This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
When you're gluten free, there's that moment when you realize that … you can't have traditional licorice. But then there's that moment when you find out that you can make your own gluten free red cherry licorice at home—and it's easy!
Table of Contents
Is licorice gluten free?
No! Licorice contains wheat flour in its most common form. There are some packaged brands that sell gluten free licorice today, though. But really good gluten-free licorice is not an easy thing to come by—and it's expensive, too!
If you freak out at the thought of cooking sugar, stop that right this minute! You do need a candy thermometer, but those are super cheap and really very useful.
Without a thermometer, you will either cook the mixture too long (and burn the butter or end up with hard candy), or too little, and the candy won't harden. Look at what you have waiting for you. Gorgeous, glorious gluten free red cherry licorice. Better than any licorice you have ever had, even before going gluten free.
Red cherry licorice was always my favorite. Licorice is that strange candy that generally has wheat flour in it. It helps to stabilize the candy, and make it less like soft caramel without making it into hard candy.
So here, we use one of our gluten free flour blends, but this is a rare instance where, as long as your rice flour is superfine and not at all grainy, any brand of gluten free flour will do.
I love you so much that I'm even willing to show you these less-than-gorgeous photographs of the sugar mixture, as it cooks. Told you I'd be with you always and forever.
Oh, and I tried cutting the candy into strips with every manner of knife – from sharp to dull, clean to serrated. Then I tried kitchen shears. Bingo!
If you're really into black licorice, you need black food coloring + anise flavoring oil. No biggie. LorAnn flavoring oils are all gluten-free, and they're very true-to-taste.
Gluten Free Red Cherry Licorice
Equipment
- Candy thermometer
Ingredients
- ½ cup (70 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend, (any of my recommended blends will do)
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum, (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cherry flavoring oil , (LorAnn brand is gluten-free)
- Red gel food coloring, as desired (about 1/4 teaspoon)
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons (168 g) light corn syrup
- ½ cup (156 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 4 tablespoons (84 g) Lyle’s golden syrup, (can substitute an equal amount honey; See Recipe Notes)
Instructions
- Grease well a 9-inch square baking dish with butter or vegetable shortening, and set it aside.
- In a small bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum and salt, and whisk to combine well. Set it on the counter next to the stovetop.
- Set the flavoring oil and a measuring spoon, plus the food coloring, to the side, within arm’s reach.
- In a large, heavy-bottom saucepan, place the butter, sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and Lyle’s Golden Syrup (or honey).
- Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture reaches a boil, stirring constantly.
- Lower the heat to medium so the mixture maintains a slow boil, and continue to cook until the temperature reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer.
- Be careful to reach 240°F, the softball stage of cooking sugar, precisely. Any higher and the butter will burn. Any lower and the licorice won’t hard enough as it cools.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and add the flour mixture. Working quickly, mix everything well.
- Add the flavoring oil and food coloring (I generally use a toothpick to add gel food coloring), and mix well once again.
- Pour the candy into the prepared baking dish, and shake it back and forth so that it is in an even layer.
- Place the baking dish in the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator, and, with a thin spatula or other thin kitchen implement, remove the candy in one piece from the baking dish onto a flat surface.
- With kitchen shears, cut the square of candy in half, and then cut each half into 1/4-inch wide strips.
- Twist the strips at both ends to create the traditional licorice spiral.
- Allow to sit at room temperature until slightly hardened, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
this looks incredible! I used to LOVE cherry-flavored licorice Nibs. I can’t wait to try this recipe out. Must buy candy thermometer. :)
Black licorice is my absolute favorite…black jelly beans, please…but, no more. You have given me renewed hope!
Also, did you try the pizza cutter? That might work well if kitchen shears are not an option. I will try that route! I simply can’t not try this!!!
Yay yay yay!! I just last week drove past someone with a giant tub of twizzlers he was munching on and got that sad I can’t have that anymore feeling. Thanks for proving me wrong once again!! :-)
I know that feeling! In fact, I’m always trying to guess at what might cause that feeling, and then confront it. With a recipe. :)
xoxo Nicole
Can’t tell you how excited I was to see this recipe!! Twizzlers were my FAVORITE… prior to going Gluten Free!! Thanks so much!!
My kiddo would be so excited if I made this. I’d have to de-dairy it, but that’s easily accomplished. Thanks for the great recipe!
Love your can-do dairy-free attitude, Deanna!
xoxo Nicole
How do you plan to replace the milk? I need to for my son as well. Please advise :)
Would you reply back once you’ve tried the recipe dairy free and let us know how it worked and what substitutions you made? Thanks!
Me too – I’m going to try condensed coconut milk
Oh, and Earths Best :P
I’m SOOO not a candy maker but I think I WILL try these! Thanks “compromising” (NOT) your integrity by showing your “less-than-gorgeous” pics, lol.
:) You don’t need to be a candy-maker, Scotty. This is easy. Just think of it like you’re cooking just like normal. :)
xoxo Nicole
I am SOOOO excited! Twizzlers was one of my favorite candies until I was diagnosed celiac. Totally making this ASAP!
Hooray, Michelle!!
xoxo Nicole
Sounds wonderful but… is there an alternative to the corn syrup and the evaporated milk? I can’t have wheat but Durham wheat is okay, I can’t have corn, I can’t have cow milk, I can’t have egg, I can’t have cashews. Thanks
I haven’t tested this recipe with any substitutions, Melissa. I have made dairy-free sweetened condensed milk (just search the blog for my recipe for dairy free egg nog), but the corn syrup I honestly don’t know. Feel free to experiment!
Nicole
do you think brown rice syrup might substitute for the corn syrup?
I’m afraid, no, Stacey. Brown rice syrup is much, much thinner/less viscous than corn syrup, and not nearly as sweet.
Nicole
I also miss licorice terribly – both the red and black. I need a corn substitute, too, so I may give it a try with either honey or agave. I wonder if there’s a sub for the xanthan gum, or if it could be left out?
I would try using guar gum instead of xanthan gum if you are sensitive to xanthan gum, Barbcam. But I wouldn’t leave it out entirely.
I have used agave in place of corn syrup with good results. :)
I have used agave in place of corn syrup with good results. :)
Just this weekend I was saying how I missed red licorice! I never thought to make my own, but I will now! :) Thanks!
These days, Jeanine, it seems like you can make almost anything at home!
xoxo Nicole
Suggestions on making it dairy free?
I haven’t tested this with any substitutions, Kim, but I have made dairy-free sweetened condensed milk in my recipe for Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Fudge, and for the butter, maybe vegetable shortening. You’ll have to experiment!
Nicole