric.

However, it's important to note that they contain corn syrup, and this contributes in part to the 15 grams of added sugar per 30-gram packet. This means that these are not the healthiest candies on this list.

Yet, if you can't shake a gummy bear craving, they're a better choice than many other kinds on the market. If giving to kids, it's best to portion them further and give just two to four gummy bears as a small treat. 

If the nutritional profile doesn't concern you, Black Forest also makes gummy worms with a similar nutritional profile. 

Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears Nutritional Info (per 30-gram serving):

• Calories: 100 
• Carbs: 24 grams  
• Protein: 1 gram  
• Fat: 0 grams 
• Sodium: 5 milligrams
• Total Sugar: 15 grams  
• Added Sugar: 15 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 0 grams 

12. Red Vines Made Simple Berry Twists

This next choice on our list of the healthiest candies is for the licorice lovers out there. Red Vines Made Simple makes a red licorice candy called “mixed berry twists,” which tastes just as great as more mainstream versions but with a slightly better nutritional profile.

This healthy candy's ingredients list includes cane sugar and natural flavors, plus radish extract for color. These licorice-style treats are also GMO-free and plant-based as no gelatin is used, making them a great treat for vegans, vegetarians and anyone else who avoids gelatin.

While the use of cane sugar is a little better than something like corn syrup, it still contributes to a serving of this candy having 18 grams of added sugar. Although the rest of the nutritional profile is pretty healthy, practice moderation and portion these well (not exceeding one serving) to avoid eating too much added sugar. 

Red Vines Made Simple Berry Twists Nutritional Info (per 30-gram serving):

• Calories: 100 
• Carbs: 21 grams  
• Protein: 1 gram 
• Fat: 0 grams 
• Sodium: 10 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 18 grams  
• Added Sugar: 18 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 0 grams 

13. Behave Gummy Stars

Behave Gummy Stars is a wonder-filled bag of gummy candies in raspberry, apple and pineapple flavors. It’s one of the healthiest candy options on the market due to being low-sugar (only 1 gram of sugar per serving) and made with natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners.

Interestingly, a serving of these gummy stars is also very high in fiber. The brand also promoted the candy as being diabetic- and PCOS-friendly. 

Of course, like any food, be careful not to enjoy too many at a time in case there are adverse health effects. The 17 to 20 grams of fiber in one bag may additionally cause gas or cramping if you’re not used to large doses of soluble fiber.

Along with the gummy stars, Behave sells regular and sour gummy bears, as well as a sour version of the stars. These are all similar nutritionally, but the sour versions have an extra 2 grams of sugar per serving. 

Behave Gummy Stars Nutritional Info (per 50-gram serving):

• Calories: 70 
• Carbs: 36 grams 
• Protein: 4 grams  
• Fat: 0 grams  
• Sodium: 0 grams  
• Total Sugar: 1 gram
• Added Sugar: 1 gram 
• Dietary Fiber: 20 grams 

14. Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets Ultimate Hard Candy Collection

Along with coming in gorgeous natural shades of green, red and yellow, the Hard Candy Collection comes in bright natural colors and is surprisingly healthy.

These hard candies are sugar-free and come with 10 grams of fiber per serving, as well as a healthy dose of vitamin C. They rank among the healthiest candy picks, but enjoy them in moderation because eating too many can have a laxative effect.

Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets - Ultimate Hard Candy Collection Nutritional Info (per 18-gram serving):

• Calories: 35 
• Carbs: 18 grams 
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fat: 0 grams 
• Sodium: 0 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 0 grams  
• Added Sugar: 0 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 10 grams

15. Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey Pops

Manuka honey is a popular ingredient that’s useful for all kinds of recipes (and even skincare!). So it’s no wonder that Wedderspoon, a well-known Canadian honey company, offers these lollipops, which are some of the tastiest and healthiest candy options to try. 

Wedderspoon’s pops rely on organic manuka honey for sweetness, and also include vitamin C while skipping artificial colors. Each 10-gram pop still delivers 8 grams of added sugar, so nutritionally, they somewhat mirror a standard lollipop, but they provide a honey‑forward flavor, the health benefits of manuka honey, and a short, recognizable ingredient list.

