Halloween is fast approaching, and with the rather depressing shift in temperatures, and the increasing number of greyish days, it’s the perfect time to indulge our sweet tooths. Sure, Halloween is supposed to be all about the scares, the terror, but it’s also a time to let go a bit, unleash our inner rascal, live outlandishly, and surrender to a colourful, sugary binge.

While a lot of candy contains gelatin or some other animal by-product, there is no shortage of accidentally and intentionally vegan candy to enjoy. In fact, there’s so much candy, and so much new candy always coming into the market, that it’s worth taking some time to curate a yearly list of favourites.

Have some suggestions or recommendations for vegan candy to try? Let me know in the comments what your personal favourites are

Happy Halloween!

Smart Sweets
The low-sugar candy dynamo continues to be a favourite. With only 1-3g of sugar per serving, Smart Sweets provides a reasonable alternative for those looking for a somewhat healthier candy solution. Not all the flavours are vegan friendly, but their plant-based options are clearly marked, and there’s some great ones – classics like sweet fish, peach rings, and the nostalgic inducing cola gummies. They are also available in pretty much every grocery store and market, so you should have no trouble finding some last minute.

Cocomels
For me, caramels are the candy pinnacle, but unfortunately dairy is often used to create the soft, chewy, and delightful confection. Thankfully Cocomels came along and created a perfect plant-based version for us caramel loving vegans to enjoy. They also continue to expand their line and are introducing a bunch of sweet new treats. Though some of the new products have yet to make their way to Canada, be sure keep an eye out for the Cocomels Squares and the Chocolate Covered Toffee Bark.

Nibs
Nibs have been my go-to movie theatre snack since going vegan fifteen years ago, so I have a sentimental attachment to them. They will always remind me of those special cinematic moments of escape, of darkened theatres, and the magic of movies. For those who find a lot of traditional candy too sweet, nibs (and licorice in general) are a good choice, as they’re not quite as rich as some of the more sugary options.

Mid-Day Squares
Mid-Day Squares is a Canadian company, founded in Montreal, that has been getting a lot of attention lately, and increasing presence on grocery store shelves.  If you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, satiate your chocolate craving, without the sugar spike, Mid-Day Squares are the perfect treat.  They have four different flavours: Brownie Batter, Almond Crunch, Peanut Butta, and Cookie Dough.

Sweets from the Earth
Sweets from the Earth and their cookies, squares, and cakes made my transition to veganism so much easier, and they are still, in my eyes, the undisputed champion of plant based baked goods. Their product line continues to expand and are readily available in most major grocery stores. Some of my favourites are the Hello Dolly, the Smore Cookie, and the Spiced Carrot Cake, but you really can’t wrong here. Giving these out for Halloween, you’d sure to become the most popular house on the block for trick or treaters.

Stroop Club
If you unfamiliar with Stroop waffle, the famous Dutch confection, then you in for a treat. Stroop waffles are a thin waffle cookie held together with a delicious, gooey layer of caramel. Some brands of store-bought Stroop waffles are accidentally vegan, but Stroop Club has a clearly marked, specifically plant based, selection.  Stroop Club is an American company, and their products are only now starting to trickle into Canadian stores. If you find them, be sure to stock up!

Healthy Hippo
Not so long ago, vegan gummies were the white whale of candy – rarely seen and difficult to find. Nowadays, we’re blessed with a whole assortment of readily available plant-based options. Healthy Hippo is one of the newer brands out there, and while they do not yet have that wide of a distribution range, they are worth seeking out.  Like Smart Sweets, Healthy Hippo provides low-sugar candy options, that use simple, wholesome ingredients.

Skittles
When I was a kid, the highlight of every trip to the nearby mall, was getting a handful of skittles from the quarter candy dispenser, and, even after all these years, skittles are still a sentimental favourite. The flavour and texture are so distinct, so unlike any other candy, that they are instantly recognizable as soon as you put them in your mouth. Note, however, that while the classic Skittles are vegan friendly, some of the other flavours may not be.

Airheads
Airheads are super sweet, tangy, and taffy-like candies that are accidentally vegan. They’ve been an incredibly popular candy staple since launching in the early 2000s, and it’s not hard to see why. They have a simple, classic quality to them, are easy to eat, and provide a tremendous and decadent blast of flavour.  Also, note, that it’s only the original, regular Airheads are vegan, but all flavours of the original ones are safe.

Moo Free
Moo Free is a British chocolatier whose products have rapidly been making their way into the global market.  Their product line is extensive, and they make vegan options for many major chocolate centric holidays like Christmas and Easter. For Halloween, they’ve released a special collection of spooky themed chocolate bars. In addition to being fully vegan, Moo Free uses only organic, rain-forest alliance chocolate, and the packaging is fully recyclable.

Go Max
It is known fact that the fastest way to win favour with trick or treaters is by giving out full sized candy bars, and nobody does vegan candy bars better than Go Max. My personal favourite is the Jokerz, a gooey, indulgent snickers-like chocolate bar. I’ve also eaten enough of the other Go Max products to call myself a bit of an expert, and I can confirm that all ten products in their line are of the highest quality. These are some of the best vegans treats on the market.

No Whey
Not only are No Whey products vegan, but they are also free of the most common food allergens, including peanuts and tree nuts. They have a huge line of products, but also have a special Halloween release – a four pack of some of their most popular candies, individually wrapped for easy distribution. They are a bit on the pricier side, but the quality is excellent.