Vegan Sweets.
They are heavenly little packages of happiness.
Katy Perry even used to base her entire wardrobe on candy! (I wish that I could lie on a candy floss cloud!)
However, identifying vegan friendly sweets can be challenging.
Firstly, not all gelatin free sweets are vegan.
Secondly, not all vegan sweets are clearly labelled as vegan.
This leaves us desperately trying to read the fine print on the back of a tiny package.
Who has the time?
When searching for some satisfying sweet treats, we’re used to looking out for common culprits like butter, milk, and eggs.
But, when looking for sweets suitable for vegetarians and vegans, some tricky ingredients might catch us off guard. Gelatin, beeswax and honey, just to name a few!
But fear not! We’re here to tell you absolutely everything that you need to know when it comes to navigating the world of vegetarian and vegan friendly sweets.
We’ve already told you a bit about some awesome vegan comfort foods, but there is a whole Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-esque world of vegan sweets out there too, (if it existed, I’d move there.)
So strap in, because you’re about to get majorly clued up about vegan friendly sweets that you didn’t even know were vegan, the best vegan sweet boxes and even how to make vegan sweets.
(Spoiler alert! Starburst are vegan!)
So, here is our ultimate guide to navigating the wondrous world of vegan and vegetarian sweets available in the UK.
Get ready for a sugar rush!
Source: Unsplash
When it comes to the delightful world of vegan and vegetarian sweets, you might not be familiar with all the ingredients that you need to look out for.
Some of them have science-y sounding names, or maybe you’ve just never heard of them.
Source: Unsplash
Well, that’s the science bit out of the way, now you can impress your friends with your knowledge of E numbers.
Let’s get down to business.
What sweets are actually vegan!?
Well, the list might surprise you. It’s quite long.
There is even a tonne of UK childhood favourites that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans!
Source: Pixabay
What a classic.
Starburst are renowned for their juicy-ness, and they are an all-time favourite from generation to generation.
They come in their standard wax paper-wrapped cubes or as cute little Starburst Minis. (Perfect for a midday pick me up!)
Starburst’s luscious fruity flavours include Strawberry, Lemon, Orange and Lime. (Lime is my personal favourite – green sweets are underrated!)
They’ve also recently introduced some newer flavours like Apple, Blackcurrant and Combined Lemon and Lime.
Honestly, Starburst needs no introduction. They are enjoyed by kids and adults alike every day and all around the world. (We’re all still kids at heart right?)
These juicy vegan sweets are wrapped up like little gifts and taste even better than they look. (Just don’t leave them in your pocket all day, unless you’re a fan of melted sweets.)
Take a trip down memory lane and pick yourself up these ‘accidentally vegan sweets’ the next time you need a sweet hit!
Source: Unsplash
February is coming up, and love is in the air!
If you’ve got your heart set on a certain vegan-someone, then Love Hearts are the perfect festive gift to win their undying devotion, (it would work on me, at least!)
Each Love Heart is a pretty pastel shade and is printed with little words that are just as sweet as they are.
Love Hearts are one of the few vegan sweets that deviates slightly from the classic fruit flavours.
Aside from orange, lemon and lime, you can taste delicate vanilla, fragrant berry and sharp cherry flavours of Love Hearts too!
These sherbet sweets make excellent gifts and can be customised with personalised messages for any occasion, from baby shower to hen party.
For an even bolder look, you can buy Emoji Love Hearts with cute little faces on instead.
So, pick up a pack of these vegan and gelatin free sweets and share the love!
Source: Unsplash
These (so tiny you have no choice but to pour them in your mouth) treats are another example of classic gelatin free and vegan friendly sweet available in the UK.
These vegan sweets even won the Food from Scotland Excellence Award and are a childhood staple all over the UK.
Who else remembers asking for 10p worth of millions and getting way more than you thought you would?
There are loads of totally dazzling flavours of Millions including Strawberry, Bubblegum, Raspberry, Apple, Blackcurrant and Banana.
These delicious vegan sweets also come in the flavours of popular soft drinks including Cola, Vimto and even Iron Brew!
These timeless vegan sweets are so yummy that they’re practically one in a million (get it?)
Source: Amazon
Who doesn’t love to see a rainbow?
It’s even better when that rainbow is covered in sugar, and you can eat it.
The Haribo Rainbow Strips are one of the few Haribo sweets that are actually suitable for vegetarians and vegans because they are totally free from animal products.
These vegan sweets are probably the most satisfying of all.
You can either stuff the whole thing in your mouth or carefully peel each coloured strip away to make this alluring vegan sweet last just a little bit longer.
It’s so very pleasing.
They are also super sour, so they’ll definitely have you pulling a face when you eat them!
Why not brighten up a rainy day with the vegan Haribo Rainbow Strips?
Source: Unsplash
Skittles – one side of a long-term (but light-hearted) feud with M&M’s.
Well, Skittles certainly have at least one thing that M&M’s don’t…Skittles have recently been transformed into vegan sweets with the removal of carmine!
Finally, the joyous rainbow that is Skittles can be tasted by everyone.
They have certainly been a popular sweet for a long time, did you know that they were established in 1974!?
