Updated in 2022 with More Candy! Several years ago, a milk allergy mom wrote in and asked, “What dairy-free Halloween candy can my child enjoy?” Halloween is one time of year that many parents let their children splurge on sugar highs. But most of the popular, individually-wrapped treats contain dairy. So I’ve taken the time to compile this big dairy-free candy resource for you!
This post includes over 75 dairy-free Halloween candy options (small, individual packages) that you can find in stores. But it also includes sneaky dairy-containing candy to avoid, trick-or-treating tips, and homemade candy bar recipes. And we’ve got quite a few allergy-friendly and vegan treats too!
Dairy-Free Candy for Halloween Trick-or-Treating
The dairy-free candy below is available in trick-or-treat sized, individually-wrapped, multi-serve packages that you can buy in most stores. They are great for Halloween, parties, or a lunchbox surprise! And at the time of our review, they were all dairy-free by ingredients.*
This list does contain some links to Amazon, which are intended to be helpful and go directly to the “fun sizes.” We do receive very modest commissions from your Amazon purchases via these links which help to support the maintenance of this website. Thank you for your support!
The Big List!
- Airheads (contains soy oil)
- Atkinson’s Peanut Butter Bars** (contains peanut)
- Atomic Fireballs **
- Bazooka Bubble Gum
- Black Forest Gummy Bears (not vegan – contains gelatin)
- Bottle Caps
- Brach’s Candy Corn** (not vegan – contains gelatin and honey)
- Brach’s Candy Corn Seasonal Varieties** (not vegan – contains gelatin and honey)
- Brach’s Caramel Apple Mellowcreme** (not vegan – contains gelatin and honey)
- Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candies
- Brach’s Orange Slices**
- Brach’s Root Beer Barrels
- Brach’s Star Brites**
- Chick-O-Sticks** (contains peanut and soy)
- ChocZero Vegan Keto Chocolate Pumpkins
- Cocomel’s Coconut Milk Caramels**
- Dad’s Root Beer Barrels
- Dots
- Dum Dums (allergy-friendly label)
- Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Bars and Halloween Minis (allergy-friendly label)
- Free2b Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups (allergy-friendly label)
- Gobstoppers (contain egg)
- Goldenberg’s Original Dark Peanut Chews** (contains peanuts and soy)
- Haribo GoldBears (not vegan – contains gelatin and beeswax; contains wheat/gluten)
- Heavenly Organics Honey Patties (not vegan – contains honey)
- Honey Acres Honey Patties (not vegan – contains honey)
- Hot Tamales
- Jelly Nougats** (not vegan – contains egg; some contain soy)
- Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (not vegan – contains beeswax)
- Jolly Rancher Filled Lollipops (not vegan – contains gelatin)
- Jolly Rancher Hard Candies
- Jolly Rancher Lollipops (contains soy)
- Jolly Rancher Assortment (contains soy)
- Jujyfruits
- Junior Mints** (includes Spooky Halloween Boxes; contain soy)
- Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups** (contains peanuts and soy)
- Koochikoo Sugar-Free Lollipops
- Laeta Fruit Jelly Slices
- Laffy Taffy (contains soy; large size also contains egg, but small size does not)
- Lake Champlain Organic Dark Chocolate Minis**
- Lemonheads**
- LifeSavers 5 Flavors Hard Candies
- LifeSavers Butter Rum Hard Candies
- LifeSavers 5 Flavors Gummies (not vegan – contains gelatin)
- Lovely Organic Lollipops
- Mamba (contains wheat)
- Mary Janes (contains peanut and soy)
- Nerds
- Nerds Candy Corn
- No Whey Candy Bar Minis
- Now & Later Soft Taffy (not vegan – contains egg; contains soy)
- Ocho Organic Coconut Chocolate Bar Minis**
- Pez Candy
- Pixy Stix
- Push Pop Lollipops
- Red Bird Soft Puffs Candy (allergy-friendly label)
- Ring Pops**
- Saf-T Pops (allergy-friendly label)
- Skittles
- Skittle Shriekers
- Smarties Candy Rolls*
- Sour Patch Kids (Zombies, too)
- Sour Patch Kids Lollipops (contains soy)
- Sour Punch Twists (contains wheat/gluten)
- Starburst (not vegan – contains gelatin)
- Sunkist Fruit Gems
- Surf Sweets Organic Gummies (allergy-friendly label)
- Swedish Fish
- Sweetarts Original
- Sweetarts Chewy (not vegan – contains egg; Chews contain soy)
- Sweetarts Mini Chews (contain soy)
- Sweetarts Soft & Chewy Ropes (not vegan – contains gelatin; contains wheat/gluten)
- Torie & Howard Chewie Fruities
- Torie & Howard Hard Candy
- Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers** (not vegan – contains gelatin)
- Twizzlers (contains wheat and soy)
- Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars**
- Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups**
- Warheads Extreme Sour Hard Candy** (contains soy)
- Warheads Lollipop Rings**
- YumEarth Chewys (allergy-friendly label)
- YumEarth Gummy Fruits (allergy-friendly label)
- YumEarth Organic Fruit Snacks Packs (allergy-friendly label)
- YumEarth Organic Giggles Candy (allergy-friendly label)
- YumEarth Organic Lollipops (allergy-friendly label)
- Zollipops Sugar-Free Lollipops (allergy-friendly label)
- Zotz Candy (contains wheat)
Dairy-Free Halloween Chocolate & Specialty Treats*
For dairy-free Halloween chocolate, organic candies, and other specialty sweets, see my list of the Cutest, Tastiest, Dairy-Free and Vegan Halloween Treats. A few of these items are listed above because you can find them in Halloween sizing in many stores. But some of them are harder to find in stores or are a more “indulgent” treats that you might want to save for candy swapping with your little dairy-free ghost or goblin.
