When it comes to snacks, I’m always on the hunt for fun and unique options to fuel my wanderlust spirit. Perhaps that’s why I was instantly intrigued when I first discovered freeze-dried candies—the process transforms everyday sweets into lightweight, portable indulgences that seem perfect for any adventure.
For those unfamiliar with freeze-drying, it uses sublimation to remove moisture from food while preserving much of the flavor, color, and nutrients. This leaves you with a crispy, crunchy version of candy that takes up hardly any space in your bag. Even better, freeze-dried goodies can reportedly last up to 30 years unopened—way longer than your average treat’s shelf life.
As a self-proclaimed “snack enthusiast,” I knew I had to sample as many freeze-dried candies as possible to share my top picks. Over many taste tests, I explored classics like Skittles and Milk Duds as well as some surprises like Corn Pops and Starbursts. While the textures took some adjusting to, the flavors shone through vibrantly in every sample.
In this post, I’ll outline the 10 best freeze-dried candies that earned star reviews from this chomping enthusiast. From fruity bursts to crunchy cookies, these lightweight sweets will satisfy your cravings whether at home or hiking miles from civilization. Just don’t blame me when you want to stash your entire pantry with them!
Best Freeze-Dried Candies
1 – Skittles
Let’s start with one of the most iconic fruit flavors in candydom – Skittles! These rainbow treats have graced us with their fruity tastes for decades, and freeze-drying transforms them in the best way.
Gone is the soft, chewy shell protecting the flavor inside. Instead, each freeze-dried Skittle explodes with vibrant color and tastes even fruitier than the originals. Biting into a freeze-dried Skittle releases bold flavors of lemon, lime, strawberry and more in a burst of tart crispiness. The crunch echoes fruit snacks of childhood without sacrificing complexity.
Not only do the flavors shine through the new texture triumphantly, but the lack of moisture makes Skittles ideal for travel. Toss a few in your bag for a snack that won’t smoosh. Each crackling orb satisfies my sweet tooth while preserving the nostalgic experience we all know and love from these rainbow gems. Whether eating one or mixing colors in my mouth, freeze-dried Skittles put a fun spin on the iconic candy experience. There’s nothing better than enjoying the taste of fruit variety on the go.
For these reasons, Skittles earned the top spot on my list of best freeze-dried candies. The flavors are amplified while losing none of their vibrant charm. It’s no wonder Skittles are amongst the most popular varieties available. These crunchy fruits deserve their legendary status.
2 – Starbursts
Next up is another classic fruit chew that undergoes a delightful transformation through freeze-drying – Starbursts! These squishy pillows morph into thin, crispy wafers that concentrate the iconic fruit flavors even more than the originals.
Taking a bite of a freeze-dried Starburst is like popping an explosion of fruity flavor directly into your mouth. The textures dissolve instantly on your tongue, allowing each flavor – be it cherry, strawberry, orange or lemon – to completely coat your taste buds in its essence. It’s like drinking a fruit punch, but in wafer form.
The flavors honestly seem even bolder than before, since freeze-drying removes moisture without washing away subtleties. I couldn’t get enough of how vibrant fresh strawberry shone through or biting into orange’s tangy sweetness. Even lemon managed to transport me to a sunny field without drying out my mouth like the gummy originals sometimes do.
Best of all, Starburst wafers store easily in a bag or pocket without squishing. I loved pulling them out on long drives for a refreshing pick-me-up of fruity flavor that didn’t leave behind a sticky mess. The portability makes these light indulgences perfect hiking treats too. Overall, Starbursts deliver amped-up fruit punch tastes in a satisfyingly crunchy package through freeze-drying. Their textures may change, but the ability to intensely flavor your taste buds remains golden!
3 – Candy Corn
I’ll be honest – as a kid, candy corn always smelled better than it tasted to me. Those waxy kernels struck me as more novelty than yum. But after trying freeze-dried candy corn, I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for this Halloween classic!
Gone is the waxy texture that turned me off before. Freeze-dried candy corn takes on an airy, crispy form that somehow retains vestiges of its iconic colors – yellow, orange and white. Most impressively, the flavor morphs into a pleasantly sweet autumnal taste evocative of pumpkins, spices and richer flavors usually hidden under waxiness.
