Last Updated: May 4, 2023 @ 1:52 pm.

Great for camping, backpacking or just an unusual gift, the best freeze-dried candy can give a new spin on an old treat. We tried out freeze-dried candy from 10 brands, looking for the best taste and flavor. Here are the one we think are best.

FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. We don't take money or freebies from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader-supported!


Finding the Best Freeze-Dried Candy: Tips & Tricks

Have you tried freeze-dried candy?

Perfect for that camping trip or other backwoods adventure, freeze-dried candy companies take candy favorites and put them through a freeze dryer. The result removes all the water from the candy—and transforms the candy both physically and flavor/texture-wise.

A few notes on this process:

• Even though freeze-dried candy uses brand-name candies, the freeze drying process is done by a third-party company that is not associated with the brand. 

• Flavors can become more intense. Freeze-drying will change the taste of candy. In our tests, we found the flavors to be more, well, flavorful . . . sometimes significantly more intense!

• Chew is often replaced by crunch. That is, candy that is chewy is now crunchy. 

We did a blind taste test with several top freeze-dried candy companies. Here are the ones we thought tasted the best!

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Best Crunch

Made in the USA
So tasty! We loved how crunchy these candies were on the outside, while powdery inside. Unique . . . and quite addictive!
$5.75 ($0.96 / Ounce)

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Best Ice Cream

So yummy
This one was a favorite among our kid testers, who loved this crunchy version of chocolate mint ice cream.

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Best Gift Idea

Resealable pouch a plus
Delicious freeze-dried fruit candies with great crunch and flavor. A winner with our testers.

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Best Unique Treat

Fruity and fun
And now for something different—yes, this is freeze-dried taffy in a variety of flavors. Our favorite was banana!
$24.89 ($3.11 / Ounce)

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About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York TimesWall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!

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