Are Werther’s Original Gluten Free? (Find Out Now!)

Written by Kari Rich in Candy & Snacks,Gluten Free

Are Werther’s Original Gluten Free

Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies are a classic confection developed in the early 1900’s in the German village of Werther. Currently the Werther’s brand is owned by a larger corporation in Germany called August Storck KG. These candies are shipped from Berlin, Germany to happy mouths all over the world.

No, Werther’s Original Caramel Candies are not gluten free. While traditional caramel candy is gluten free, Werther’s uses glucose syrup in their recipe, making them not gluten free. Some of the best gluten free alternatives to Werther’s Original Caramel Candies are See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipops, Bequet Confections Classic Caramels, Coconut Sugar Cocomels, and Lovely Sea Salt Caramels.

In this article, we will discuss the nutritional values of the Werther’s Original Hard Caramel candies & Soft Caramel Candies. We will breakdown some confusing ingredients such as Sorbitol, Caramel Coloring, and Glucose Syrup. And we will find better gluten free caramel alternatives. Let’s unwrap more about caramel flavored candies. Sounds delicious!

Werther’s Nutritional Information by Product

Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies

Here is a list of Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies ingredients:

  • Glucose Syrup (From Wheat or Corn)
  • Sugar
  • Cream
  • Whey
  • Butter
  • Sugar Cane Syrup
  • Salt
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors
  • Caramel Color
  • Coffee Extract
  •  Soy Lecithin Emulsifier

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 70
  • Fat 5g
  • Carbs 14g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars 11g

There are 70 calories 16g or 3 candy pieces of Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies. Per the August Storck KG company site Werther’s may contain the allergens of milk, soybeans, and wheat. The use of wheat syrups renders not gluten friendly. Werther’s does meet the less than 220ppm requirement but has chosen to not label this candy as gluten free.

Werther’s Original Soft Caramels

The ingredient list is a bit longer for the soft caramel variety of Werther’s compared to the hard candies.

Here is a list of Werther’s Original Soft Caramels ingredients:

  • Glucose Syrup (From Wheat or Corn)
  • Sugar
  • Condensed Skim Milk
  • Palm Oil
  • Sorbitol (From Wheat or Corn)
  • Cream
  • Whey
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Sugar Cane Syrup
  • Soy Lecithin Emulsifier
  • Artificial Flavor

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 140
  • Fat 5g
  • Carbs 23g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars 13g

There are 140 calories 32g or 5 candy pieces of Werther’s Original Soft Caramels. Per the August Storck KG company site Werther’s may contain the allergens of milk, soybeans, and wheat. The addition of sorbitol that is also made from glucose is another potential gluten area of concern.

Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels

Here is a list of Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels ingredients:

  • Glucose Syrup (From Wheat or Corn)
  • Sugar
  • Condensed Skim Milk
  • Palm Oil
  • Sorbitol Syrup(From Wheat or Corn)
  • Cream
  • Condensed Whey
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Sugar Cane Syrup
  • Soy Lecithin Emulsifier
  • Artificial Flavor

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 170
  • Fat 5g
  • Carbs 28g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sugars 16g

There are 170 calories 38g or 6 pieces of Werther’s Original Chewy Caramels.

Werther’s Original Sugar Free Hard Caramels

Here is a list of Werther’s Original Sugar Free Hard Caramels ingredients:

  • Sweetener Isomalt
  • Artificial Flavors
  • Cream
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Soy Lecithin Emulsifier
  • Sweetener Acesulfame K

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 50
  • Fat 1g
  • Carbs 14g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars 0g

There are 50 calories 16g or 5 candy pieces of Werther’s Original Sugar Free Hard Caramels. These no sugar candies use inverted sugar (isomalt) and sugar alcohol to sweeten the caramel.

Let’s find some verified gluten free alternatives that may even be “healthier” if we can say that about candy.

Verified Gluten Free Candy

  • See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipops
  • Bequet Confections Classic Caramels
  • Coconut Sugar Cocomels, the original coconut milk caramels
  • Lovely Sea Salt Caramels
  • Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels

Want to find out how each of these gluten free candy options stack up to one another? Read on!

See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipops

A staple on the West Coast of the United States. See’s has been a favorite candy maker for over 100 years. They use straight forward ingredients with no added frills. These butterscotch lollipops are intensely flavored and come on a paper stick.

Here is a list of ingredients for See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipops:

  • Heavy cream
  • Butter
  • Light corn syrup
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Canola oil spray

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 80
  • Fat 3g
  • Carbs 15g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars 9g

There are 80 calories in 1 See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipop.

Bequet Confections Classic Caramels

If you like an old-fashioned homemade style caramel then Bequet could be your top gluten free caramel candy choice.

Here is the ingredient list for Bequet Confections Classic Caramels:

  • Non-GMO brown sugar
  • Non-GMO tapioca syrup
  • rbST-Free+ heavy cream
  • rbST-Free+ butter
  • Fructose, milk
  • Sugar
  • Natural flavor
  • Salt

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 230
  • Fat 11g
  • Carbs 33g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sugars 24

There are 230 calories in 4 pieces or 45g of Bequet Confections Classic Caramels. Bequet candies are made at a facility that is completely gluten and nut free. They also believe in making their recipes using consciously attained ingredients.

