Sugar free confectionery; methods of making same; and use in preparing multilayered confectionery

1. A confectionery composition, comprising:

a mixture comprising a.), b.), c.), or d.)

a.) a cooked base portion comprising about 8 to about 15% w/w (dry) mannitol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water; and

a fondant portion comprising about 47 to about 65 w/w % (dry) mannitol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, about 15 to about 28 w/w % (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the fondant portion, water, and about 15 to about 28 w/w % (dry) sorbitol syrup based on the total weight of the fondant portion;

wherein the fondant is present in an amount of about 10.0 to about 15.0% w/w of the confectionery composition;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 8.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy;

b.) a cooked base portion comprising about 18 to about 48% w/w (dry) isomalt GS based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water; and

a fondant portion comprising about 57 to about 77 w/w % (dry) isomalt GS based on the total weight of the fondant portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.3 to about 8.8%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy;

c.) a cooked base portion comprising about 3 to about 48% w/w (dry) erythritol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water; and

a fondant portion comprising about 57 to about 77 w/w % (dry) erythritol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 9.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy; or

d.) a cooked base portion comprising about 1 to about 15% w/w (dry) xylitol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water; and

a fondant portion comprising about 90 to about 100 w/w % (dry) xylitol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, optionally a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 9.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy.

2. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein

for a.) the cooked base portion comprising mannitol, the cooked base portion comprises about 85 to about 92% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the base portion; and

the fondant portion comprises about 15 to about 28% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and 15 to about 28% w/w (dry) sorbitol syrup, both amounts based on the total weight of the fondant portion;

for b.) the cooked base portion comprising isomalt GS, the cooked base portion comprises about 52 to about 82% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the base portion; and

the fondant portion comprises about 11 to about 23% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and 11 to about 23% w/w (dry) sorbitol syrup, both amounts based on the total weight of the fondant portion;

for c.) the cooked base portion comprising erythritol, the cooked base portion comprises about 52 to about 97% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the base portion; and

the fondant portion comprises about 11 to about 23% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and 11 to about 23% w/w (dry) sorbitol syrup, both amounts based on the total weight of the fondant portion; or

for d.) the cooked base portion comprising xylitol, the cooked base portion comprises about 85 to about 99% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the base portion; and

the fondant portion comprises about 0.1 to about 10% w/w (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the fondant portion.

3. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup of the cooked base portion, the fondant portion, or both comprises maltitol and sorbitol in a ratio of about 1:0.8 to about 1:1.2 maltitol to sorbitol.

4. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup of the cooked base portion, the fondant portion, or both contains about 75 to about 85% solids, about 4% w/w sorbitol, about 53% w/w maltitol, about 22% w/w polyols having a degree of polymerization of 3-5, and about 21% w/w polyols having degree of polymerization of 6 and greater.

5. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein the total amount of a cooked base portion present in the confectionery composition is about 68 to about 78% w/w of the confectionery composition.

6. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , further comprising a texturizing agent, a fat, an emulsifier, an additional sweetener, a sensate, a flavor, a color, a functional ingredient, a gas, an abrasive, particles of a second confectionery, a food acid or salt thereof, or a combination thereof.

7. The confectionery composition of claim 6 ,

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a flavor in an amount of about 0.3 to about 3.0% w/w of the confectionery composition.

8. The confectionery composition of claim 6 , wherein the confectionery composition comprises a food acid or salt thereof in an amount of about 0.5 to about 4.0% w/w of the confectionery composition.

9. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein

for a.) the amount of mannitol from the base portion is about 8 to about 10% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion, and the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the base portion is about 80 to about 92% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion;

wherein amount of mannitol from the fondant portion is about 50 to about 62% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the fondant portion is about 17 to about 25% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and the amount of sorbitol syrup from the fondant portion is about 17 to about 25% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and

wherein the confectionery composition further comprises

a texturizing agent in an amount of about 1.0 to about 2.0% w/w of the composition;

a fat having a melting point of about 35 to about 40° C. in an amount of about 3.0 to about 4.0% w/w of the composition;

lecithin in an amount of about 0.01 to about 0.1% w/w of the composition;

glyceryl monostearate in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.4% w/w of the composition; and

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 5.5 to about 7.0%;

for b.) the amount of isomalt GS from the base portion is about 22 to about 45% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion, and the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the base portion is about 55 to about 78% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion;

wherein amount of isomalt GS from the fondant portion is about 61 to about 73% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the fondant portion is about 13 to about 21% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and the amount of sorbitol syrup from the fondant portion is about 13 to about 21% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and

wherein the confectionery composition further comprises

a texturizing agent in an amount of about 1.0 to about 2.0% w/w of the composition;

a fat having a melting point of about 35 to about 40° C. in an amount of about 3.0 to about 4.0% w/w of the composition;

lecithin in an amount of about 0.01 to about 0.1% w/w of the composition;

glyceryl monostearate in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.4% w/w of the composition; and

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 5.5 to about 7.0%;

for c.) the amount of erythritol from the base portion is about 10 to about 38% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion, and the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the base portion is about 62 to about 90% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion;

wherein amount of erythritol from the fondant portion is about 61 to about 73% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the fondant portion is about 13 to about 21% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and the amount of sorbitol syrup from the fondant portion is about 13 to about 21% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and

wherein the confectionery composition further comprises

a texturizing agent in an amount of about 1.0 to about 2.0% w/w of the composition;

a fat having a melting point of about 35 to about 40° C. in an amount of about 3.0 to about 4.0% w/w of the composition;

lecithin in an amount of about 0.01 to about 0.1% w/w of the composition;

glyceryl monostearate in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.4% w/w of the composition; and

