Introduction
I’ve read several vegan candy blog posts and realized they tend to share one thing. They’re trying to figure out which candies out of the regular candy aisle are vegan, and they fail. Instead, I found some candy and sweet brands claiming some or all of their vegan products that you may not find in your regular supermarket aisles.
If you are vegan, have a sweet tooth, and/or want an excuse to eat more candy, here is some vegan Halloween candy you should try today.
Here's my Halloween playlist on Spotify.
1. Enjoy Life
Enjoy Life is my go-to for buying chocolate chips. Their vegan products have a certified vegan logo or something like "suitable for vegans" on the nutritional facts label. They do have a variety of products beyond chocolate chips. For example, Enjoy Life’s Ricemilk chocolate bars are delicious.
2. YumEarth
Do you like sour candy? Then try YumEarth and their assortment of other vegan candy.
"Our Vegan products include: New Choco Yums, Organic Chewys, Organic Lollipops, Organic Hard Candy, Organic Fruit Snacks, Organic Licorice, Organic Sour Twists, Organic Sour Beans, Organic Giggles, Organic Sour Giggles and our Organic Roll’n Stones. NOTE: Gummy Bears and Worms and Candy Corn are not vegan." YumEarth
3. Unreal
Are you craving some Reese’s peanut butter cups? If so, a great vegan alternative is Unreal.
"Yes! All of UNREAL’s dark chocolate nut-butter cups, coconut bars, and dark chocolate gems are vegan. They’re certified by the Vegan Action Group. None of the ingredients in the products listed come from animals or animal by-products. We never test on animals, either. The sugars used in these products have not been processed with bone char. Within the UNREAL product line, the only exceptions are our milk chocolate gems and the dark chocolate caramel peanut nougat bars. Those two products contain dairy and are not vegan." Unreal
4. Dandies Marshmallows
Are you a fan of s’mores? You should try Dandies Marshmallows because they have all of the regular marshmallow goodness and are entirely vegan.
5. Cocomels
Cocomels are chocolate caramels made with coconut milk. That means if you’re lactose intolerant or a vegan, this brand would be an excellent, dairy-free alternative to Ghirardelli’s milk chocolate caramel squares.
"Yes, Cocomels are plant-based and vegan-friendly." Cocomels
6. Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets
Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets is similar to YumEarth because a lot of its sugary candy is vegan. The main difference is YumEarth’s non-vegan candies contain gelatin, while Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets’ non-vegan candies aren’t vegan because of dairy and/or eggs.
"All of our lollipops, hard candies, taffy, mints, and xylitol sweeteners are vegan. Our chocolates and caramels, however, do contain dairy and caramels contain egg albumin." Dr. John’s Healthy Sweets
7. No Whey Chocolate
No Whey Chocolate probably has one of the best vegan alternatives to M&M’s. For Halloween, they have a few chocolate lollipops shaped like skulls, jack-o-lanterns, and spider webs; a Halloween chocolate candy box; and single-serving packets for trick-or-treaters.
"Each product is made in a dedicated facility free from the top 9 common food allergens and is gluten free. Each product is dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, soy free, wheat free, egg free, fish free, shellfish free, sesame free and gluten free. We are Vegan and 100% cruelty free, All Natural, Dairy Free, Milk Free, Lactose Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free." No Whey Chocolate
8. Taza Chocolate
Taza Chocolate has a variety of chocolate bars and chocolate-covered nuts. These chocolate bars would be perfect for s’mores with some Dandies large marshmallows and vegan graham crackers.
"Taza Chocolate is 100% Certified USDA Organic, Direct Trade, Gluten-Free, Kosher, and Non-GMO Project Verified. All of our products are also dairy free, soy free, and vegan." Taza Chocolate
9. Betty Lou’s Inc.
Are you in the mood for some pie, but you’re too lazy to make it? Instead of going out your way, try Betty Lou’s Inc. fruit bars that supposedly taste like pie.
Note that not all of the candy is vegan, but all of their vegan options are labelled vegan on the front. If it says vegetarian or paleo, there is a good chance it's not vegan.
10. Candy Kittens
Kittens are so sweet. If you agree, Candy Kittens is a British candy company that will get some dog lovers to forgive the company for having kittens in its name.