Coconut Sugar Cocomels

Cocomel’s uses coconut sugar in place of cane or beet sugar. Their caramels have a smooth creamy taste likened to crème brulee.

The ingredients for the original coconut milk caramels or Coconut Sugar Cocomels are:

  • Organic coconut milk
  • Organic tapioca syrup
  • Organic coconut sugar
  • Sea salt
  • Organic vanilla bean
  • Organic ethyl alcohol
  • Xanthan gum

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 130
  • Fat 4g
  • Carbs 20g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars  13g

There are 130 calories 40g or 6 pieces of Coconut Sugar Cocomels. These organic caramel candies have a great list of ingredients and .5g less fat than the Werther’s brand. Any sugar content added is coming from natural sources such as the tapioca syrup and the coconut sugar.

Lovely Sea Salt Caramels

Lovely Sea Salt Caramels are strictly non-GMO and gluten free.

The ingredients for Lovely Sea Salt Caramels are:

  • Brown Rice Syrup
  • Sweetened Condensed Whole Milk (rbST-free)
  • Cane Syrup
  • Butter
  • Molasses
  • Sea salt
  • Vanilla Flavor
  • Sunflower Lecithin

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 110
  • Fat 4g
  • Carbs 20g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sugars  12g

There are 110 calories in 27g or 3 pieces of Lovely Sea Salt Caramels. Lovely Brand Candies strive to source their ingredients sustainably, making them an earth-friendly choice.

Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels

Tom & Jenny’s candies are dairy free, sugar free, and gluten free.

The ingredients for Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels are:

  • Maltitol Syrup
  • Heavy Cream
  • Xylitol
  • Vanilla Bean Extractives
  • Alcohol
  • Palm Oil
  • Sea salt

Nutrition summary:

  • Calories 100
  • Fat 5g
  • Carbs 24g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sugars  0g

There are 100 calories in 32g or 5 pieces of Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels. Since these caramel bonbons are sugar-free this makes them keto-friendly. The Xylitol used in Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels is made from sugar alcohol which leaves a very sweet aftertaste on your tongue. Sugar alcohol can be difficult to digest in large quantities. And the carbs are still one of the highest on our list.

Werther’s Original Caramel Candy Ingredient Breakdown

What is glucose syrup?

Glucose Syrup is a sticky-sweet substance used in many food products, particularly candies. Glucose syrup is made by adding hydrogen to starch molecules to break them apart. The most commonly used starches used to make glucose syrup are wheat, corn, and potatoes. The natural sugars in these starches make glucose syrup sweet.

In regards to glucose syrup and medical gluten intolerance or celiac disease, experts advise that glucose syrup is okay for most people to consume in small amounts. As this can be a gray area for some, depending on the severity of your diet. It is understandable why the Werther’s brand would be shy about proclaiming gluten certification on their labels.

What is caramel color?

Caramel color pops up on ingredient lists a lot. It is used in everything from sodas, to baked goods, to candies, such as Werther’s Caramels. Essentially caramel color is a food coloring. It is made from caramelizing sugars. The sugars used can range from sucrose, dextrose, inverted sugar, lactose, malt sugar, or corn syrup. When heated sugars turn a dark and rich brown color. This coloring is then used to enhance the look of your recipe and final product.

What is sorbitol?

Sorbitol is derived from glucose syrup. (See the description above for glucose syrup.) Often used in sugar free products and toothpaste to add a sweetness. Eating a lot of foods with sorbitol in them can lead to tummy troubles like bloating and diarrhea. Sorbitol is considered a sugar alcohol which is used as a sugar substitute to keep caloric and glycemic levels down.

Let’s wrap this sweet list up

Werther’s may not be certified gluten free. However, if your sensitivity is not very high then the treat may be worth it. The best options for gluten free caramel candies we found are: See’s Candy Butterscotch Lollipops, Bequet Confections Classic Caramels, Coconut Sugar Cocomels, Lovely Sea Salt Caramels, and Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels.

With so many great choices of gluten free options you can narrow it down to what type of texture and ingredients you prefer. For a sugar free option that is also gluten free try Tom & Jenny’s Classic Soft Caramels. For a vegan and gluten free candy try Cocomels Coconut Sugar Caramels. And if you still want that intense buttery toffee flavor with a hard exterior, we suggest See’s Butterscotch Lollipops. Whatever caramel candy you choose we hope you have sweet day.

Related Questions

Are Werther’s Caramels Vegan?

No, Werther’s Classic Caramels are not vegan.  Werther’s Classic Caramels contain dairy in the form of milk, cream, and butter.

Are there Vegan Caramels?

Yes! Coconut Sugar Cocomels use coconut milk as well as coconut sugar to make their caramel candies. Cocomels candy products can be purchased here.

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Kari Rich

Chef Kari Rich is an award-winning fine dining chef with over twenty years of experience across the culinary field. Chef Kari enjoys studying and preparing foods for all types of diets and needs. Besides running professional kitchens, she has worked as a restaurant consultant doing business development and innovation, flow of food and menu development, food safety and cooking class instructor, ghost and copywriter for cookbooks and blogs, and research and development for health food companies and magazines. Chef Kari has appeared on a number of Food Network, Travel Channel, and Cooking Channel programs, she prefers the more personal connection that comes from preparing creative and well executed dishes. Chef Kari maintains a focus on the importance of local farms, food waste education, and good nutrition practices.

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