Sneaky Sweets that Contain Dairy***
Beyond chocolates, some surprising candies do contain milk ingredients. Put up the red flag when you spot any of the candies below.
These Candy Products Contain Dairy
- Bit-O-Honey
- Caramel Apple Pops
- Charleston Chew
- Creme Savers
- Junior Mints Deluxe (but not original Junior Mints)
- Peppermint Patties
- Pop Rocks
- Sugar Babies
- Sugar Daddies
- Tootsie Fruit Chews
- Tootsie Fruit Chew Pops
- Tootsie Pops
- Tootsie Rolls
- Werther’s Candies
These Types of Halloween Candy Can Also Contain Dairy
- Butterscotch Buttons – Most are dairy-free, but the rogue brand contains a touch of butter.
- Caramels – Unless they are specifically labeled as dairy-free or vegan.
- Chocolate – Unless it is specifically labeled as dairy-free or vegan.
- “Cream” and “Caramel” Flavored Candies – Real dairy is often used.
Dairy-Free Halloween Tips
Here are additional tips, warnings, and ideas to help your child safely enjoy some dairy-free candy this Halloween.
- Many food allergy parents stock “safe” candies and chocolates at home (see my Cutest, Tastiest, Dairy-Free and Vegan Halloween Treats for some potential chocolates and special treats). They then swap out the “bad” candies for an assortment of safe ones when their child returns home.
- Another food allergy parent trick is to deliver “safe” dairy-free candy to a few friendly neighbors, so that they can give those treats to their child.
- Half of the Halloween fun is playing dress up! Once they’ve donned their best costumes your child can help greet trick-or-treaters while enjoying their own allergy-friendly treats at home.
- Those miniature versions of full-sized candy packages and candy bars may actually possess different ingredients or be made in a different facility than their larger cousins. So don’t assume they are safe even if you are used to sharing the regular-sized candies with your little one. Check the ingredients!*
- Instead of trick-or-treating, you might start a new Halloween tradition of making dairy-free candy together at home. For ideas, you can jump to our round-up of tasty candy recipes below.
- If you want to avoid food treats altogether, and skip those sugar highs, go teal for Halloween. Sarah and her kids put together this list of 15 Food-Free Halloween Treats That Kids Actually Want.
Dairy-Free Candy & Chocolate Bar Recipes
Save some money and have fun making your own dairy-free Halloween candy!
- Peppermint Patties (vegan, gluten-free, top allergen-free)
- Candy Corn (vegan, gluten-free, nut-free)
- Peanut Butter Twix Bars (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- White Chocolate Crispy Bars (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- Gummy Bears (gluten-free, nut-free)
- Mounds Bars (vegan, gluten-free, top allergen-free)
- Peanut Butter “Truffles” (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- Cashew Joy Candy Bars (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- Eclair Bon Bons (vegan, gluten-free, top allergen-free)
- Snickers Bars (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- Kit Kats (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
- Chocolate Pumpkin Butter Cups (vegan, gluten-free, top allergen-free)
Don’t Forget to Read This …
*Always check the ingredients before consumption. If potential cross contamination is a concern for your needs, always contact the manufacturer to discuss their processes. Never rely on lists or product packaging exclusively when dealing with a severe food allergy. “May contain” warnings are unreliable and unregulated, so they should not be used to assess whether a product is safe. These lists are for informational purposes only and should not replace your own due diligence. Ingredients and processes are subject to change at any time, and without our knowledge. If you notice that a product is no longer dairy-free by ingredients or if there is an error, please kindly comment to let us know.