Crunching into these featherweight candy corn morsels releases an unexpected complexity of cozy fall flavors on your tongue. Nutmeg and cinnamon intermingle with hints of vanilla and brown sugar for an experience far beyond one-note sweetness. It surprised me how sophisticated these freeze-dried kernels became!
Not only do they taste better than expected, but candy corn’s new form also eliminates any mess. No more getting tiny pieces stuck in your teeth or between car seats. Just pop a few portable kernels whenever a sweet seasonal craving hits, which is basically all autumn long in my book. Whether you love candy corn already or like me were once impartial, giving freeze-dried a try will likely change your mind. The process works magic on unlocking flavor while removing annoyances – now that’s my kind of trick or treat!
4 – Gummy Bears
You can’t have a list of best candies without including everyone’s favorite cute and colorful gummi creatures! Regular Gummy Bears melt in your mouth with their soft, chewy texture. But freeze-dried gummis take on an adventure all their own.
Crunchy yet still pliant, freeze-dried Gummy Bears don’t quite resemble their gelatinous original forms. Instead they’re reminiscent of fruit roll-ups – retaining fun shapes while transforming textures into something almost like a hardy fruit snack. Sinking your teeth into an entire Gummy Bear releases a muted gush of flavor surrounded by a pleasant crackle.
Though not exactly duplicating the chewiness I adore in normal gummis, these freeze-dried imposters satisfy my sweet tooth just the same with their vibrant fruity flavors. From strawberry to orange and citrus punch varieties, your taste buds will tingle with familiar deliciousness in every crunchy bite.
Plus, the portability factor can’t be beaten. Freeze-dried Gummy Bears stash easily in pockets and bags without falling apart or getting their colors all over other items. I loved discovering these colorful creatures make the perfect hiking snack – lightweight, calorie-packed and totally smile-inducing! Even if the texture isn’t a perfect mimic, freeze-drying preserves the cheerful tropical essence that earned Gummy Bears their stardom to begin with.
5 – SweetTarts
When it comes to candy, I’ve always been a fan of bold flavors – which means sharp, fruity SweetTarts are a favorite of mine. And let me tell you, their sour tang and tart pop get kicked up a notch through freeze-drying!
In their signature pebble shapes, regular SweetTarts tease with sourness before melting sweetly in your mouth. But freeze-dried treats mimic neither texture – instead greeted by a delightfully crackling candy shell exploding with more assertive sour-citrus zest than the originals could ever muster.
Just one of these lightweight discs lights up your whole mouth in layers of bright lemon, lime and cherry flavors. It’s like your classic sweet and sour candies took a lesson from Warheads on the intensity scale. Of course, the robust flavors mean these aren’t an everyday indulgence. But experiencing that vivid sour pop makes freeze-dried SweetTarts worth the occasional tingle.
On long car rides or hikes, I also loved having some SweetTarts tucked away to perk up dips in my energy levels. Even the anticipation of their effervescent tang kept me going with enthusiasm. Without question, the hardy crunchiness and amplified zest propel SweetTarts to the top of my list for impressively flavorful freeze-dried snacks that feed both my stomach and spirit of adventure. Sour power never looked or tasted so delicious!
6 – M&M’s
What candy lover doesn’t appreciate a good M&M? These colorful chocolate drops appeal to both kids and kids at heart alike. And as you may have guessed, freeze-drying puts an intriguing spin on the experience.
Rather than soft shells surrounding melty centers, dried M&M’s resemble miniature crunchy chocolate balls or rounded rice pieces. Seeing the hard chocolate exterior protecting the candy’s innards triggers old memories while feeling crisp cracks under your teeth stimulates your senses in new ways.
Upon taking a bite, your mouth floods with rich cocoa notes dancing around a lingering trace of signature roasted peanut or creamy milk flavor. It’s as if these iconic candies distilled down to highlight pure essence without filler textures getting in the way.
Also worth mentioning, the heightened portability proves a miracle for car rides when kids clamor “are we there yet?” Just stash a baggie to satiate sugar cravings smoothly. Or toss a few in your mouth hiking to power your steps – bonus, they won’t melt!
All in all, freeze-dried M&M’s pay tribute to nostalgia while adding another dimension of craveable crunch. Sometimes less really is more when it comes to savoring pure chocolatey or peanut buttery joy. These reinvented favorites earn high marks from me for taste as well as trouble-free travels.
