It’s almost Halloween and that means it’s time to stock up on lots of candy for trick or treaters (and for yourself). You’ll want to read the labels so you can know exactly what is in those treats.  Some may contain dairy or eggs while others have gelatin or crushed beetles. That’s scarier than any monster or goblin!!

Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours making homemade candy for Halloween (though that would be delicious too). There are plenty of candies – some classic, some new – that are “accidentally vegan.” That means they just happen to not contain any animal products (whether they are healthy or not is a whole other issue). So get ready to fill up your trick-or-treat bag because these 25 candy brands are vegan.

1. Airheads

Airheads are chewy candies that are tangy with four fruity flavors. They are nut-free, gluten-free, and low-fat and have none of the major allergens including milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. Kids and adults have been enjoying these candies for decades. It’s one time when being called an airhead may be a compliment!

2. Brach’s Fruit Slices

BRACH’S® Fruit Slices are made with real fruit juices which is something you don’t often see in candy. These jelly candies come in six favorite flavors – grape, lemon, cherry, strawberry, orange, and apple. One serving gives you 100 percent of your daily Vitamin C requirements. These are a better choice than most fruity candies, one you can feel good about giving out.

3. Charms Blow Pops

Charms Blow Pops are hard candy lollipops that come in strawberry, cherry, watermelon, grape, and sour apple. Each lollipop is filled with bubble gum that according to the wise owl in the commercial (remember him?), it takes one-two-three licks to get to. 

4. Chick-o-Stick Nuggets

No, these aren’t made with chicken. Chick-o-Stick nuggets are fresh-roasted Texas jumbo peanuts that are sprinkled with salt and then ground with sugar. Then they are rolled into sticks that are a yummy mix of peanuts and crunchy candy and finally coated with lightly toasted coconut. They come in big sticks or in bite-sized nuggets.

5. Cracker Jacks, Original

For over 120 years, people have loved Cracker Jack Caramel Coated Popcorn and Peanuts. Each box has caramel-coated popcorn, tasty nuts and of course, a prize inside. This classic treat is a favorite with kids and adults. Maybe you’ll get a decoder ring this time or those cool temporary tattoos!

6. Cry Baby Extra Sour Bubble Gum

Cry Baby Extra Sour Bubble Gum comes individually wrapped in five sour flavors including lemon, cherry, berry, orange, and apple. If you can handle the sour flavors, you’ll love this gum. Pucker up and blow some really big bubbles!

7. Dots

Dots are fruity gumdrops that come in five flavors: strawberry, lemon, cherry, orange, and lime. They’re chewy, fruity and delicious. This is a classic candy that has been loved for generations.

8. Dum Dums

Dum Dums are the classic lollipops you probably remember from your childhood. They come in a variety of flavors and they are free of major allergens. Chances are your grandparents remember eating Dum Dums because they’ve been loved for decades. You would be a dum dum not to stock up on these!

9. Fun Dip

Fun Dip has a candy stick that kids can stick into the candy powder. The powder comes in assorted flavors and you could mix them with water to make fruity drinks. Kids know, however, that it’s much more fun to eat the powder with the stick and then eat the stick itself. This is the kind of dip kids can truly appreciate.

10. Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, Dark Chocolate

Original Dark Chocolate Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews are little candies filled with chewy, chocolatey, bite-sized goodness and are loaded with peanuts. There aren’t a lot of chocolate candies that are dairy-free so these are special. Stock up on these peanut chews in case you’re tempted to snatch a few from the treat bag for yourself.

11. Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum

Hubba Bubba offers great tasting bubble gum and candy with outrageous flavors and fun shapes like rolls of tape or big chewy chunks. Hubba Bubba has been a huge hit since it debuted over 30 years ago. Do you remember the rumor that went around saying it was made with spider eggs? Well, don’t worry because Hubba Bubba is totally vegan.

12. Jolly Rancher Hard Candy

Jolly Rancher Hard Candy comes in assorted flavors including watermelon, apple, cherry, grape, and blue raspberry. These hard candies are low in sodium but high on flavor. Kids will love the fruity taste of these treats.

13. Laffy Taffy

Laffy Taffy is stretchy and tangy and comes in an assortment of flavors including strawberry, banana, grape, and sour apple. They contain no artificial flavors so you can feel good about kids eating them. There is also a joke on every wrapper so you’ll be laughing while you’re chewing. That’s a win-win!

14. Mary Jane Candy

Mary Jane Candy has been around since I was a kid. They are chewy peanut butter-flavored nuggets that everyone loves. These are a classic your parents will remember and your kids will love getting to know. I mean, peanut butter – who doesn’t love peanut butter?

15. Newman’s Own Licorice Twists

Newman’s Own Licorice Twists are made with organic sugar and contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. When you buy Newman’s Own candies, you can be sure the ingredients are high-quality. Chewy licorice sticks are always popular and the black color is perfect for Halloween.

16. Now & Later Long Lasting Chews

Now & Later long lasting chews come in assorted flavors including grape, strawberry, watermelon, apple and cherry. They now make these candies softer so you won’t need a visit to the dentist afterward. They got their name because kids love to eat them now and later.

17. Pez Candy

You probably had a few Pez dispensers as a kid. These small rolls of Pez Candy can be used to refill the dispensers or hand them out on their own. They come in an assortment of various flavors. Which Pez dispensers did you have? I think I had The Flintstones.

18. Pixy Stix

For over 50 years, kids have been enjoying world-famous Pixy Stix. Each straw is filled with fruity powder. Just open the straw and eat the powder straight or you can mix the powder into water for a fruity drink. They have no artificial flavors so it’s all fruity goodness.

19. Skittles Bite Size Candies

Skittles have been making kids and adults happy since 1979. Each bag has a variety of bite-sized chewy candies with colorful candy shells. They are gluten-free and gelatin-free. With a rainbow of colors, skittles are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. Eat the rainbow.

20. Smarties Candy Rolls

Indulge your sweet tooth with the gluten-free and yummy Smarties candy wafer roll you know and love, just the way you remember it. I had these when I was a kid. Each roll is filled with sweet hard candies that kids will love getting in their trick-or-treat bags.

21. Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids offer a soft and chewy treat that is low-fat. Each piece of individually wrapped candy tastes sour at first but wait! Keep eating it and it gets sweet. It happens because of a special coating, but kids will think it’s magic. Let them think that – the world needs more magic!

22. Starbursts Minis

Starburst candies are packed with a variety of great tasting fruit flavors and a deliciously chewy texture, to be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. Starbursts have been a favorite of people for years and now you can get the same fruity flavor in these mini-candies. Get the sensation!

23. Swedish Fish

Swedish Fish are soft and chewy candies that come in delicious fruit flavors and look like fish. I don’t know if they look Swedish but rest assured, they aren’t really made from fish. Just yummy candy that kids can have fun eating and that’s what Halloween is all about.

24. Twizzlers

Twizzlers are everyone’s favorite licorice. Ever since I was a kid, Twizzlers was the brand of licorice we always got. All Twizzlers products and flavors are vegan and kosher. The original licorice flavor was introduced in 1845 and in the late 1970s,  the company expanded to include other flavors like watermelon and strawberry.  They come in all shapes and sizes so there’s something for everyone!

25. Zotz

Zotz are individually wrapped assorted sour fizzing candies that are so delicious. You think you’re just enjoying a sweet hard candy and then all of a sudden, surprise. The candy starts getting sour and fizzy – watching the kids hit the surprise center is half the fun!

Halloween may be the one day of the year when kids and adults indulge in as much candy as they like, so go ahead and join the fun!

Lead image source: Andy Simmons/Flickr