The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Halloween Candy

For vegans, the scariest part of Halloween is the specter of animal products in all that candy. Non-vegan dairy, gelatin, and beeswax spook plant-based eaters away from their hauls. Even sugar—a controversial ingredient in cruelty-free communities—can keep vegans away.

Luckily, a surprising number of classic Halloween candies are vegan-friendly. And thanks to a growing awareness of veganism, more sweets that meet even the strictest plant-based requirements are conveniently available in grocery stores and online.

This guide will help vegans ensure their Halloween is all treat and no trick. No matter what kind of sugary goodness you’re craving, vegan alternatives are now available—even for gummy and chewy candies that traditionally contain animal products.

Sugar and Veganism

Most sugar found in Halloween candy comes from either sugar beets or sugarcane, and while both sources technically meet the definition of plant-based foods, not all sugar is processed in the same way. Sugar beets become table sugar in a single step using no other products to refine the crystals. Cane sugar, on the other hand, is often filtered with animal bone char, a by-product of the meat industry.

For some vegans, that means passing the pumpkin on anything containing sugar as a means to avoid all animal products. Others judiciously read labels to find vegan-friendly sugars including beet sugar, unrefined cane sugar, organic cane sugar, and sugar alternatives like monk fruit. And others with a more “possible and practical” definition of veganism indulge in sugar, no matter the processing.

No matter how you eat, there are candies to suit everyone’s vegan sweet tooth (or fang).

Vegan Chocolates

If the thought of milk or butter in your chocolate gives you creepy crawlies, look beyond convenience store-brand candies. Newer, more environmentally conscious companies not only provide consumers with vegan options, their chocolates generally contain more sustainably sourced ingredients, including fair trade cocoa and sustainably sourced palm oil. 

• Chocolove Dark Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt, Raspberries, Cherries & Almonds, Orange Peel, and Strong Dark Chocolate Mini Bars (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Enjoy Life Halloween Chocolate Ricemilk, Ricemilk Crunch, and Dark Chocolate Minis and Bars (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Free2b Dark Chocolate Sunflower Cups and Minis; Dark Chocolate Mint Cups; and Chocolate Sunflower Cups and Minis (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Minis, Crispy Peanut Butter Cups, Cashew Butter Cups, Almond Butter Cups; Super Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups; and Super Dark Espresso Almond Butter Cups (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• UNREAL Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars, Peanut Butter Cups, Crispy Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Butter Cups, Peanut Gems, and Crispy Quinoa Gems (certified vegan; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)

Vegan Gummies

For years, vegans didn’t have many options for gummy candies, many of which use gelatin, a protein rendered from the bones and connective tissue of livestock sent to slaughter. Today’s gummies involve less horror using other, non-animal products to give these treats their toothy texture.

• Annie’s Organic FruitTape; Peel-A-Parts; and Bunny, Pollinator, and Ice Cream Shop Fruit Snacks (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Healthy Hippo Gummies, Sour Gummies, Swedish Hippos, Sour Keys, and Fizzy Cola (vegan sugar, order on the company’s website)
• Sour Patch Kids (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Surf Sweets Organic Gummy Bears and Worms (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Torie & Howard Gummi-Snaps (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• YumEarth Organic Gummy Fruits (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)

Vegan Chews

Candies in this category are less terrifying for vegan candy lovers. Typical chewy treats you find in line at checkout or the movie theatre are often suitable for many plant-based eaters. Newer companies biting into the chewy candy market often focus on organic ingredients in their vegan alternatives.

• Airheads Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, White Mystery, Cherry, Grape, Orange, Strawberry, Green Apple Bars; Rainbow Berry Xtremes; White Mystery Gum; and Grape, Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Strawberry, and Apple Pops (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Cocomels Original, Sea Salt, Coconut Sugar, Vanilla, Espresso, Maple, and Pumpkin Spice Coconut Milk Caramels (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores, Amazon, and other online retailers)
• Red Vines Original Red (vegan sugar, available at grocery stores or Walmart)
• Skittles Original Fruity, Wild Berry, Sour, Brightside, Tropical, and Smoothies (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Surf Sweets Organic DelishFish, Fruity Rings, and Jelly Beans (vegan sugar; order on Amazon, Sprouts, Walmart, or the company’s website)
• Torie & Howard Halloween Chewie Fruities (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Twizzlers Strawberry, Pull-n-Peel Cherry, Cherry, Licorice, Chocolate (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• YumEarth Organic Fruit Snacks (vegan sugar, order on Amazon, Target, Walmart, or the company’s website)
• YumEarth Organic Giggles (vegan sugar, order on Amazon, Target, Walmart, or the company’s website)

Vegan Hard Candy

Hard candies make the best Halloween candies because they last the longest. Keep yours vegan by sticking with some standards or trying one of the organic brands now in stores.

• Jolly Ranchers Hard Candy, Lollipops, Stix, Gummies, and Jelly Beans (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Torie & Howard Organic Hard Candy (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• YumEarth Lollipops (vegan sugar, available at grocery stores or the company’s website)

Other Vegan Halloween Treats

Looking for another phantasmagoric way to veganize your Halloween celebration? Forget the candy and reach for these animal-product-free goodies.

• Annie’s Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• free2b Crunchsters Sea Salt, Barbeque, Balsamic, and Beyond Bacon (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Larabar Minis Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (vegan sugar; available at grocery stores or the company’s website)
• Utz Halloween Bats & Jacks Single-Serve Pretzel Snacks (available at grocery stores or the company’s website)