7 – Milk Duds
For many candy lovers, nothing satisfies a chocolate-caramel craving like classic Milk Duds. Rich chocolate meets creamy-sweet centers in an iconic pop of flavor. And while freeze-drying adjusts the experience slightly, these candy-coated balls transcend temptation to crunchy new heights.
Gone are the smooth interiors, leaving crunchy chocolate-infused shells housing only a memory of caramel. Yet somehow, the combo still tingles your tastebuds as intended through subtle notes dispersed within each Light, breakable piece.
Instead of chewing, your mouth simply cracks and crumbles the candy into delicate chocolate-dusted morsels. Take a big bite and savor how muted caramel essence blooms within a satisfyingly brittle chocolate coating. It’s surprisingly elegant given the candy’s humble origins.
As with many varieties, Milk Duds also store and travel like a dream post-freeze-drying. Toss a few in your bag for when hunger strikes on hikes or road trips weed out melty messes. All in all, while different from the original experience, these reinvented favorites shine as must-try snacks for any chocolate-caramel enthusiast looking to rediscover a classic in unexpected texture. For me, they’re the crème de la crème of dried delights when my sweet tooth demands indulgence.
8 – Lemonheads
When it comes to sour candy, nothing beats a tart Lemonhead in my book. These petite candies pack serious citrus punch thanks to their hard outer shell cloaking lemony acidity. And through freeze-drying, their zing grows ever more concentrated!
Gone is the initial hard sugar exterior, yielding to featherlight discs brimming with sharp lemon essence ready to awaken your pucker muscles. bite down expecting crackling sweetness, but instead intense mouth-puckering tartness explodes forth.
Yet Lemonheads avoid becoming indistinguishable sours like Warheads through it all – complex notes of peel and juice linger pleasantly versus just searing saliva glands. I’m also amazed at how vivid the color remains, staying true to iconic yellows signaling a sticky-sour bite awaits.
Portability remains a dream too. Toss a few in your bag and unlock citrus refreshment wherever life’s adventures take you. Sometimes all it takes is one crackling round to boost focus or lift moods atop chilly peaks. True sour lovers rejoice – freeze-drying has given our mouthwatering yellow friends just the buzz needed to claim a coveted spot among my top picks. With bracing sourness this vivid and transportable form, Lemonheads’ legacy lives on strong and zesty!
9 – Sour Patch Kids
As a self-proclaimed sour candy enthusiast, there was no way my freeze-dried ranking was complete without including everyone’s favorite anthropomorphized snacks – Sour Patch Kids! These fruity gummies boast a dynamic interplay of sweet and sour as unique as their fun shapes.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well freeze-drying preserves both facets. Where regular Sour Patch Kids transition from sour to sweet gradually within gummi exteriors, dried versions erupt tartness upon first bite before finishing on sugary high notes. Each crisp bite bursts forth with distinct flavor profiles evoking favorite fruit flavors like green apple, lemon and tropical punch.
Additionally, portability exceeds any chewy candy thanks to hardened yet still pliable forms. Enjoy potent fruity flavor rides, hikes and more while fitting perfectly into pockets, packs or palms. Nothing beats discreetly popping a few when cravings call versus fishing messy gummies out of bags.
Between memorable fruit tastes popping in your mouth and preserving fun berry shapes, Sour Patch Kids bring out the best in freeze-drying technology. Their dynamic journey from tang to sweetness, packaged in a satisfyingly crispy delivery, makes these acid stars most deserving of recognition among top picks for any sour fiend like myself. Whether kicking back or exploring new destinations, Sour Patch Kids keep the fun fruity journey going strong!
10 – Pringles
While not your traditional “candy,” sometimes even a salty snack deserves to make the list. And for portable, craveable flavor, freeze-dried Pringles earn their spot among my top 10 dried treats!
Regular Pringles offer potatoey crunch encasing subtle seasoning notes. But oh, the wonders that occur when moisture is whisked away. Crunchy discs become feather-light yet remarkably maintain potato essence within each papery round. Bite down expecting chips yet greeted by surprising texture mimicking delicate wet wafers.
And just as the original’s seasoning lingers to enhance flavor, dried Pringles nurture heightened salt and spice throughout every porous morsel. From Sour Cream and Onion to Cheddar and Ranch, each variety pops boldly then finishes smooth. Their crispy delivery stuns between taste and feel.
