We often get asked what candy is vegan? As it turns out, a lot of our childhood favorite candies are accidentally vegan. There are also tons of candy manufacturers nowadays who are making vegan-friendly versions of our favorite candies.
Whether it’s to indulge on during the holidays or to munch on during a Netflix binge, vegan candy is exciting to have around. Or some might even say, dangerous to have around. For that reason, we’ve curated the best vegan candy you can find on Amazon in Canada.
Why Most Candy is Not Vegan
Many of the popular candies found in stores are not vegan because they tend to contain animal-based products or animal byproducts. Asides from the obvious example of dairy, some other examples of non-vegan ingredients include gelatin, lanolin, castoreum, honey and carmine. Carmine is a coloring agent used in red candies that is made from crushed female cochineal insects. Pretty gross right? Even more gross is castoreum. Castoreum is discretely labelled as “natural flavoring” and is literally derived from the anal secretions of beavors. This ingredient is most often found in berry or vanilla flavored candies, but it unfortunately won’t be listed in the ingredients.
Disclaimer: Figuring out whether or not a candy is vegan is not always as straight-forward as looking at the ingredients listed. For that reason, we can't guarantee that all of the candy listed in this article is 100% vegan. But we can guarantee that it's at least plant-based.
20+ Best Vegan Candy in Canada in 2023
Swedish Berries
Good news, Swedish Berries are one of those childhood favorite candies that are accidentally vegan!
Jolly Rancher (Hard candy)
While Jolly Rancher candies’ ingredient appear to be vegan-friendly, further analysis lead us to learn that their candies are actually just plant-based.
Sour Patch Kids
While Sour Patch Kids are not vegan due to their coloring agent that is tested on animals, they are plant-based. To eat or not to eat, the choice is yours.
Rockets
Everyone remembers Rockets from their good ol’ trick-or-treating days. Well, it just so happens that Rockets are another vegan-friendly candy.
Skittles
We were quite pleased to learn that Skittles do not contain any animal-derived products. Enjoy them as you please!
Swedish Fish
Swedish Fish is another soft and chewy candy that uses corn starch instead of gelatin. That said, Swedish Fish can happily be enjoyed on a vegan diet!
AirHeads
Air Heads are tasty, tangy and fun to chew. They’re also accidentally vegan! Enjoy their White Mystery flavor.
Cadbury Vegan Salted Caramel Chocolate Bar
Craving smooth milk chocolate that’s vegan-friendly? Cadbury recently launched a fully plant-based chocolate bar in Canada, and it’s delicious! It’s made with almond paste instead of dairy, and comes in a sweet and salty Salted Caramel flavour.
TWIZZLERS
TWIZZLERS are one of those candies that grown adults can totally get away with eating in public. At the end of the day, they’re licorize aren’t they? To our luck, they’re also vegan-friendly.
Smart Sweets Candies
Smart Sweet’s candies are vegan, low in sugar and delicious! Enjoy their peach rings, gummy bears, sweet fish and sour blast buddies.
PÜR Chewing Gum
PÜR’s chewing gums are vegan, aspartame-free and provide long-lasting flavor compared to other gums out there.
Yummy Earth Organic Pops
Yummy Earth’s lollipops are certified vegan, organic and free from artificial coloring. Each pack comes with a variety of fun flavors including mango, pomegranate, cherry and more!
Yupik Gummy Bears (+ more)
We absolutely love Yupik as they carry loads of organic, gelatin-free gummies in bulk sizes. If you’re not fond of gummy bears, explore their Amazon shop for other vegan candy options.
Annie's Pink Lemonade Bunny Fruits
In addition to their famous vegan mac & cheese, Annie’s offers a bunch of yummy vegan candies. We love their Pink Lemonade gummies!
Cocomels - Coconut Milk Caramels
Anyone who was a fan of Werther’s Caramel Candy before going vegan will appreciate Cocomels’ Caramel candies. Instead of dairy, they’re made from creamy, organic coconut milk.
Lindt 70% Dark Chocolate
If you’re into dark chocolate, Lindt’s 70% cacao bar is dairy-free and definitely worth a try! It’s smooth, creamy, slightly sweet yet full-bodied.
Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds & Sea Salt
Made from 62% dark chocolate, Prana’s Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt bark is to die for. It’s also one of few Certified Vegan chocolates on Amazon.
Ginger Chews
Chimes’ Ginger Chews are by far our favorite brand of ginger candies out there. They’re soft, chewvy, made from real Java ginger, slightly spicy and of course, vegan.
Russell Stover Starlight Mints
Whether you’re 92 years old or 20, peppermint candies are convenient to have around. Based on the ingredients list, these candies are also vegan!
Candy Canes
Are candy canes vegan? Not always, but Sweet Nature’s Candy Canes are 100% vegan since they use a plant-based red food coloring agent.
Turkish Delights
Turkish Delights are a Turkish delicacy that make a great holiday gift. They’re vegan by nature and come in many different flavors. Nowadays, certain brands contain gelatin, so always check the ingredients.