It's also important to note that some of the added sugar comes from the honey (with some also from cane sugar and rice syrup), whereas standard lollipops use mainly or exclusively cane sugar and even corn syrup. 

Ultimately, while not a health food, if you’re looking into how to start eating healthy but don't want to give up lollipops, incorporating these candies into your lifestyle as an alternative to traditional lollipops could be a great way to start.  

Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey Pops Nutritional Info (per 10-gram serving):

• Calories: 35 
• Carbs: 9 grams 
• Protein: 0 grams 
• Fat: 0 grams 
• Sodium: 0 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 8 grams 
• Added Sugar: 8 grams 
• Dietary Fiber: 0 grams 

16. Tom & Jenny’s Classic Sugar-Free Soft Caramels

Our last pick on this list of the healthiest candy treats to try is Tom & Jenny’s Classic Sugar-Free Soft Caramels. These are made with fresh heavy cream and certified sustainable palm oil, plus plant-derived maltitol and non-GMO xylitol in place of sugar.

There are also a few flavored versions, such as chocolate and spiced rum, which make use of natural flavors like cocoa powder and spices. No matter which flavor you go for, you'll get a chewy and decadent experience, and best of all, no sugar. The no sugar recipe doesn't affect the taste too much, with this healthy candy closely resembling the standard caramels. 

Tom & Jenny’s Classic Sugar-Free Soft Caramels Nutritional Info (per five pieces):

• Calories: 60 
• Carbs: 14 grams
• Protein: 0 grams 
• Fat: 3.5 grams
• Sodium: 120 milligrams 
• Total Sugar: 0 grams 
• Added Sugar: 0 grams  
• Dietary Fiber: 0 grams 

What Is the Healthiest Candy? 

Candy is great. Finding some of the healthiest candy alternatives to your favorites? Even better.

Still, you may be wondering what the healthiest candy overall is. Actually, even candy that’s advertised as healthy is still generally unhealthy, since it’s made with a high sugar content and few nutrients.

If we had to choose, dark chocolate has an impressively high cocoa content and some of the least added sugar among all candies on the market, making it one of the healthiest types to go for.  

In terms of brands, SmartSweets, Behave and LILY’S are especially dedicated to creating healthier versions of treats. Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are also a good choice, pairing dark chocolate with healthy fat- and protein-rich peanut butter. The other brands on this list also work hard to create their candy alternatives, although they may contain high amounts of added sugar. 

It’s important to remember that no matter what, candy is still candy and can only be healthier than its original counterparts to a certain extent. With that in mind, be sure to enjoy your treats in moderation. 

How To Choose Healthy Candy 

While this list will be useful to those looking for the healthiest candy, what if these options aren't available at your local store? How to choose healthy candy among the many options on the shelves?

When standing in the snack aisle, questioning, "What is the healthiest candy?", you'll want to turn to nutritional labels. Many healthy candy brands highlight their health benefits — such as having minimal added sugar or no artificial colors or flavors — on the front of the packet, so scanning for those claims is a good starting point.

You'll then want to take a look at the full nutritional information. Things to check specifically include:

• Calories per serving.
• Sugar content per serving, especially added sugar content. 
• Ingredients (including added nutrients), watching out for artificial flavors and colorings, high-fructose corn syrup and additives. 

Once you've chosen the healthiest candy at the store, remember that portion control is still important. Eating anything in moderation will help mitigate any negative effects while still letting you enjoy the positives.

Having read through this healthiest candy guide, you should have no trouble finding the perfect sweets next time you want a treat. One thing to remember is that it may be a bit challenging to find some of these healthy candies.

But that effort is worth it, especially to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing the ingredients in your treats are safer and healthier in general. And, as people think more about what they eat, many of the healthiest candies are entering supermarkets nationwide, taking pride of place among more well-known treats. 

It's also important to remember that even candy that is good for you is still candy and should be consumed in moderation. Most studies link frequent added‑sugar intake with higher risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and dental caries, but occasional candy that fits within daily calorie and added sugar limits is unlikely to harm otherwise healthy adults.

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.