When I first wrote this blog post, the Eton Mess was their only nonvegan flavor they had due to containing beeswax, but now, all of their candy is vegan.
11. VESWEETIES
Another good British vegan candy company to look into is VESWEETIES. Formerly known as VEGUMMIES, they have a lot of sugary goodies and strive to have the most environmentally friendly packaging possible.
12. Rule Breaker Snacks
If you’re looking for some healthier things to put into your kids’ school lunches, Rule Breaker Snacks has you covered. They make delicious vegan cookies that are also nut-free and gluten-free and have chickpeas (garbanzos) as each flavor’s first ingredient.
"All our products are 100% vegan and plant-based with no animal ingredients. That means no eggs, no butter, no animal products at all. We don't even use honey. Rule Breaker proves you don't need animal ingredients to make amazing treats!" Rule Breaker Snacks
13. Mallow Puffs
Mallow Puffs are Belgian vegan chocolate marshmallow bars in three flavors: vanilla bean, raspberry, and salted caramel. Besides online, they are in many stores across Europe and at Whole Foods in the United States.
14. Wiley Wallaby Licorice
I spent a year stocking Wiley Wallaby Licorice at Hy-Vee while I was in college. After I graduated and got my first full-time job, I learned that all of their candy is vegan and resides in the regular candy aisle, instead of the health food section.
15. Shameless Snacks
Shameless Snacks sells vegan gummy candy. Some flavors include Super Sour Blue Raspberry, OMG Peach, and So Beary Cherry.
16. OCHO
If you’re a pretty big fan of Almond Joys, you should try OCHO. They have a variety of chocolate bars, and one of their well-known vegan ones is coconut.
Note that some of their flavors aren’t vegan because they contain milk and/or eggs, but all of their vegan options have Certified Vegan Logos.
17. Hu Kitchen
Are you a fan of chocolate-covered nuts? Then you should try Hu Kitchen because they have hunks (vegan chocolate-covered nuts).
"All of our Organic Dark Chocolate Bars, Hunks, Gems, Chips, and Crackers are vegan. However, our Organic Grass-Fed Milk Chocolate is not vegan." Hu Kitchen
18. PUR
When you buy stuff for trick-or-treaters, do you ever get anything for their parents or chaperones? Try giving them something from PUR, a Canadian gum and mint company, because gum and mints work great for adults and any children wanting fresh breath at school.
19. Veggie Candy Shop
Do you want to learn or practice your German? Veggie Candy Shop is a German candy company with many vegan candies and even has a German website, useful for any German speakers and learners.
20. MadeGood Foods
MadeGood Foods makes some delicious vegan mini cookies and granola bars. You can find them at Hy-Vee and Target.
"All MadeGood products are: Organic, Nut Free, Contain nutrients from vegetables, Non GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten free by GFCO, Certified Vegan, and Kosher Parve. Please note we are not certified halal." MadeGood Foods
21. Whelpdale Chocolates
Do you want any more vegan chocolate bar recommendations? If so, Whelpdale Chocolates has many flavors of vegan chocolate for you to try, from peppermint to bourbon smoked sea salt.
22. Max Sweets
Max Sweets is known for having collegan marshmallows and keto creamers, but they also have a line of vegan marshmallows. They are also diabetic-friendly for anyone needing to watch their sugar intake.
"Since we launched Know Brainer Foods and Max Sweets, we have been asked to create a vegan line. Pea protein is an excellent source of protein for the body. All of our vegan products include the same brain boosting and body enriching ingredients like MCT and probiotic fiber. We take every precaution not to cross contaminate the vegan lines." Max Sweets
23. SmartSweets
SmartSweets is a vegan-friendly candy brand that is in Target. Note that this is the only brand on this list claiming that their vegan products are 100% plant-based on the packaging instead of wording their vegan candy as vegan.
"Sweet Fish, Sour Blast Buddies, Peach Rings, Sourmelon Bites, Cola Gummies, Red Twists, Lollipops and Jolly Gems are all 100% plant-based and vegan friendly! 🌱 Our Fruity Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms contain gelatin and are not plant-based." SmartSweets
24. Nelly’s Organics
I’m not the only one who has nonhumans pose by food. Don’t worry because no animals have been harmed thus far in our photoshoots. Find Nelly’s Organics at your local co-op or buy it on their website.
