Whether you’re hosting an egg hunt or filling Easter baskets for family members, this delicious list of vegan Easter candy provides you with some of the tastiest alpha-gal friendly options available this season.
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice.
Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. You should understand your dietary restrictions and make any adjustments needed when using this site, directing any questions to your physician.
When you live with a recently diagnosed food allergy, you can no longer dive into the candy inside a plastic Easter egg or nibble the ear off of a solid chocolate bunny without first reading the ingredients. And when you discover that the jelly beans contain gelatin or the chocolate bunny contains milk, you may need to set them aside for someone else to enjoy. But not with this list of vegan options! Fill your favorite alpha gal’s Easter basket to the brim with the perfect treat, from chocolate Easter eggs to jelly beans and beyond.
In This Article
Important Notes About This List of Vegan Easter Candy for Alpha Gals
- According to this article, most people with alpha-gal can tolerate “moderate, lean dairy” (like skim milk). While all of the Easter candy on this list is dairy free, if you are a highly sensitive alpha gal, you’ll want to read the ingredients list or contact the manufacturer to ensure that it doesn’t contain trace amounts of dairy from cross-contamination. (And if you can tolerate dairy products, there are many more Easter candy options for you to enjoy beyond this list!)
- Glycerin can be either plant based (vegetable oil) or animal based (tallow). And, just to keep people with food allergies on their toes, it’s impossible to know what type of glycerin is in your food simply by scanning the ingredients list. Instead, you’ll have to contact the manufacturer. The glycerin used in candy is nearly always plant-based. But if you are a highly sensitive alpha gal, you should confirm the type of glycerin used with the Fig app or by contacting the manufacturer yourself to be absolutely certain.
- Because it is a plant-based ingredient, some vegan candies (especially those made with vegan marshmallows) may contain carrageenan. Unfortunately, this seaweed extract is one of the only plant-based ingredients that contains the alpha-gal epitope. Because it can cause a reaction in some people with alpha-gal syndrome, I’ve excluded any vegan Easter candy with carrageenan from this list.
- Because there is no FDA-endorsed definition of “vegan” in the United States, food manufacturers may use the designation as they like. To ensure that your vegan candy is truly free of animal products, look for options that have been certified by a trusted third party – like Vegan.org, The Vegan Society, or VegeCert.
Vegan Chocolate Easter Eggs
Moo Free Chocolate Easter Eggs
UK-based Moo Freet makes delicious chocolates that everyone can enjoy. Their entire line is not only dairy-free, but also wheat, gluten, and soya free. Stick with a classic with their original chocolate Easter egg or look for a surprise inside their Bunny Comb filled Easter egg.
No Whey! Eggs
On this side of the Atlantic, No Whey! Foods creates products that are vegan, kosher, and free of the nine most common allergens. Their vegan Easter egg options include milkless surprise eggs and mini cream eggs. Their mini peaNOT butter cup filled eggs are made with sunflower butter (rather than peanut butter) as a safe option for people with nut allergies. And for a chocolate Easter egg with a twist, check out their egg-shaped vegan brownies.
Venchi Easter Eggs
For a truly decadent, grown-up option for dark chocolate lovers, there’s Venchi. Made in Italy, their dark chocolate eggs range from 75% dark chocolate to 60% dark chocolate. Whichever you choose, they’re some of the most elegant vegan Easter eggs available.
Tootsie Roll Eggs
Tootsie Roll Eggs are candy coated, egg-shaped versions of this classic candy. While they’re not vegan due to condensed skim milk and confectioner’s glaze, Tootsie Roll eggs are another Easter egg option for alpha-gals who can tolerate dairy.
Vegan Chocolate Bunnies
No Whey! Chocolate Easter Bunnies
Ensuring that kids of all ages can nibble the ear off of a solid chocolate Easter bunny – even if they have a food allergy – the folks at No Whey! have created vegan versions of classic chocolate bunnies. There’s Jake the Milkless Easter Bunny for those who love solid chocolate and Noah the Vegan Easter Bunny for those who prefer a hollow version.
