Last Updated on October 12, 2021 by Anne-Marie

Here's how to make candied ginger at home to use in your holiday baking recipes.

Why this recipe works

So often I find that the candied ginger at the store is expensive and sometimes it’s even dried out and kind of yucky!

Well, this recipe for candied ginger is easy to make and cheaper than the store bought stuff.

Best of all, this is a recipe for sugar free candied ginger!

Not only will it make your holiday baked goods a little more guilt free, but sugar free candied ginger is a wonderful homemade gift for the holidays.

Why make candied ginger

I got the idea to make candied ginger from Lemon in Ginger, a blog I read frequently. Deepali made one of my favorite childhood treats, Candied Ginger.

My friend’s father used to buy candied ginger at a candy store on the Asbury Park boardwalk and claimed it was good for your tummy. I just thought it was delicious!

Later on I would occasionally buy a box of candied ginger at Cost Plus World Market even though I knew indulging in all that sugar was not such a great idea.

Seeing how easy Deepali’s candied ginger recipe was, I thought I’d give it a try but would health it up using Swerve Sweetener.

I love using Swerve in baking and holiday cooking since it’s a natural no calorie sweetener with no yucky aftertaste.

This time the candy would have all the goodness and health properties of ginger and no calories (or guilt) from Swerve – perfect!

How to make sugar free candied ginger

1. Cut ginger into strips.

2. Place ginger strips into a pan and over with cold water.

3. Bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer for two minutes. Strain and discard water.

4. Repeat the process 2 more times. Doing this removes the bitter taste of the ginger. It will also remove any grey color from the ginger and leave it a solid gold color.

5. Add 1 1/2 cups Swerve Sweetener and 1 1/2 cups water to the saucepan.

6. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 5 minutes.

7. Add ginger. Bring back to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until the strips of candied ginger seem to be translucent. Do not stir or the Swerve may crystalize. Adjust heat a little higher if needed, so simmering bubbles completely cover the ginger.

8. Remove pan from the stove. Carefully strain ginger syrup and store for future use in an airtight container or bottle.

9. Take 3/4 cup Swerve Sweetener and sprinkle on to a large dinner plate.

10. Roll the candied ginger strips into the Swerve then place on a wire rack to dry overnight. (If there is leftover Swerve from this process, save in an airtight container to sweeten tea, coffee, or cereal, or to use in a recipe.)

11. Store sugar-free candied ginger in an airtight container or sealed Ziploc baggie.

Other ways to use sugar free candied ginger

If sugar free candied ginger isn’t your thing as a candy, you can use it in baking or  to flavor a cup of hot tea or mulled wine.

Try candied ginger in a cocktail such as a mojito or mint julep! If you’re going to use it in drinks, you may want to cut the ginger into “swizzle sticks” like I did.

My candied ginger recipe also has the benefit of producing about a cup of ginger syrup that you can use as a coffee syrup, as a base for cocktails, or in Italian style sodas.

And since it’s made with Swerve, it’s practically calorie free!

More homemade gifts

Here are some fun homemade gifts you can make for the holidays:

• Kids love making and eating Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather Roll-Ups (Dehydrator Recipe) and Orange Fruit Leather Recipe
• Make big jars of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
• Chocolate lovers will enjoy Homemade Peanut Butter Cups, Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix or this Amazingly Easy Fudge Recipe
• Friends with dogs will love these Easy Homemade Dog Treats
• Make cocktails with this Lime & Ginger Infused Vodka Recipe (bottle in mason jars)
• This DIY Coffee Scrub Recipe makes a terrific teacher gift

Originally published on December 18, 2013. Updated with new pictures and information.