"All of our products are completely vegan, free of any animal products or animal by-products." Nelly's Organics
25. Candy Queens
Candy Queens is an Australian candy company that sells a variety of sugary and chocolate candies.
"Yes all products on Candy Queens is 100% Vegan! All our sweets are free from gelatine, honey, cochineal, milk, animal derived E numbers or colours, eggs and beeswax." Candy Queens
Note that even though they sell familiar packaged sweets from other companies (i.e., Twizzlers and Swedish Fish), that does not mean all of the candy from those companies is vegan.
What distinguishes this vegan Halloween candy guide from the accidentally vegan candy products is these brands’ conscious efforts to make their candy vegan. That is why it is best to go with candy labeled as vegan or plant-based over trusting PETA with candy recommendations.
26. Free2bFoods
Free2bFoods is another vegan alternative to Reese’s. The main things that distinguish Free2bFoods from Unreal are all of their products are vegan, instead of some, and they do not contain any peanuts or tree nuts.
"Yes, all of our products are vegan!" Free2bFoods
27. The Organic Candy Factory
I have been such a letdown because several of the vegan-friendly brands don’t have vegan gummy bears. Fortunately, try some vegan gummy cubs from The Organic Candy Factory.
28. Moo Free Chocolates
My final vegan chocolate recommendation is Moo Free Chocolates. All of the candy they sell is vegan. My favorite part about Moo Free Chocolates is they employ a lot of autistics like me.
29. NuGo Nutrition
If you like the sounds of MadeGood Foods, you may also like NuGo Nutrition because this brand carries a lot of vegan chocolate-covered nutrition bars. Other lifestyles they accommodate include diabetes, gluten-free, and dialysis.
30. Glee Gum
Glee Gum sells a variety of vegan gum.
They do not sell Glee Gum Pops (vegan equivalent Tootsie Pops), Glee Tarts (vegan), and Make Your Own Gummies Kit (vegan) anymore. Their Glee Gum used to vegetarian due to beeswax and resinous glaze, but it is now vegan.
31. Lovely Candy Company
Lovely Candy Company is another vegan-friendly brand that is at Target. Check out Target’s candy section to see if any of their vegan candies are available near you.
All of their organic candy is vegan. The rest is vegetarian.
Bonus: Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project promotes providing non-food items for trick-or-treaters. Even though this project aims to provide alternatives for children with food allergies, these accommodations also work well for vegan children. Here are some ideas for some non-food Halloween treats that you can find at places like Amazon, Party City, Barnes and Noble, and Oriental Trading.
- mini puzzles
- family-friendly DVDs
- chapter books
- coloring books
- bouncy balls
- harmonicas
- sunglasses
- marbles
- necklaces
- Rubik’s Cubes
- pet toys
Conclusion
No matter if you’re vegan or not, here are 31 ideas to celebrate Halloween beyond trick-or-treating.
- Wear a costume no matter what age you are.
- Watch scary movies.
- Make Halloween-themed food.
- Have Halloween arts and crafts.
- Adopt a black cat.
- Scare people.
- Put up Halloween decorations.
- Go to a corn maze.
- Hang out at a pumpkin patch.
- Carve jack-o’-lanterns.
- Build candy haunted mansions.
- Go to a haunted attraction.
- Wear orange.
- Make up spells.
- Have pumpkin-flavored food.
- DIY Halloween makeup.
- Light candles instead of having the lights on.
- Get costumes for your pets.
- Tell ghost stories.
- Stay up late doing something you enjoy.
- Take and send out Halloween family pictures in everyone’s gear.
- Eat as much candy as you want.
- Learn about what other cultures do for or instead of Halloween (i.e., Día de Muertos in Mexico).
- Video chat with anyone who can’t make it to your Halloween festivities.
- Have a Halloween dance-off.
- Make a plan to survive a zombie apocalypse.
- Bring treats and wear your costume to school or work.
- Run around your home with a bedsheet on to portray a ghost.
- DIY any Halloween costumes, decorations, or attractions at home.
- Host a Halloween party.
- Buy a fun Halloween mask.
Final Words
If you liked this post, I have blog posts on pumpkins, candy recipes, and Halloween recipes. Have a fantastic Halloween.