I remember my first Halloween after going vegetarian. I was excited to grab some candy for trick-or-treaters, but things got complicated fast. I headed to the store, selected a few bags of my old favorites, and was halfway to checkout when I figured I’d glance at the ingredients list.
Spoiler alert and total facepalm moment.
Almost every single bag had something sneaky like gelatin (which is basically boiled animal skin and bones—yuck!) or sugar that may have been processed with bone char.
Suddenly, my candy aisle adventure felt more like a science project. I wasn’t expecting so many animal products hiding in my Halloween candy haul.
If you’ve been there, you know it’s not always easy to find vegan candy, especially when favorites like gummy bears and even some dark chocolate products can contain questionable ingredients. It felt like no matter where I turned, something was off-limits.
That’s when I realized just how important it is to check the candy label before tossing anything in your basket. Things like gelatin, dairy milk, and white sugar (typically refined using bone char) can turn an innocent-looking candy into something far from vegan-friendly.
But the good news is, you don’t have to miss out on all the Halloween fun! These days, there are many vegan alternatives out there, and even some mainstream candies are accidentally vegan. In this post, we’ll break down the best options, how to spot them, and where to find them.
You can listen to us discuss vegan candy here or scroll down to read more. Note: We update this post periodically to ensure we’re sharing the most current information, so the content may vary slightly from the podcast episode.
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General Vegan Halloween Candy Guide
Fortunately, the vast majority of candy varieties are vegan, even if only by accident. Before we get into the vegan Halloween candy list, let’s discuss what to look for on an ingredients label. This way, if we don’t mention your favorite candy you can still check the label to know if it’s vegan-friendly.
The main animal-derived products to look out for on candy ingredients lists include:
- gelatin often found in gummy candies (such as gummy bears) or marshmallows and contains ligaments, animal bones, animal tendons, cartilage, and/or animal skin.
- carmine color made from crushed cochineal insects and often found in red candies.
- confectioner’s glaze made from “beetle juice” (bug excretions) and used to give candy a shiny coating.
- chocolate while dark chocolate is usually vegan, milk and white chocolate contain dairy and whey, neither of which is vegan. Candies such as Tootsie Pops, traditional chocolate peanut butter cups, Kit Kats, and most chocolate candy bars will contain some animal byproducts unless the labels specifically says they don’t.
- honey people following a vegan diet don’t consume honey as it’s derived from bees.
25 Store-Bought Vegan Halloween Candy Treats
Let’s stroll through the candy aisle and check out some vegan Halloween candy options.
As I was creating the list, I noticed that most are classic candies that have been around for a while. I grew up with most of these, well before “vegan candy” was a thing.
Let’s get to those vegan treats!
1. Swedish Fish
A chewy, fruity candy that’s naturally vegan. No gelatin here, just the classic flavor everyone loves.
2. Sour Patch Kids
These tangy, sour-then-sweet treats are vegan, made without gelatin or dairy. You can learn more about Sour Patch Kids here.
3. Twizzlers
A go-to licorice candy that’s free from gelatin and dairy, making it a vegan-friendly option.
4. Airheads
These stretchy, chewy fruit candies are vegan and perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth.
5. Skittles
Brightly-colored, chewy candies bursting with fruity flavors. Skittles are gelatin-free and vegan-friendly.
8. Charms Blow Pops
A lollipop with a bubblegum center, Blow Pops are vegan—though watch out for non-vegan varieties of the brand.
7. Mary Janes
These chewy peanut butter and molasses classic candies just happen to be vegan-friendly. They’re a great option if you’re looking for something with a nostalgic twist!
8. Smarties
These chalky, sweet, bite-sized candies are a Halloween classic, and they’re also vegan.
9. Atomic Fire Balls
These spicy, cinnamon-flavored hard candies are vegan and offer a fiery kick for those who like a little heat with their sweets.
10. Dots
These gumdrop-like candies are vegan, with no gelatin or other animal products.
11. Now and Later
Chewy fruit squares that are vegan-friendly and come in a variety of fruity flavors.
12. Fun Dip
This sugary, powdered candy comes with a dipping stick and is vegan, containing no animal ingredients.
13. Laffy Taffy (non-stretchy variety)
The mini-sized, non-stretchy Laffy Taffy (such as banana flavor) is vegan-friendly.
14. Pixy Stix
Powdered sugar candy in a straw-like tube, these are totally vegan.
15. Chick-O-Sticks
This crunchy, peanut butter and toasted coconut candy is totally vegan. It’s a fun, old-school candy with a satisfying mix of textures and flavors.
16. Ring Pop
These candy rings are vegan, providing a fun, sweet treat without any animal products.
17. Cry Baby Tears
Super sour hard candies that pack a punch, and they’re vegan-friendly!
18. SweeTarts
Tangy, chewy, and perfectly sour, SweeTarts are vegan-friendly.
19. Dum Dums Lollipops
These classic, colorful lollipops are vegan and come in a wide variety of flavors, making them a great candy for Halloween that’s easy to share and enjoy.
20. Cocomels
These creamy, coconut-based caramels are a perfect vegan alternative to dairy-based caramel.
21. Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears
Gelatin-free gummy bears made with organic ingredients, perfect for a vegan sweet fix.
22. Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Delicious dark chocolate and peanut butter, and completely vegan.
23. Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Another great option for peanut butter cup lovers, but made with rich dark chocolate and vegan-friendly.
24. Yum Earth Organic Pops
These lollipops come in a variety of fruity flavors and are both organic and vegan.
25. Jujyfruits
These chewy, fruity candies are vegan-friendly and gelatin-free, offering a nostalgic treat that’s perfect for Halloween. They come in fun shapes and bold flavors, making them a classic option for anyone craving a fruity bite.
A Few More Considerations
When it comes to most things, we look for simple ingredients and avoid things like high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and artificial colors. Some of these things are worse than others, but we just try not to keep a ton of these around the house period, outside of special events or holidays like Halloween.
Additionally, when handing out candy, we also like to be mindful of potential allergies from the little trick or treaters, so we try and keep the treats allergy-friendly.
We hope this list has given you some great ideas for your candy bowl. Happy Halloween! If you’re looking for more spooky Halloween treats, be sure to check out, 12 Fun Vegan Halloween Recipes To Try.
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