If you’re not vegan, you might not realize that something innocuous as table sugar and an ingredient called confectioner’s glaze are actually made using animal products. However, once you start to pay attention to which products contain animal products, the results can be pretty surprising. Milk, cream, butter, condensed milk, casein, and whey are all off-limits. Gelatin, which is often used in gummies, is also off the table, as well as many varieties of sugar as mentioned above.
However, going vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite candy cold turkey. Sure, you might not able to eat milk chocolate or regular table sugar, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all things sweet. You just need to find some vegan-friendly staples that you can turn to when you’re craving something sweet. Here’s how to do it.
How to Make Your Own Vegan Candy
To create your own vegan candy, you first need to stock your pantry with some vegan options. Unfortunately, this requires a little digging. Many sugar companies use bone char in processing and refining sugarcane to achieve the bright white color of sugar. There are a few brands that make white refined cane sugar without the use of bone char and will be marked as certified vegan. Another option is to use refined beet sugar, raw sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or brown rice syrup. Remember, honey isn’t considered vegan either because it’s produced by bees.
Finding vegan chocolate options can also be tricky. Though cacao beans are 100% vegan, many chocolate bars on the market are mixed with milk, whey, casein, milk, milk fat, or milk solids – even dark chocolate. The easiest way to ensure a product is vegan is to look for the “V” or “Certified Vegan” symbol on the package. You can also look at the allergen warning. If it says it contains milk, the chocolate is not vegan.
Top 10 Vegan Candy Options
If you’re looking for the best vegan candy around, you’ve come to the right place. Here are ten amazingly delicious vegan candy options:
Delicious vegan chocolate isn’t easy to come by, but this collection includes eight decadent bars. Each bar features its own unique flavor, such as rose pistachio, coconut milk cashew, cardamom dark, orange clove, pure dark, vanilla fennel, lemon coriander, and dark rose.
2. Mediterranean Pastries Vegan Box
This vegan box is packed with delectable treats, such as Bjewia Pistachio topped with dried rose petals or Baklava EL Bey. Each of the treats is balanced with 70% nuts so they provide just the right amount of sweetness.
3. Vegan Butterfinger Candy Bars
Made with dried mulberries, peanuts, fine salt, raw agave nectar, and vanilla extract, these candy bars are a healthy version of a classic favorite. It’s all topped with your favorite vegan chocolate.
Just a cup of brown rice syrup, vanilla, coconut oil, powdered sugar, and tapioca flour come together to create a batch of delicious 100% vegan candy corn. It’s worth the extra effort to upgrade this classic candy.
This buckeye candy is made with creamy peanut butter, dairy-free butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips, and vegan vegetable shortening. It’s also conveniently a no-bake recipe.
These candy bars are made with five layers of sweet and salty goodness. The first layer is made with peanut butter sweetened with Medjool dates, while the other layers consist of pretzel squares, peanut butter, crushed peanuts, and a chocolate chip topping.
These mouth-watering vegan Snickers bars combine a brownie base with a creamy cashew nougat, homemade caramel with peanuts, and a chocolate topping. They’re conveniently no-bake, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
This almond bark couldn’t be easier to make and tastes simply delicious. Just roast some almonds, mix them into melted chocolate chunks, and pour into an eight-by-eight baking dish.
These vegan Almond Joy bars are made with coconut dipped in rich chocolate, topped with roasted almonds, and finished off with a chocolate drizzle. Even better, they contain only healthy, gluten-free ingredients.
Made with simple ingredients, these vegan peanut butter cups might just rival the store-bought Reese’s. With dairy-free chocolate chips, coconut oil, peanut butter, maple syrup, and sea salt, they’re also easier to make than you might think.
These vegan candies are so delicious, you won’t even miss the milk and sugar. You’ll be able to get your sweet fix without compromising the diet that’s important to you.
