Handling Licorice, Frosting, and Other Blockers

Licorice: Space Control and Movement

Licorice swirls occupy a tile and prevent a candy from being present. They can appear from dispensers and often move downward with gravity. Because they are removed by adjacent matches, the best approach is to create matches next to them rather than on top of them. If a board has multiple licorice sources, consider targeting the dispensers first so new licorice does not replace what you just cleared.

In levels with limited moves, avoid chasing every licorice piece. Instead, prioritize the ones blocking objectives, such as a licorice tile covering a jelly or sealing a path to an ingredient exit.

Frosting: Multiple Layers to Break

Frosting is a layered blocker that needs multiple hits. Each match adjacent to frosting removes one layer until the tile becomes available. Because it requires repeated hits, frosting is most efficiently cleared by area effects like wrapped candies or striped candy blasts. Single, basic matches can work, but they often consume too many moves.

If frosting blocks a critical area, focus on opening a single path rather than clearing all frosting at once. Once a path is open, normal matches can help clear the rest through cascades.

Chocolate: Containment First

Chocolate spreads when it is not cleared and can quickly take over open spaces. The key is to remove chocolate as soon as it appears, especially if it threatens to block a narrow area. Clearing a single chocolate tile stops its spread for that turn, buying time to make more targeted moves.

When possible, combine clearing chocolate with advancing the objective. For example, a wrapped candy explosion can both remove chocolate and clear jelly underneath. Avoid spending multiple turns on chocolate if the objective is elsewhere and the chocolate is contained.

Licorice Locks and Marmalade

Licorice locks and marmalade prevent candies or special candies from moving or activating. These blockers require matches on the locked tile to release the candy. If a locked special candy is present, prioritize freeing it because it can provide a stronger clearing effect once activated.

Avoid creating special candies in locked areas unless you can open them quickly. It is usually more efficient to create special candies in open spaces where you control their activation.

Jelly Under Blockers

In many levels, jellies are hidden beneath frosting or other blockers. The level objective still requires those jellies to be cleared, which means you must remove the blocker and then clear the jelly itself. Plan for double work: first open the space, then return to finish the jelly layer.

This is a common reason players fall short on the last few moves. If you can identify where hidden jellies are located early, you can focus clearing efforts there rather than spending moves on already cleared areas.

Use Cascades to Your Advantage

Clearing a blocker often opens space that can trigger a cascade. Cascades are a useful way to remove additional blockers without spending moves. To encourage this, look for matches that open columns or rows with multiple candies above. The resulting falls can create new matches automatically.

This approach is especially helpful for frosting and licorice, which require repeated hits. A single move that triggers a cascade can remove multiple layers in one turn.

Summary: Target the Blockers That Matter

Not every blocker needs to be removed. Focus on the blockers that directly interfere with the objective, open paths that unlock more of the board, and use area effects to clear multiple layers efficiently. With a targeted plan, blockers become manageable rather than overwhelming.