Introduction
Candy is an essential part of many holidays, especially Halloween, but most isn’t vegan. Even many Halloween costumes demonstrate animal welfare, from zookeepers to hunters.
Why isn’t most Halloween candy vegan?
Here are some of the many animal-derived ingredients that are in candy. Note that this list isn’t exclusive and has way more ingredients than listed here.
- Milk (like whey protein, casein, and lactose): Many chocolates
- Eggs: Some chocolates
- Gelatin (bone char): A good chunk of regular candy and gum
- Confectioner’s glaze (shellac): Like jelly beans, Mike & Ike, and candy corn
- Cochineal (red beetle): i.e., Nerds, Hot Tamales, and Red Hots
- Most food colorings (animal testing): Most sugary candy
If you want to make some homemade candy, try these vegan candy recipes today, including but not limited to vegan versions of the following.
- Twix
- Snickers
- Watermelon Jellies
- Kit Kat
- Bounty
Feel free to listen to my Halloween Spotify playlist.
1. Twix
Twix was pretty popular when I stocked candy at Hy-Vee. Make some vegan Twix with the help of Rainbow Nourishments.
2. Snickers
I usually find a bag of mini Snickers in my dad’s work pickup. Here is a vegan Snickers recipe from From My Bowl.
3. Watermelon Jellies
A lot of gummy candy contains gelatin to make its texture. Ditch the gelatin, and make some vegan watermelon jellies from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
Here are more vegan watermelon recipes.
4. Kit Kat
Even though Nestlé launched vegan Kit Kat, they’re not widely available yet. Make vegan Kit Kats at home thanks to Namely Marly.
5. Bounty
One vegan alternative to regular Bounty bars is Unreal’s coconut bars. Another is baking vegan Bounty bars from Loving It Vegan.
6. Milky Way
The Milky Way is more than our home galaxy. You can also have some vegan Milky Way bars from Sweet Simple Vegan.
7. Crunch
If you’re looking for a good rice cereal for breakfast or vegan baking, I recommend Arrowhead Mills puffed rice. Try using some in this vegan Crunch bar recipe from Beaming Baker.
8. Cake Batter Fudge
My grandpa used to make the best fudge. Here is some cake batter fudge from Six Vegan Sisters.
Bake a vegan cake today.
9. Rose Turkish Delight
Turkish delight (lokum) is a sugary candy that comes from Turkey. Try some vegan Turkish delight from yumsome.
10. Peanut Butter Chips
Why not use peanut butter chips if you want to add peanut butter to your baking? Here are vegan peanut butter chips from Chocolate Covered Katie.
11. Butterfinger
Who likes Butterfingers? Then, make some vegan Butterfinger bars from The Vegan 8.
12. Almond Joy
Almond Joy is a Hershey’s candy bar brand. Here is a vegan Almond Joy recipe from The Big Man’s World.
13. Chocolate Amaranth Skulls
Immediately after Halloween, many Mexicans and people of Mexican descent celebrate Día de Muertos, a holiday that honors the dead. To celebrate, make some chocolate amaranth skulls from Dora’s Table.
You may also like these vegan Mexican recipes.
14. Peanut Brittle
I once called one of my siblings a brown noser for baking peanut brittle for one of our teachers. No matter what their intentions were, try some vegan peanut brittle from My Darling Vegan.
15. Double Biscoff Caramel Bars
If you’re interested in trying Biscoffs, you don’t need to make a vegan version because regular Biscoffs are vegan. Then, make some Biscoff candy bars with the help of Nourishing Amy.
16. Take 5
Take 5 is a Hershey’s candy bar with milk chocolate, pretzels, peanut butter, peanuts, and caramel. Bake vegan Take 5 candy bars from Purely Kaylie.
17. Gummy Bears
Most gummy bears are made with gelatin. One option is to buy vegan gummy bears. The other is to create vegan gummy bears at home, thanks to ElaVegan.
18. Starburst
One of the best sugary candies around is Starburst. Here is a vegan Starburst recipe from Pretty Pies.
19. Brigadeiros
Pies and Tacos is by a Brazilian-American blogger named Camila, and she’s a huge macaron expert. One of her favorite treats from her home country is some brigadeiros (truffles).
20. Chocolate Bars
Before you get all fancy and make a bunch of Snickers, learn how to make regular chocolate bars. Master homemade vegan chocolate bars with the help of Sweet Simple Vegan.
21. Buckeyes
You may have come across some buckeye seeds if you’re from Ohio or any other state with buckeye trees. Ohio invented buckeye candy, and you can make them vegan with The Conscious Plant Kitchen’s recipe.
Buckeye candy is one of many traditional American recipes.
22. Spiced Nuts
If you like candied nuts, here’s an excellent recipe for you. Have some spiced nuts from One Lovely Life.