Lake Champlain Chocolate Easter Bunnies
Although the majority of their delicious fair-trade chocolate is made with fresh, local ingredients (like milk from Vermont cows), Lake Champlain Chocolates offers a few vegan versions of its chocolate Easter bunnies. Their milk chocolate Easter bunny is made with oatmilk, and the vegan solid dark chocolate bunny is also dairy free.
Moo Free Easter Bunny
In addition to the vegan Easter eggs mentioned above, Moo Free makes dairy-free Easter bunnies. Mikey Bunny, a white chocolate, lemon fizz bunny, and Hammy Hamster, an orange fizz flavored alternative rodent, will be happy to join your Easter celebration.
Sage Advice: If you care more about delicious alpha-gal friendly chocolate than an Easter bunny shape, then check out these dark chocolate peanut butter cups in Easter packaging from UNREAL.
Vegan Jelly Beans and Gummy Candies
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
While many brands of jelly beans use gelatin to make their sweets, Jelly Belly jelly beans are kosher certified and do not contain gelatin. So whether you buy a regular bag or one that’s decorated for spring, a classic flavor or gummy sours, you can enjoy this classic Easter treat knowing it’s alpha-gal friendly.
Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
Made by the Hershey Company, Jolly Rancher also makes gelatin-free jelly beans. They are sold in the same beloved flavors as Jolly Rancher hard candies, including strawberry, orange, watermelon, grape, blue raspberry, and green apple.
Starburst Jelly Beans
Sold in a variety of flavors like cherry, orange, strawberry, lemon, green apple, and grape, Starburst jelly beans are vegan and alpha-gal friendly.
Sage Advice: If you love regular Starburst, you’ll be glad to know that Starburst Minis are made with fruit pectin (rather than gelatin) and are also alpha-gal friendly.
Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans
Using organic cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, Surf Sweets offers a line of allergy-friendly, organic jelly beans and other gummy sweets.
Yum Earth Organic Gummy Fruits
These bunny-shaped fruit snacks are not only vegan and alpha-gal friendly, but they are made without artificial dyes, do not contain high fructose corn syrup, and are flavored naturally with apples, carrots, and currants.
Other Vegan Easter Candy
Bunny Bag
This adorable bunny-shaped bag is filled with an assortment of vegan candy, including vegan fruit bears, chocolate drop candies, and mini moos bars.
Bunny Tubes
In addition to several delicious vegan Easter egg chocolates, No Whey! also makes these bunny tubes filled with Choco Nonos, a dairy-free alternative to M&M candies.
Dark Chocolate Chick
Why should the Easter bunny have all the fun? These adorable chick-shaped candies are not only cute, but contain no artificial ingredients.
Easter Lollipop Collection
In addition to the Easter candies mentioned above, No Whey! makes a trio of adorable chocolate bunny lollipops that are a cute addition to any Easter basket.
Vegan Easter Gift Bag
Fill a vegan Easter basket in a snap with this assortment of vegan treats, including mango fruit bites, a crispy treat, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, and more, shipped in a bunny-themed bag.
Vegan Easter Truffles
If you are looking for a chocolatey hostess gift or a grown-up Easter basket option, these vegan truffles are the perfect pick that just scream, “It’s finally spring!” in a box decorated with daffodils.
Sage Advice: From hard candies to gummies, lollipops to chocolate treats, here are 50 more alpha-gal safe candy treats to check out as you fill plastic Easter eggs and wicker Easter baskets this season.
What’s Your Favorite Vegan Easter Candy?
Do you prefer hard candy, chewy candy, or chocolate? Is there a vegan Easter candy I’ve missed in my list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Starburst contain gelatin. People with AGS generally can’t tolerate gelatin and it’s not vegan
Yes, you’re right! I was reviewing the ingredients list for Starburst Minis (which are made with fruit pectin instead). I’ve updated this article accordingly. Thanks for catching that!