**We saw a “made in a facility …,” “made on shared equipment …,” or “may contain …” statement for milk on this product. This does not mean the product is “unsafe” or that the other dairy-free candy on this list is “safe.” As mentioned above, “may contain” warnings are voluntary, and are sometimes added for liability prevention. And packaging and processes can vary by region, even with the same candy. You might see a “may contain” warning, and we might not. If dealing with a severe food allergy of any kind, you must contact the manufacturer!!
***To help you read those candy labels, see our Dairy Ingredient List.
For More Dairy-Free Tips & Recipes, Get Go Dairy Free!
If you like my posts, then check out the massively expanded 2nd Edition of Go Dairy Free. It’s packed with recipes, quick guides, and answers for dairy-free living!
25 Comments
Hello, what about pop tarts, the hot fudge one, my son is lactose intolerant…on the ingredients it doesn’t have milk-I compared with other pop tarts which do have milk. Am I wrong?? Please help. I’m new at this.
Some Pop Tarts are dairy-free, and some aren’t. The packaging should tell you if the variety in hand contains milk in the ingredients, or doesn’t. Please note that “may contain” statements are different from “contains” statements. Here is information that you might find helpful -> https://www.godairyfree.org/news/may-contain-statements
There is no way all of those containing MILK CHOCOLATE are dairy free. I am highly allergic and speaking from experiance.
I’m really not sure what you are referring to. This is a dairy-free post and there are no dairy milk chocolate items listed – as those contain dairy.
Kit Kat’s are not gluten free
Kit Kat’s aren’t dairy-free either, which is why they aren’t on this list. You’re looking at the copycat recipes at the bottom of the page. That copycat recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free. Enjoy!
this is kind of urgent, are laffy taffys dairy free? i’m sick and can’t have dairy, and i didn’t even think about it having dairy.
Sorry Alexander, but I don’t have any here to look at! This site looks like it has some ingredients up -> http://www.niftynuthouse.com/product.php?productid=516
Dum dums are vegan.Chick o sticks are also vegan.
Thanks Mache!
The Brach’s Jelly Bean Nougats are discontinued per the manufacturer. I contacted them about a year ago & found out. I’ve been so sad. They still do the Peppermint Nougats though.
I’m sad to hear that!
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Alisa, so does buffered lactic acid contain milk?
Hi Jennifer – See our dairy ingredient list for an easy guide to all questionable ingredients, including lactic acid – http://www.godairyfree.org/dairy-free-grocery-shopping-guide/dairy-ingredient-list-2
Hi, the Haribo GoldBears say “traces of milk”. I’m guessing that’s not safe for an allergy. Thanks for this list, though, it’s a great help!
Please see our May Contain guide to better understand what these types of statements do and don’t mean -> https://www.godairyfree.org/news/may-contain-statements
Mini Oreos were always a favorite treat of mine on Halloween; they make individual packages and tubs that can be handed out!
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Those are great ideas, but common candies that are dairy free include: starburst, skittles, blow pop lollipops, dum dums, bubble gum, candy sticks (previously called candy cigarettes), gummy fruit snacks, fun dip, pixie sticks, jolly ranchers, laffy taffy, – this is what the kids will get – so check the labels and if they are good, then enjoy. My daughter has a dairy allergy and she simply swaps with friends/brother and in the end everyone is happy.
Blow pops actually aren’t dairy free
Jolly Ranchers are not dairy free.
Hi Daphne, good news, they are! I think you may be confusing ingredients like sodium lactate with dairy. Here’s our researched dairy ingredient list for your reference – http://www.godairyfree.org/dairy-free-grocery-shopping-guide/dairy-ingredient-list-2 – to note, under labeling laws, if it was dairy derived, this would have to be noted on the ingredient statement. To date, I have not seen a dairy lactate in a product in the U.S.
I apologize. It has been years since I checked the package, but I think they used to contain buffered lactic acid, just like ring pops and many other clear sugar candies. I have been pulling jolly ranchers out of my kiddo’s candy bag for years. Now that he is too old to trick or treat, I learn this! Poor kid.
Consider it a blessing in disguise – I don’t think eating less candy is a bad thing! 🙂