Navigating the candy aisle during Halloween can be a real horror show when you have dietary restrictions. But fear not! This guide to vegan Halloween candy will help you find delicious treats, whether you are living with alpha-gal syndrome or following a vegan lifestyle.
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, making any adjustments needed, and directing any questions to your physician.
Halloween is a time for spooky decorations, scary movies, impressive costumes, and mouthwatering candy. But when you have a food allergy, like alpha-gal, you can’t dive into your kid’s trick-or-treat haul without educating yourself and reading the ingredients list. But don’t worry! You don’t have to miss out on all of the sweet treats. This list of vegan Halloween candy is also safe for alpha gals.
In This Article
What Halloween Candy is Vegan?
Manufacturers create vegan candy without animal ingredients, including honey, gelatin, and dairy. That makes vegan chocolates and candy an excellent starting point for alpha gals with a sweet tooth. Keep reading to unwrap the details on the best vegan candies you can enjoy this Halloween.
Spooktacular Tips for an Alpha-Gal Allergy-Friendly Halloween
Trick-or-treating with alpha-gal can feel like walking through a haunted house — full of surprises, some not so pleasant. Here are some helpful tips to make sure your Halloween is all treats and no tricks:
- Offer Non-Food Treats: Instead of candy, offer non-edible treats like stickers, pencils, small toys, or other delights.
- Hold a Pre-Game Briefing: Before heading out to trick-or-treat, remind your pint-sized alpha-gal about the importance of not eating any treats until they’re back home and you’ve had a chance to inspect their loot. If it helps, make it a game — like they’re secret agents on a mission to bring the candy back to HQ for analysis. This makes the experience more of an adventure than a restriction.
- Map Out Your Route: Plan your route in advance and try to stick to the homes of friends and neighbors who are aware of your child’s food allergy.
- BYOC (Bring Your Own Candy): Pack some allergy-safe treats for your little monster. When they want to sneak a few treats mid-route, they can dip into their own stash.
- Conduct a Candy Swap: Once you’re back home, sort through the candy and swap out any unsafe options with alpha-gal friendly alternatives.
- Host an Allergy-Friendly Party. If you’re not keen on trick-or-treating, host an alpha-gal friendly Halloween party instead. That means you are in control of the menu, the treats, and the activities.
- Be Prepared for Anything: Sometimes, despite your best plans, something goes wrong and your little munchkin eats something that causes a reaction. Have antihistamines, your child’s EpiPen, and any other medications handy just in case.
Important Notes About This List of Vegan Treats
There are a few things you should know before digging into this candy cornucopia like a kid on a sugar high searching for another one of her favorite treats at the bottom of her trick-or-treat bag.
Alpha Gals and Dairy
Although the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) states that most people with alpha-gal can tolerate “moderate, lean dairy” (like skim milk), this candy guide does not contain dairy products. However, if you are a highly sensitive alpha gal, you’ll want to read the label or contact the manufacturer to ensure it doesn’t contain trace amounts of dairy from cross-contamination. And if you can tolerate dairy products, there are many more alpha-gal safe candy options beyond this list!
Bone Char
When selecting candy treats, some highly sensitive alpha gals need to be mindful of products made with bone char. To avoid this potential trigger, choose certified organic sweets made with unrefined sugar or sweetened with another ingredient (like honey, agave, or maple syrup).
Gelatin
Manufacturers often use gelatin to make gummy and chewy candies. Since gelatin is typically made from the collagen in animal bones, skin, and connective tissues, treats containing this ingredient are a no-go for vegans and alpha gals. Always read the labels on these candy varieties to check for gelatin or a safe alternative like fruit pectin which offers a similar texture without the animal-derived components.
Glycerin
Glycerin can be either plant-based (vegetable oil) or animal-based (tallow), and it’s usually impossible to know which version is in your food simply by scanning the ingredients list. Instead, you’ll have to contact the manufacturer. The glycerin used in candies is nearly always plant-based, and I’ve double-checked most of the sweets on this list with the manufacturers. 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 to be certain.
Animal Products That are Safe for Alpha Gals
Vegan products avoid all animal-derived ingredients, including those safe for alpha gals, like honey, beeswax, eggs, egg whites, carmine, and confectioner’s glaze. While the candies below are vegan, alpha gals can also enjoy sweets made with those alpha-gal safe animal ingredients.
Always Read the Label
Always double-check the ingredients listed on the candy label before consuming any of these candies. Manufacturers change their recipes and production methods from time to time. Also, the same brand may use different ingredients or processing techniques when they make a product in one country versus another.