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 5.5 to about 7.0%; or

for d.) the amount of xylitol from the base portion is about 3 to about 12% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion, and the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the base portion is about 88 to about 97% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the base portion;

wherein amount of xylitol from the fondant portion is about 92 to about 99% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; the amount of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup from the fondant portion is about 1 to about 8% w/w (dry) based on the total weight of the fondant portion; and

wherein the confectionery composition further comprises

a texturizing agent in an amount of about 1.0 to about 2.0% w/w of the composition;

a fat having a melting point of about 35 to about 40° C. in an amount of about 3.0 to about 4.0% w/w of the composition;

lecithin in an amount of about 0.01 to about 0.1% w/w of the composition;

glyceryl monostearate in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.4% w/w of the composition; and

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 5.5 to about 7.0%.

10. The confectionery composition of claim 1 , wherein the confectionery composition exhibits a water activity of about 0.38 to about 0.50.

11. A method of preparing a confectionery composition, comprising a.), b.), c.), or d.):

a.) cooking a base portion comprising about 8 to about 15% w/w (dry) mannitol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water to a temperature of about 125 to about 150° C. to form a cooked base portion;

cooling the cooked base portion to form a cooled base portion; and

mixing the cooled base portion and a fondant portion to form a final mixture, wherein the fondant portion comprises about 47 to about 65 w/w % (dry) mannitol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, about 15 to about 28 w/w % (dry) hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup based on the total weight of the fondant portion, water, and about 15 to about 28 w/w % (dry) sorbitol syrup based on the total weight of the fondant portion, wherein the fondant is present in an amount of about 10.0 to about 15.0% w/w of the confectionery composition;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 8.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy;

b.) cooking a base portion comprising about 18 to about 48% w/w (dry) isomalt GS based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water to a temperature of about 125 to about 150° C. to form a cooked base portion;

cooling the cooked base portion to form a cooled base portion; and

mixing the cooled base portion and a fondant portion to form a final mixture, wherein the fondant portion comprises about 57 to about 77 w/w % (dry) isomalt GS based on the total weight of the fondant portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.3 to about 8.8%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy;

c.) cooking a base portion comprising about 3 to about 48% w/w (dry) erythritol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water to a temperature of about 125 to about 150° C. to form a cooked base portion;

cooling the cooked base portion to form a cooled base portion; and

mixing the cooled base portion and a fondant portion to form a final mixture, wherein the fondant portion comprises about 57 to about 77 w/w % (dry) erythritol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 9.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy; or

d.) cooking a base portion comprising about 1 to about 15% w/w (dry) xylitol based on the total weight of the base portion, a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, and water to a temperature of about 125 to about 150° C. to form a cooked base portion;

cooling the cooked base portion to form a cooled base portion; and

mixing the cooled base portion and a fondant portion to form a final mixture, wherein the fondant portion comprises about 90 to about 100 w/w % (dry) xylitol based on the total weight of the fondant portion, optionally a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup, water, and optionally further comprising a sorbitol syrup;

wherein the confectionery composition comprises a moisture content of about 4.5 to about 9.0%; and

wherein the confectionery composition is a chewy, pulled candy.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising

adding to the cooked base portion a texturizing agent, a fat, and a food acid or salt thereof, a flavor, or a combination thereof prior to mixing the cooled base portion and a fondant portion; and

pulling the final mixture to form a confectionery composition.

13. A multilayered confectionery, comprising:

a candy layer comprising the confectionery composition of claim 1 ; and

a first chewing gum layer comprising an elastomer and a second chewing gum layer comprising an elastomer;

wherein a first surface of the candy layer is in contiguous contact with a surface of the first chewing gum layer and a second surface of the candy layer is in contiguous contact with a surface of the second chewing gum layer to form a sandwich-like product with the candy layer in the middle and visible on four sides of the multilayered confectionery.

14. The multilayered confectionery of claim 13 , wherein the water activity of the candy layer is within about 10% of the water activity of the first and second chewing gum layer.

15. The multilayered confectionery of claim 13 , wherein the multilayered confectionery comprises about 20 to about 40% w/w of the candy layer and about 60 to about 80% w/w of the combined weight of the first and second chewing gum layer based on the combined weight of candy layer and first and second chewing gum layer.

16. The multilayered confectionery of claim 13 , wherein the first or second chewing gum layer comprises about 0.1 to about 0.5% w/w cooling agent by weight of the first or second chewing gum layer; and

the candy layer comprises about 1.0 to about 3.75% w/w food acid by weight of the candy layer.

17. The multilayered confectionery of claim 13 , wherein the first or second chewing gum layer comprises about 1.5 to about 2.2% w/w flavor by weight of the first or second chewing gum layer; and

the candy layer comprises about 1.5 to about 3.0% w/w flavor by weight of the candy layer.

18. A method of making a multilayered confectionery, comprising:

preparing a candy layer comprising the confectionery composition of claim 1 ;

preparing a first chewing gum layer comprising an elastomer and a second chewing gum layer comprising an elastomer;

forming a multilayered confectionery wherein a first surface of the candy layer is in contiguous contact with a surface of the first chewing gum layer and a second surface of the candy layer is in contiguous contact with a surface of the second chewing gum layer to form a sandwich-like product with the candy layer in the middle and visible on four sides of the multilayered confectionery.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the temperature of the candy layer and chewing gum layers are at least 40° C. when formed into the multilayered confectionery.

20. The multilayered confectionery of claim 13 , wherein the texture of the candy layer is substantially the same as the texture of the first and second chewing gum layers.