What are flavored Tootsie Rolls made of?

October 14, 2025 •

2 min read

According to Tootsie Roll Industries, over 65 million Tootsie Rolls are produced daily. But beyond the classic cocoa, many wonder: what are flavored Tootsie Rolls made of? These popular fruit chews are primarily composed of a sweet base of sugar, corn syrup, and palm oil, differentiated by the addition of specific artificial and natural flavors and vibrant artificial colors.

Quick Summary

Flavored Tootsie Rolls, like Frooties and fruit chews, contain a chewy base of sugar, corn syrup, palm oil, condensed milk, and whey. Their distinct tastes and colors are added using specific natural and artificial flavors, malic acid for tartness, and food dyes.

Key Points

Core Ingredients: The base of flavored Tootsie Rolls includes sugar, corn syrup, palm oil, condensed skim milk, and whey, which creates their signature chewy texture.
Flavoring Agents: Artificial and natural flavors are used to produce specific fruit tastes like cherry, lemon, lime, and orange.
Sour Element: Malic acid is added to fruit-flavored chews to provide a distinct tartness that mimics the flavor of real fruit.
Visual Appeal: Artificial colors, such as FD&C Yellow 5 and Red 40, are used to make each flavor visually distinctive and appealing.
Ingredient Variations: Different Tootsie Roll products, like Frooties versus regular Fruit Chews, may use slightly different fat sources (e.g., palm oil vs. partially hydrogenated soybean oil) and contain unique flavor combinations.
Secret Recipe: The specific formula and proportions of flavorings used are considered a trade secret by Tootsie Roll Industries.

The Core Ingredients in Flavored Tootsie Rolls

Like their chocolate counterpart, flavored Tootsie Rolls begin with a standard recipe for a sweet, chewy confection. The base provides the iconic texture and sweetness before specific flavors are introduced:

Sugar: The primary ingredient, providing sweetness and contributing to the candy's chewy texture.
Corn Syrup: Helps maintain a smooth consistency and prevents sugar crystallization.
Palm Oil: Used as a fat source in many modern formulations.
Condensed Skim Milk and Whey: Milk-derived ingredients adding to the creamy texture and flavor profile.

The Flavoring and Coloring Process

Specific ingredients are added to give each flavored Tootsie Roll its distinct characteristics.

Natural and Artificial Flavors: These create the taste of cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and other fruit varieties. The specific blends are a trade secret.
Malic Acid: Provides a tart, sour edge to many fruit-flavored varieties.
Artificial Colors: Added to match the flavor with a visual cue, such as FD&C Red 40 for cherry or Yellow 5 for lemon.

A Breakdown of Flavored Tootsie Roll Types

Tootsie Roll Industries offers several lines of flavored chews with slightly different ingredients.

Frooties

Frooties are bite-sized, fruit-flavored chews like Grape, Green Apple, Watermelon, and Blue Raspberry. They use the standard candy base plus fruit-specific flavors and colors.

Tootsie Fruit Chews

These are typically larger, individually wrapped chews. Common flavors include cherry, lemon, lime, orange, and vanilla. They also contain malic acid for tartness in fruit varieties.

Vanilla Tootsie Rolls

The vanilla variety uses artificial flavor and lacks the artificial colors and malic acid found in fruit chews.

Classic Chocolate Tootsie Rolls (with a twist)

Even the classic chocolate Tootsie Roll has a complex flavor, containing cocoa powder and a secret blend of artificial and natural flavors that create a subtle fruit-like undertone.

Comparison Table: Flavored Tootsie Rolls Ingredients


Ingredient	Frooties	Tootsie Fruit Chews	Vanilla Tootsie Roll
Sugar/Corn Syrup	Yes	Yes	Yes
Palm/Soybean Oil	Yes (often partially hydrogenated soybean oil)	Yes (often palm oil)	Yes (often partially hydrogenated soybean oil)
Condensed Skim Milk/Whey	Yes	Yes	Yes
Malic Acid	Yes	Yes	No
Artificial & Natural Flavors	Yes (fruit-specific)	Yes (fruit-specific)	Yes (vanilla-specific)
Artificial Colors	Yes	Yes	No
Allergens	Milk, Soy	Milk, Soy	Milk, Soy

Conclusion: The Chemistry of a Chew

So, what are flavored Tootsie Rolls made of? They consist of a base of sugar, corn syrup, and milk derivatives, enhanced by artificial and natural flavors, malic acid, and artificial colors. This precise blend creates their vibrant tastes and textures. To learn more about the manufacturer's products, you can visit the official Tootsie.com website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, while they share a base of sugar, corn syrup, and milk derivatives, the classic chocolate Tootsie Rolls contain cocoa, whereas the flavored varieties use malic acid, artificial flavors, and different food dyes to achieve their distinct tastes.

No, flavored Tootsie Rolls and Frooties use artificial and natural flavorings, along with malic acid for tartness, to create their fruity taste. They do not typically contain fruit juice concentrate.

Malic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in many fruits. In flavored Tootsie Rolls, it's used as a food additive to provide a tangy, sour taste that enhances the fruit flavor profile.

Yes, according to Tootsie Roll Industries, their flavored fruit chews are gluten-free and produced in a peanut-free facility. However, those with severe allergies should always check the most recent packaging.

No, the vanilla-flavored Tootsie Rolls typically do not contain the artificial colors used for the brightly colored fruit chews. Their ingredients list includes sugar, corn syrup, milk derivatives, oil, and artificial vanilla flavor.

They are both flavored chewy candies from Tootsie Roll Industries, but they can have different recipes, flavors, and sizes. Frooties often come in a wider range of flavors and may use partially hydrogenated soybean oil, while standard Fruit Chews may use palm oil.

The specific flavoring blend for the original Tootsie Roll is a trade secret. The inclusion of a mix of artificial and natural flavors, alongside cocoa, gives it a unique and complex taste that many describe as having subtle fruit notes.