And now, on to my comprehensive list of vegan Halloween candy!
Fruity Flavors
Ready to tickle your taste buds? Let’s start with some fruit-flavored favorites. From tangy to sweet, these vegan candies offer a burst of fruitiness that’ll make your Halloween celebrations all the more delightful.
Skittles
Taste the rainbow, alpha gal style, with Skittles. These colorful candies have been a staple in Halloween buckets for years.
Sour Patch Kids
First they’re sour, then they’re sweet, and best of all, they’re vegan! Sour Patch Kids are a Halloween favorite that you can enjoy without second-guessing the ingredients.
Airheads
These chewy treats come in several fruity flavors, including watermelon, blue raspberry, cherry, orange, and grape. Airheads are a versatile sweet treat for all ages.
Laffy Taffy
Who doesn’t love a candy that comes with a joke? Laffy Taffy is not only entertaining (and comes in a unique banana flavor) — it’s also free of animal-derived ingredients. It’s a win-win for your taste buds and your funny bone.
Chuckles
These jelly candies coated in sugar are a classic, vegan-friendly treat. Each pack of Chuckles comes with a variety of flavors, so you’re sure to find one that tickles your tastebuds.
DOTS
These chewy, gumdrop-like vegan candies are perfect for alpha gals who love a less intense sweetness. Each package of DOTS candy includes an assortment of flavors, including strawberry, lemon, cherry, orange, and lime.
Mike and Ike
These oblong fruit-flavored candies are a hit at any Halloween gathering. Mike and Ike candy offers a range of flavors and are free from animal-derived ingredients, making them a safe and tasty choice.
Jujyfruits
Like real fruit, these bite-sized candies are alpha-gal and vegan-friendly. Each Jujyfruits package includes five flavors: lime, raspberry, lemon, orange, and anise.
Chocolatey Delights
Are you craving something rich and decadent? These chocolatey vegan Halloween options have you covered.
Free2b Dark Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups
Alpha gals who also live with a peanut allergy, will love Free2b Dark Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups. They deliver a creamy, nutty, chocolatey satisfaction without any ingredients you’re avoiding.
Junior Mints
Mint and chocolate go together like witches and broomsticks, and Junior Mints deliver this combo in a vegan-friendly package. These bite-sized treats are perfect for those who love a refreshing burst of mint with their chocolate.
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
If you’re an almond butter fan, these chocolate cups are a dream come true. UNREAL offers a vegan version that combines rich dark chocolate with smooth almond butter for a treat that’s hard to resist.
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Are you missing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? UNREAL’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are a fantastic alternative. They offer the classic taste you love but without an allergic reaction.
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars
If you’re a fan of Almond Joys but need a vegan option, these vegan candy bars are a must-try. UNREAL’s version combines dark chocolate with shredded coconut for a tropical treat perfect for Halloween.
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems
Want chocolate with a little crunch? These Crispy Quinoa Gems offer just that. They’re a vegan alternative to M&Ms and are just as addictive.
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems
If you’re a fan of peanut M&Ms, these Peanut Gems are the vegan alternative you’ve been searching for. They offer the same satisfying crunch and nutty flavor without animal-derived ingredients.
Sage Advice: While several of UNREAL’s delicious chocolates are vegan, some contain milk products. If you follow a vegan lifestyle or are a highly-sensitive alpha gal, read the package before enjoying their treats.
Classic Candies
Sometimes, you just can’t beat the classics. Here are some timeless treats that are also vegan-friendly.
An Important Word About Candy Corn
Nothing screams, “It’s fall, y’all!” like candy corn. It’s the Halloween candy people love to hate but secretly eat by the handful. In addition to appearing in candy bowls in single-serving bags, these iconic triangles of yellow, orange, and white chewy goodness often star in a variety of Halloween treats. You may see them baked into cookies, adding a seasonal touch to Halloween bark, or incorporating fall colors into homemade trail mix.
While a few alpha-gal friendly candy corn options are available for purchase (I recommend Jelly Belly’s candy corn), the only way to enjoy vegan candy corn is to make it yourself.
Jolly Ranchers
These hard candies are a staple in Halloween buckets and are free from animal-derived ingredients. Jolly Ranchers offer a long-lasting flavor perfect for savoring throughout your Halloween festivities.
LIFE SAVERS
The name says it all. These ring-shaped candies have been “saving lives” at boring parties for decades. LIFE SAVERS come in a variety of fruit flavors and are a vegan-friendly option for those looking to avoid animal-derived ingredients.