23. Chocolate Turtles
One of my babysitters makes my family chocolate turtles around the holidays. Make some vegan chocolate turtles from Minimalist Baker.
24. Tim Tam
Tim Tam is an Australian candy brand owned by Arnott’s. Have some vegan Tim Tams from Eight Forest Lane.
25. Caramel Corn
When we’re at a county or state fair, my family usually has some caramel corn there. Here is some vegan caramel corn from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
26. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups
Who likes peanut butter jelly sandwiches? Then it would help if you made some peanut butter jelly cups from Daisybeet.
27. Kuih Seri Muka
Kuih seri muka is a Malaysian dessert. Try some vegan kuih seri muka from WoonHeng.
28. Toffee Crisp Bars
If you like caramel or peanut brittle, I recommend having some toffee. Here are some toffee crisp bars from Addicted to Dates.
29. White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Reese’s peanut butter cups are suitable, but why not have them with white chocolate instead? Try these white chocolate peanut butter cups from Make It Dairy Free.
30. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Regular Reese’s peanut butter cups are still delicious. Make vegan peanut butter cups from Namely Marly.
31. Irish Potato Candy
If it’s not apparent enough by my last name (McFadden), I’m part Irish. Whether you’re Irish or of Irish descent or not, try some Irish potato candy from Strength and Sunshine.
32. Orange Chamomile Honeycomb Candy
Chamomile is a European herb. Use some to make this orange chamomile honeycomb candy from Very Vegan Val.
You may like these orange recipes.
33. Tootsie Rolls
Members of the Knights of Columbus hand out Tootsie Rolls before and after church services when people donate to their annual fundraiser. Make vegan Tootsie Rolls from EatPlant-Based.
34. Candy Corn
Candy corn is a decently popular candy around Halloween. Here is a vegan candy corn recipe from The Banana Diaries.
35. Creme Eggs
Who likes Easter candy? Then have some vegan Creme Eggs from A Virtual Vegan.
36. Vegan Chocolate Box
Are you tired of chocolate boxes not being vegan? Then, make a vegan chocolate box with the help of The Hidden Veggies.
37. Peppermint Bark
My family sometimes has leftover candy canes from last Christmas hiding in the pantry. If you do too, use some to make this vegan peppermint bark recipe from Loving It Vegan.
Then, make more peppermint recipes.
38. Chocolate Nougat Bars
If you are familiar with the British Milky Way, it’s more of a chocolate nougat candy bar. Make chocolate nougat bars with the help of Nourishing Amy.
39. Date Caramel Apples
One of the best fall treats around is a caramel apple. Here are vegan caramel apples from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
Have more vegan apple recipes today.
40. Cookie Dough Bars
If you like blondies, here’s a recipe for you. Try these cookie dough bars from Beaming Baker.
Then, bake some vegan cookies while you’re at it.
41. York Peppermint Patties
My cousins love York Peppermint Patties. A vegan alternative is this vegan York Peppermint Patties recipe from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
42. Toffifee (Toffifay)
Another toffee option is making some vegan Toffifay. Here is a vegan Toffifay recipe from Seitan Is My Motor.
43. PayDay
I used to make some PayDay candy displays when I worked at Hy-Vee. If that sounds good, bake some PayDay bites from Minimalist Baker.
44. Chana Dal Burfi
Every year in October or November, many Indians celebrate Diwali, one of the biggest holidays Hindus celebrate. One good Indian sweet is chana dal burfi, like the recipe by Holy Cow! Vegan.
45. Gulab Jamun
Another famous Indian sweet is gulab jamun. Try some vegan gulab jamun from Vegan Richa.
46. Dominosteine
Dominosteine is a layered gingerbread candy sold in Germany and Austria during Christmastime. Make vegan Dominosteine with the help of Seitan Is My Motor.
You may also like making gingerbread recipes and vegan Christmas recipes.
47. Strawberry-Flavored Chocolates
There are more types of chocolate besides milk, dark, and white. Have some vegan strawberry chocolate from Very Vegan Val.
Don’t forget to try more vegan strawberry recipes.
48. Ferrero Rocher
If you are like some of my family by liking Ferrero Rocher chocolate, here’s the recipe for you. Make vegan Ferrero Rocher chocolate bars from The Big Man’s World.
49. Crunchie
If you like Cadbury chocolate, you probably have heard of their brand, Crunchie. Here are vegan Crunchie bars from Addicted to Dates.
50. Mounds
The last vegan candy recipe I have for you is vegan Mounds from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
Please tell me what your favorite candy is in the comments.
Conclusion
Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I hope you have a splendid one too. If you liked this blog post, check out my past one on vegan-friendly candy brands and my future one on vegan Halloween recipes.