Take the guess work out of trick or treating with this Vegan Halloween Candy Guide. I've included options from vegan companies as well as great options that can be found in every day grocery stores.
Halloween is just around the corner so today I'm sharing a huge list of vegan candy from chocolates to gummies and hard candies. With more options available now than ever before from dedicated vegan companies and even supermarket finds that happen to be vegan it's easier than ever to make compassionate choices.
Maybe you prefer to DIY your candy treats? If so, be sure to check out my Healthier Vegan Milk Duds and Vegan Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups. Both recipes are absolutely delicious and satisfy chocolate cravings.
Jump to:
Is sugar vegan?
This question is asked often and there is some controversy around the answer so let's get into it.
Sugar, itself is vegan. However, some sugar undergoes a whitening process using bone char. Sugar labeled granulated has typically undergone this process. Beet sugar and organic sugar or unrefined sugar do not go through this process.
For many vegans, if the label does not expressly list an animal product that is enough. It is a personal decision that every one will have to make about what they are comfortable consuming. DO remember veganism is not about perfection or purity. The goal is reduce harm to animals as much as possible and practicable.
Our family purchases organic cane sugar that does not use bone char for home cooking and baking, but we do not stress about sugar contained in foods as long as there are no animal products listed in the ingredients.
Now on to the fun stuff...
Vegan Chocolate
- Break Free Candy
- Go Max Go
- No Whey! Foods
- Harken Sweets
- Hershey's Plant Based
- Justin's - Dark Chocolate Cups & Candy pieces
- Unreal Snacks
- Free 2 Be
Vegan Hard Candies, Lollipops & Gum
Vegan Gummies & Chewy Candies
- YumEarth - All products are vegan except assorted flavor gummy bears
- Annie's - several flavors of Fruit Snacks and Peel-a-Parts are vegan
- SmartSweets
- Surf Sweets
- Katjes
- Better Sour"
Accidentally Vegan Candies
This part of the list is mainstream candies that are not marketed vegan, but happen to be. This list is not all inclusive so if you know of a candy not included, let me know and I'll get it added!
- Skittles - Chewy Skittles only
- Dots
- Sour Patch Kids
- Swedish Fish
- Twizzlers
- Red Vines
- Smarties
- Laffy Taffy - mini size only
- Fun Dip
- Ring Pops
- Sweet Tarts
- Airheads
- Fruit by the Foot
- Fruit Roll Ups
- Jolly Ranchers - Hard candies only
- Dum Dums
- Blow Pops - Tootsie Rolls and Pops are not vegan
Ingredients to Avoid
Besides the obvious non vegan ingredients such as dairy and egg there are a few other ones to watch out for...
- Gelatin - Is collagen extracted from the bones, connective tissue and skin of animals such cows, pigs and fish.
- Carmine or cochineal - Is a food colorant made from the crushed shells of female cochineal insects.
- Confectioner's glaze or shellac - Made from resin secreted by the lac insect. It is used to give candies a shiny finish.
- Beeswax & honey - used for coating/finishing and flavoring.
I hope this list has been helpful! Happy Halloween!
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Did you make this recipe? Let me know!