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Good Housekeeping published a tested roundup of 10 lower-sugar candy alternatives, including date-based chocolate bars, fruit-only gummies, and high-fiber sugar-free candies. The outlet’s nutrition editors say the swaps can cut added sugar without sacrificing taste, though some still contain added sugar and fiber-heavy options carry portion guidance.
Good Housekeeping has published a taste-tested roundup of 10 lower-sugar candy swaps, from date-sweetened chocolate bars to fruit-only gummies, as consumers increasingly seek alternatives to conventional sweets made with high-fructose corn syrup. The list, assembled with the magazine’s nutrition editors and product testers, includes full nutrition facts for each item and portion guidance from its dietitians.
The top pick in the report is a line of mini date-sweetened bars that contain 4 to 7 grams of fiber each and 0 grams of added sugar per bar, with 70 calories and 6 grams of fiber for the Nutty variety. Good Housekeeping Deputy Food Editor Trish Clasen Marsanisco endorsed them enthusiastically: “I like them even better than the chocolate caramel bars I’ve eaten my whole life. The date caramel layer is rich, decadent, and just the right amount of gooey.”
Other confirmed picks include Solely fruit gummies, made with just fruit and vitamin C, which each count as a serving of fruit at 60 calories and 0 grams added sugar; UNREAL chocolate candies, which use Fair Trade chocolate and contain no sugar alcohols (the dark chocolate coconut bar has 3 grams added sugar); and SmartSweets nostalgic-style gummies, sweetened without added sugar, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners, with 13 grams of fiber per pouch. Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars (4 grams added sugar per bar), chocolate-peanut butter wafers with 3 grams added sugar, and Numa taffy, which the report says has nearly half the sugar and more protein than traditional taffy, round out the list.
Testers, quoted in the report, largely praised the taste of the swaps. One said of UNREAL: “They taste like the real deal, and I find that one serving really satisfies my sweet tooth.” A SmartSweets tester said they detected no “fakeness” or aftertaste, a common complaint with sugar-free candy.
Why Lower-Sugar Swaps Matter Now
Added sugar remains a major dietary concern in the United States, and candy is one of its most concentrated sources. The report gives readers a way to reduce added sugar intake — several picks contain zero added sugar — without giving up treats entirely. The inclusion of full nutrition facts panels for each product lets readers compare options directly, and the magazine’s dietitians add practical caveats, such as limiting SmartSweets to one bag a day because of its high fiber content and drinking plenty of water with it to support digestion.
How the Picks Were Tested
The list comes from Good Housekeeping’s food and nutrition team, which runs taste tests and has awarded Snack Awards in recent years — Solely, the fruit-gummy maker, is described as a repeat winner. Products were evaluated on taste, texture, and ingredient quality, with testers noting specifics such as chewiness, aftertaste, and flavor accuracy compared with conventional candy. Criteria the editors flagged included no artificial dyes, Non-GMO verification, Fair Trade chocolate, and absence of sugar alcohols.
“Though they’re made without added sugar, each bite delivers the sweetness you’d expect (and love!) in a traditional candy bar.”
— Trish Clasen Marsanisco, Good Housekeeping Deputy Food Editor
Where the Low-Sugar Trend Goes
Lower-sugar confections continue to expand on store shelves, with brands like UNREAL launching new products such as peanut butter chocolate drops. Readers can expect more date-sweetened, fruit-based, and fiber-fortified candy options as manufacturers respond to demand for cleaner labels. The full Good Housekeeping list, including the remaining picks and where to buy each product, is available on the magazine’s website.
Key Questions
Are these candy swaps completely sugar-free?
No. Several contain no added sugar but still have naturally occurring sugars — for example, Solely gummies have 6 grams of total sugars. Others, like Pure Organic fruit bars and Numa taffy, contain 4 to 7 grams of added sugar per serving.
Which pick has the most fiber?
SmartSweets Sweet Fish contain 13 grams of fiber per pouch; the date-based mini bars contain 4 to 7 grams each. Good Housekeeping’s dietitians advise no more than one SmartSweets bag per day with plenty of water.
Do the sugar-free options taste like regular candy?
According to Good Housekeeping’s testers, yes — one said SmartSweets had no “fakeness” or weird aftertaste, and a UNREAL tester said the candies “taste like the real deal.” These are subjective taste-test impressions, not lab findings.
Are these products suitable for people with allergies?
The report does not provide full allergen details. Several picks contain tree nuts or peanuts (the Nutty bars, peanut butter cups and wafers, and coconut bars), so readers with allergies should check each product’s label.
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