Sage Advice: While the original LIFE SAVERS are an alpha gal-safe candy, LIFE SAVERS gummies include gelatin.
Smarties
Not to be confused with their chocolatey British or Canadian counterparts, which are not vegan, American Smarties are candy tablets perfect for snacking or sharing. Plus, they’re vegan, so that you can enjoy these little bursts of flavor without any concerns.
Gummy Goodness
If you’re a chewy, fruity candies fan, this section is for you. From jelly beans to gummy bears, these vegan options offer a chewy delight that’s perfect for Halloween or whenever you need a gummy candy fix.
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
While many jelly bean brands use gelatin to make their sweets, Jelly Belly jelly beans are kosher-certified and do not contain gelatin. Available in more than 100 flavors, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans are a versatile and vegan Halloween candy that’s alpha-gal friendly.
Surf Sweets Gummies
Surf’s up! These gummies deliver a wave of fruit flavors using organic sweeteners. Plus, they’re vegan, so that you can trick-or-treat without worry.
YumEarth Gummy Fruits
YumEarth Gummy Fruits are a plant-based treat made with organic ingredients. They are a healthier option for your Halloween candy stash and come in various fruit flavors. So, you’ll surely find one—or several—that you love.
Sage Advice: While the gummy fruits are alpha-gal friendly, the YumEarth gummy bears contain gelatin, so always read the ingredient list when evaluating vegan candy options.
Swedish Fish
These berry-flavored sweets are a fish that even vegans can enjoy. Perfect for Halloween, Swedish Fish offer a unique, somewhat berry-like flavor that’s both nostalgic and satisfying. Their chewy texture and vibrant red color make them a standout in any Halloween candy lineup.
Red Vines
If you’re a fan of licorice, Red Vines are a must-try. These twisty treats are vegan-friendly, delivering a flavor that’s hard to resist. While they’re best known for their strawberry flavor, Red Vines also come in mixed berry, grape, and black licorice varieties. And, in the fall, look for pumpkin flavored Red Vines!
Twizzlers
Another win for licorice lovers! Twizzlers come in a variety of flavors and shapes, all of which are free from animal-derived ingredients. Whether you enjoy them as classic twists, Twizzlers Nibs, or Twizzlers Bites, they are all alpha-gal friendly.
A Little Something Extra
For alpha gals who like to think outside the candy box, here are some less conventional but equally delicious options for vegan Halloween trick-or-treaters.
Oreos
Although not a traditional Halloween candy treat, Oreos are vegan — and who will say no to an Oreo? Whether you like to twist them, dunk them (in plant-based milk, of course), or eat them whole, Oreos are a crunchy, creamy, chocolatey treat that’s hard to beat.
Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks
Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks are a great pick if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to traditional candies. They are made with real fruit juice and are free from artificial flavors, synthetic colors, and high-fructose corn syrup. These fruit snacks are a healthier addition to your Halloween treat lineup.
Fruit Roll-Ups
Remember these from your school lunch days? Fruit Roll-Ups are not only a blast from the past but also free from animal-derived ingredients. They’re a fun, fruity alternative to traditional Halloween candies.
Pez
These iconic dispensers are more than just a toy; they’re also a source of vegan-friendly candy. Pez offers a variety of flavors and the joy of popping candy straight from your favorite characters’ mouths.
Fun Dip
Who says you can’t play with your food? Fun Dip lets you do just that. This sugary, powdery treat comes with a candy stick for dipping, and it’s all vegan-friendly.
Charms Blow Pops
A lollipop with a gum center? Yes, please! Charms Blow Pops offer the best of both worlds: a sweet, fruity exterior and a chewy, gum-filled center. Plus, they’re free from animal-derived ingredients.
Chick-O-Stick
If you’re missing the taste of Butterfingers but need a vegan option, Chick-o-Stick is a fantastic alternative. This crunchy, peanut buttery treat offers a unique texture and flavor perfect for Halloween.
What’s Your Favorite Vegan Halloween Candy?
So, which vegan Halloween treats have you bewitched? Did you discover a new favorite, or are you sticking to the classics? Do you have a spellbinding tip or trick to make this Halloween extra special for a fellow alpha gal? Don’t ghost us—share your suggestions in the comments section below!
This post couldn’t have come at a better time as my sister and her family have recently adopted a vegan diet. The boys absolutely love Skittles and Sour Patch kids so I’m glad to know they can still enjoy these favorites.
That is good news!