14 Vegan Halloween Candies Ranked

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While veganism used to be a seriously obscure diet, nowadays it's clear that this plant-based way of eating is growing to be far less of an oddity. According to Alliance for Science, about 10% of adult Americans surveyed considered themselves to be vegan as of January 2022. People cited a plethora of concerns for going vegan, including animal rights, climate change, and improving their health. Regardless of the reason, there's a good chance that either you or someone in your social circle is approaching the holidays with a plant-based mindset.

Thankfully, as veganism becomes more common, so do vegan products. Grand View Research observes that the confectionary market is no exception. It exemplifies the extreme growth currently seen in the overall vegan food market. Not only are small-scale vegan brands coming into the market, but larger confectioners are also seeking to provide plant-based alternatives. 

All of this means that there are more vegan candies to fill those Halloween Jack o'lanterns. Lucky for you, we've done the leg work and researched some of the best ones out there, so you don't have to. Below are some of the most popular vegan candies to dig into this Halloween season, ranked from worst to best.

Skittles are no stranger to the Halloween candy bin. The sweet little candies are both bright and bold in flavor, but it may be surprising to learn that this candy aisle staple contains no animal byproducts, according to The Goodness Project. Yet not all Skittles are created equally, meaning that there are some considerations to take before throwing it in with the tofu and oat milk in your grocery cart.

For one, only the classic Skittles are completely free of animal byproducts (via The Goodness Project). Vegans may also want to consider the palm oil that goes into the product. That's because palm oil is a widely disputed ingredient due to major environmental and ethical concerns. While it technically doesn't contain any animal-derived products, it does raise the question if a product can be vegan in spirit if it is not completely cruelty-free or sustainable. 

Yet, we admit that it's hard to be perfectly ethical under capitalism, and for some, Skittles nevertheless remain in the vegan repertoire. Still, given those ethical concerns, it's certainly not the best option around, especially given the wide variety of less morally heavy vegan goodies available nowadays.

Twizzlers are one of a few classic candies that are accidentally vegan, as Everything Vegan observes. The candies are made from a vegan red dye and plant-based gelatin. For some vegans, this may not be enough security when it comes to having a snack, especially if they're worried about bone char-tinged sugar. But for others, this is a green light to enjoy the red treat.

This candy makes for some pretty easy vegan Halloween snacking, given that Twizzlers can be purchased all year, just about everywhere. Moreover, it often comes in festive seasonal packaging and is seriously budget-friendly. If you're trick or treating or handing out candy to the costumed little tykes yourself, consider throwing some Twizzlers in the candy bowl for a plant-based treat. But, for those who are stricter with their veganism, there are other candies out there that are just as yummy while still maintaining a completely sure vegan status.

Caramels may have been written off as candy for your grandma, but maybe grannies have good taste. Certainly, these aren't the caramels of yesteryears. Caramel, when done right, is known for its buttery flavor that uses, well, butter. But Cocomels utilizes coconut milk to get to that same delicious destination without any animal products (via Vegan Essentials).

For vegans who miss caramel, this is the most viable alternative. Even better, Cocomels are also gluten-free and contain neither soy nor corn, meaning that there are a lot of people who can chew on this treat.

With all of that in mind, it's easy to see how Maple Cocomels make for a darn good mix between the traditional and contemporary. The maple syrup added to the mix brings richness while the sea salt lends a new edge to the candy. Ultimately, Maple Cocomels are a perfectly well-rounded autumnal treat that is available for those looking for a more laid-back, yet classic vegan version of your Nana's candy dish.

Hard pretzels are something that you may not see all that often in the candy bowl, but they can make for a pretty simple and perhaps even a chic vegan alternative to other Halloween treats. As per Women's Health, just about all hard pretzels are vegan. However, only plain hard pretzels are vegan, as soft ones might use ingredients like butter and fancier varieties may incorporate animal products. Yogurt, chocolate, or cheese-dipped pretzels generally utilize dairy in their recipes. So, you may need to do some label reading to be sure that your pretzels are, in fact, vegan.

Thankfully, No Whey's Bag of Terror pack is just that. The adorable mini-pretzels come dipped in vegan chocolate and covered with festive orange sprinkles. Simply put, they are indulgent and creative in a way that vegan candies simply sometimes are not. They simply make for a decadent Halloween night treat that's not only vegan, but kosher and gluten-free. Perhaps more importantly, they taste good.

Cracker Jack is a traditional American treat that remains in relative obscurity despite its pop culture relevance courtesy of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (via Library of Congress). This sweet coated popcorn is a well-rounded American treat, through and through. But, many might not know that Cracker Jacks are also vegan

According to Spoonful, Cracker Jacks traditionally don't contain any animal byproducts, including the popcorn and its molasses coating. What's more, the Cracker Jack recipe doesn't use any butter. So, why not bring back a classic American treat to a new group of people? Cracker Jacks can be bought as snack packs, which makes for a wonderful Halloween party favor or an easy trick-or-treat offering. Sure, Cracker Jacks are not explicitly Halloween-oriented and don't have any semblance of spooky festivity to them. Nonetheless, the packs have a jaunty design that harkens to a bygone era and makes for a Halloween handout unlike any other.

Scandinavian Swimmers are a tongue-in-cheek knockoff of another beloved gummy fish, Swedish Fish. Broadly speaking, both Swedish Fish and Scandinavian Swimmers, the Trader Joe's version, are vegan, according to a Facebook post from VegNews. Still, vegans may prefer the Scandinavian Swimmers for their more natural ingredients that steer clear of artificial dyes and flavorings. Plus, some versions of Swedish Fish may contain non-vegan beeswax, according to Veg Knowledge.

Scandinavian Swimmers not only come in a multitude of sea-friend shapes, like rockfish and lobster, but contain just as many flavors, like huckleberry, orange, berry, and mango-peach. As noted by Trader Joe's, the candy's bright colors are made from naturally-derived colors, which can satisfy even the most concerned candy fans. However, these candies might be tricky to incorporate into the Halloween candy bowl, as they aren't individually wrapped. Still, when handled correctly, they can make a big splash at Halloween parties or for your enjoyment.

Oreos are a classic example of a food that's "accidentally" vegan. Although they are supposedly cream-based cookies, Oreos contain no milk or animal byproducts, according to VegNews. While that may be concerning for some readers, others will rejoice in knowing there's some cheap and accessible junk food out there even for vegans.

However, this news comes with a slight warning. As Vegnews observes, only some Oreo flavors are vegan. Specialty flavors tend to not be vegan-friendly and may contain dairy. Meanwhile, the classic Oreo as well as its Golden, Stuf, and gluten-free variations are all known to be vegan friendly. 

If you're looking for something best suited to the spookiest time of year, Oreos has released a trick-or-treat pack. These individual packs of two can add some fright season fun for vegans who might not have many other options on the creepiest night of the year. All in all, this round cookie is a well-rounded option for vegans old and new, not to mention trick-or-treaters and grown-ups alike.