No doubt Pringles’ new form prevents messy, broken chips while allowing enthusiastic munching anywhere dust-free. Give in to potato cravings on rugged mountains or couch cushions alike! Most magically, merely smelling the seasoning conjures every satisfying crunch and tingle.
Perhaps not your typical pick, yet Pringles’ personality shines through to sneak them a coveted spot. For blending delightful textures with nuanced flavor in transportable style, these crisps deserve applause. Whether sweet or savory, freeze-drying fans rejoice – this process constantly amazes by unlocking true taste!
FAQ’s
Here are some FAQs about freeze-dried candy:
How do they maintain their shape and color if all the moisture is removed?
Even after freeze-drying, most candies still contain some trace amounts of water and other components that help preserve their overall structure. The rapid freezing process helps prevent too much distortion, and some ingredients like fruit pulp, fats or certain coloring compounds stay intact despite drying.
Won’t they be stale since they’re dried out?
Surprisingly, no! Freeze-drying speeds up the removal of moisture so quickly that it preserves much of the candy’s original freshness and flavors. As long as they’re stored properly in an air-tight container, freeze-dried snacks will maintain their taste and appeal.
Do they rehydrate if left out?
For the most part, no. Freeze-dried candies are designed to stay dry and crispy. Some extremely porous types may very slightly soften in high-humidity environments over long periods, but they’ll rarely fully revert to their chewy original state unless deliberately rehydrated.
How are they better than regular candy for hiking/traveling?
Freeze-dried snacks don’t melt, smoosh or attract ants like regular candy can. Their lightweight crispy textures also make them less likely to create crumbs or messes. Plus they pack lots of quick energy into a compact, fuss-free form that’s super portable for adventures of all kinds.
Can you freeze-dry homemade treats?
Absolutely! Many people freeze-dry fruit spreads, fruit leather, homemade granola, cookies and more. Just be sure to follow guidelines for moisture content and thickness. Commercial freeze-dry machines can be pricey, but sometimes community kitchens offer training/access. It’s a fun way to preserve seasonal treats!
Are freeze-dried candies healthier?
Not necessarily. While moisture removal does reduce calories slightly, freeze-dried treats are still candy – meaning they contain concentrated sugars. The processing also doesn’t change any artificial ingredients. That said, the packets containing precise single-serve portions may help with overeating compared to regular sizes.
Do they have the same texture as original candy?
Rarely an exact match, but most capture core essence through texture variance. Think crispy marshmallows versus chewy, airy gummy worms instead of squishy. Change appeals to some who dislike certain original consistencies. Part of the adventure is experiencing inventions that breathe new life into classics.
What’s the best way to store them long-term?
Airtight containers like mason jars or heavy duty zip-top bags placed in a cool, dark cupboard are ideal. Small silicone packets that absorb moisture can further protect against possible softening. Just be sure candy is completely dry before sealing to avoid condensation issues. Proper storage keeps pieces fresh for many months.
Can you rehydrate them if I don’t like the dried texture?
This depends on the specific candy. Some reform better than others when lightly misted or left to absorb ambient moisture over time. Things like freeze-dried fruit leather rehydrate well while crisp snacks may only soften slightly. It’s best to purchase small quantities first until discovering personal preferences.
Do they have any nutritional value?
While not a health food by any means, certain freeze-dried fruits do retain some natural fiber, minerals and vitamins present before drying. Avoiding additives, some varieties provide supplemental benefits like energy, antioxidants and hydration when consumed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.
Conclusion
And there concludes my round-up of the best freeze-dried candies based on crunch, flavor and portability factors! I hope these descriptions have sparked your interest to try out some classic favorites through their reinvented formats.
Overall, freeze-drying emerges as a magical process able to intensify tastes while removing moisture or excess textures. Time after time, candy icons undergo transformations unlocking powerful essences trapped before. Whether nourishing nostalgia or discovering joy in reimagined experiences, these crispy snacks bring such unique grins.
While regular versions hold nostalgic charms, fussless convenience makes dried varieties ideal snacks for spontaneous adventures anywhere your spirit leads. Whether navigating traffic, hiking trails or relaxing at home, a ziplock bag stocked with your must-try picks fuels fun alongside energy. So dig out some classics, treat yourself and see if their dried versions kick up satisfaction to new highs like they did for me! From fruity bursts to subtle seasonings, may your snack journeys spark exploration and endless smiles.
