Calling all sweet lovers! We’ve summarised some of the tastiest vegan sweets available here in the UK, with options for every taste and budget. From gourmet gelatine-free sweets to accidentally vegan treats, kicking your sugar cravings has never been so simple! Check out our ultimate guide to vegan sweets below.
How to find tasty vegan treats
Ever find yourself wandering through the supermarket aisles thinking – what sweets are vegan?! There’s no doubt that enjoying your favourite foods on a vegan diet is becoming easier and more accessible. Nevertheless, navigating the many non-vegan products on supermarket shelves is still a frustrating reality for many of us.
That’s why, before we get to the good stuff, we’ve compiled our top tips for finding cruelty-free confectionaries quickly and easily!
Look out for the Vegan Trademark
The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark is the most widely recognised accreditation and will help you pick out plant-based goodies in just a couple of minutes. You can take a look at the Vegan Trademark and what it means here.
Shop for vegan sweets online
There are many fantastic online shops, such as the VeganKind supermarket, that sell exclusively vegan sweets! Why not fill your cupboards with a delicious stash?
Know what non-vegan ingredients to avoid
When searching for vegan sweets, it helps to know which ingredients to avoid. Although allergens like milk and egg will often be written in bold, many other non-vegan ingredients won’t be. These include:
- Honey
- Beeswax
- Gelatine
- Cochineal (sometimes listed as ‘carmine’)
- Lard
- Shellac
- Bone char
If a packet of sweets lists any of these ingredients, it contains animal products and is therefore not suitable for vegans.
What sweets are vegan?
It’s time to satisfy your sweet tooth with our ultimate list of vegan sweets available in the UK. Enjoy!
Please note that unfortunately, brands often change their recipes. This means that many “accidentally vegan” products may not always be free from gelatine, shellac, and other animal products. Please always double-check sweet packets before eating them to ensure their recipe is still 100% cruelty-free.
Jealous Sweets
All Jealous Sweets are gluten-free and plant-based, so you can choose any item from its range without worrying! We love a conscious, compassionate company – and Jealous Sweets certainly fits the bill. How about tucking into these cute Grizzly Bears? Yum!
Freedom Mallows
There’s nothing better than sitting around a roaring fire, toasting marshmallows. Thanks to Freedom Mallows, you’ll be able to join in the bonfire tradition! From vanilla marshmallows to chocolate-coated mallow bars, Freedom Mallows offers a tasty treat for every tastebud.
Candy Kittens
If you’re a fan of fizzy, fruity gummies, you’ll love Candy Kittens’ gourmet range of vegan sweets. Candy Kittens may be more expensive than many other vegan sweets, but seeing as they’re carbon neutral and free from palm oil, we’ll pay the price!
Please note that not all Candy Kittens sweets are vegan. However, they are all vegetarian.
Conscious Candy Company
In the mood for vegan treats? There are few places as well-equipped to satisfy your sweet tooth than the Conscious Candy Company! With over 80 types of vegan sweets, with completely cruelty-free alternatives to your favourite pick ‘n’ mix goodies, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
How about these vegan foam bananas or neon fizzy worms? If you can dream it, you can find it – thanks to the Conscious Candy Company!
Jelly Tots
If you judged them by their name, you probably wouldn’t believe that Jelly Tots are, in fact, vegan. Nevertheless, the jelly within them is 100% free from animal products – making these some of the tastiest gelatine-free sweets available!
Fruit Pastilles
Jelly Tots aren’t the only vegan offering from Rowntree’s! If you’re a Fruit Pastilles fan, you’ll be pleased to know they’re also vegan-friendly. You’ll find Fruit Pastilles in most supermarkets, making them the perfect snack whether you’re doing your weekly shop, heading to work, or embarking on a road trip.
Skittles
Who doesn’t love Skittles? These ultra-tasty sweets are truly delicious, and despite the hard coating they’re encased in, don’t contain any shellac. Please note that only Original Fruits are confirmed to be vegan, and some of the limited edition Skittles flavours unfortunately contain animal products.
Starburst
Chewy, fruity and oh-so-delicious, you’ve probably got your fingers crossed that Starburst are vegan. Well, they are – sometimes. Although the Starburst manufactured in the UK are vegan, many other countries, including the USA, follow a non-vegan recipe.
Even if you’re in the UK, it’s definitely worth checking the label before diving into a pack of Starburst, just to be sure. You can read more about Starburst and whether they’re vegan or not here.
Dominion’s Fizzy Belts
Aldi boasts a sizeable vegan range, including lots of “accidentally vegan” sweets! These include Fizzy Belts by Dominion, which are perfectly tangy and tantalisingly good. If you’ve got a sugar craving, these will certainly hit the spot!
Dominion’s Leo the Lion
Another sweet treat from Aldi, Dominion’s Leo the Lion are the perfect vegan alternative to gummies, such as Marks & Spencers’ Percy Pigs (which contain beeswax, and are therefore not suitable). Next time you shop in Aldi, why not give them a try?
Refreshers
Refeshers are a truly retro sweet. For a touch of nostalgia, let Swizzels take care of your sweet tooth; with their ultra sugary sherbet centre, snacking on a couple of Refreshers is sure to give you a rush! They’re also completely vegan and cruelty-free, which makes them all the more tasty.
Love Hearts
Swizzels offers a range of vegan treats, including Love Hearts! These old school party favourites are printed with cute messages and are perfect for handing out to your friends, family and colleagues. Parma Violets and Fizzers are also vegan, so you’re not short of cruelty-free treats from this classic British sweetshop.
What are your favourite vegan treats? Are you a vegan sweets fan or do you prefer chocolate? Perhaps you’re more of a savoury person who chooses crisps and salty snacks over sugary goodness!
Whatever it is that tickles your taste buds, we want to know about it. Get in touch with us today!