Skittles fans (so, everyone) can enjoy the classic red-packet full of Blackcurrant, Lemon, Lime, Orange and Strawberry flavoured Skittles.
However, if the classic flavours just aren’t cutting it for you, the Wild Berry and Crazy Sours skittles ranges are also available year-round. They contain some incredible flavours like Wild Cherry and Sour Pineapple.
Why not mix things up and try some different flavours of Skittles?
Source: Swizzels Official Website
Ah, Parma Violets, the Marmite of the sweet world.
Whether you love them or hate them, these retro tubes of floral flavour are another vegan friendly sweet available in the UK.
These little purple packets are found in practically every mixed sweet tub or children’s party bag.
They’re also available in a giant size if you’re a hardcore Parma Violets fan.
Some people are such Parma Violets fanatics that they came together to create a free recipe book (cleverly named 50 Tastes of Purple) based entirely around this vegan-friendly sweet!
You can even find some totally vegan Parma Violets recipes in there. (Including a few cheeky vegan Parma Violets cocktails!)
You’ll want to stock up on these little lavender lovelies on the 26th of June, which (apparently) is National Parma Violets Day!
Given that these are totally gelatin free and vegan friendly sweets, why not give them their own national holiday?
You can even bake one of those vegan Parma Violets cakes to celebrate.
Source: Hancocks
This indulgent sweet has some handy instructions right in the name!
You dip and then you dab! (Not the dance move, please.)
The Sherbet Dip Dab is a total sugar-fest and great for those of us with an extra-strong sweet tooth.
This vegan sweet is basically a strawberry flavoured red lollipop and a bag of lemon flavoured sherbet which you can dip it into.
It’s actually quite fun to decide how you’ll construct your lollipop and sherbet combination.
Dip the lollipop until the sherbert is all gone?
Just tip the sherbert right into your mouth instead?
Both are legitimate ways to enjoy this tangy vegan sweet.
If strawberry isn’t your favourite, they’ve recently changed things up with a sour version of the Sherbet Dip Dab, which is also vegan friendly. It’s apple flavoured and promises to turn your tongue green!
Despite the iconic bright red lollipop of the Sherbet Dip Dab, this vegan sweet is also free from artificial colours and flavours!
Have I blown your socks off with the number of UK vegetarian and vegan sweets that you already know and love?
The best part is that these vegetarian and vegan sweets are available in pretty much every major supermarket in the UK.
You’ve seen the classic sweets that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans, but did you know that there are a whole load of brand-spanking-new vegan sweets that have been carefully curated to satisfy the ever-growing plant-based population.
Because these vegan sweets have been developed specifically with the plant-based in mind, they are often mindful of using healthier ingredients and sustainable processes and packaging.
As these new companies come up with innovative vegan sweets, they have also steered clear of typical fruit flavours and brought some exotic variety to the world of vegan sweets.
Now that’s what I call a win, win, win!
Here are our top 7 totally new vegan sweets:
Source: Candy Kittens Official Website
A packet of Candy Kittens is enough to make anybody purr. In fact, they are a personal favourite of mine.
Founded in 2012, Candy Kittens is a fashion-forward vegan and vegetarian sweet company that makes candy with the sweet-toothed adult in mind.
Just take a look at those chic polka-dot bags!
Candy Kittens have come up with super inventive vegan sweets that go beyond the normal fruit flavours and satisfy the more complex adult palate. (fancy sweets, basically)
Eton Mess, Sour Watermelon and Tropical Mango are just a selection of the mouth-watering flavours of vegetarian and vegan sweets that Candy Kittens has to offer.
With the modern vegan in mind, Candy Kittens is a mission-driven company that makes sure that their processes and packaging are as sustainable as possible.
They are palm-oil free, packed in recyclable packaging and are on their way to becoming carbon neutral.
For those of us with sustainability in mind, Candy Kittens ticks all the boxes and more!
Marshmallows are the light fluffy clouds of the sweet world.
They are super versatile, perfect for roasting over a fire, topping off a decadent hot chocolate, or just eating plain.
Marshmallows are one of the traditional sweets that vegans and vegetarians used to go without because they ordinarily contain both gelatin and egg.
But Freedom Mallows came to save the day with their killer (but not literally, of course) vegan Mallows!
Their classic Pink and White Mallows are just one of their vegan-friendly, gelatine-free sweets that contain no soy, tree nuts, or artificial colours and flavours.
They are also halal and kosher, so pretty much anyone can enjoy them!
Freedom Confectionery Co. even has some ‘Vegantic Mallows’ that are specifically for roasting.
Imagine those babies in a vegan s’more!
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, why not try their Chocolate-coated Vegan Mallow Bar?
At less than £2 a bar, you won’t be breaking the bank with these soft Lancashire-based vegan sweets.
The pick ‘n’ mix stand is an undisputed cornerstone of the candy world.
What could be more exciting than hand-picking your favourite sweets and enjoying your own personalised feast?
Well, the Conscious Candy Co. is just as enthusiastic about pick ‘n’ mix as the rest of us are.
They have created an irresistible range of pick ‘n’ mix vegan sweets that will have you living out your childhood fantasies in no time!
Vegan Fried Eggs? Yup. Vegan Fudge? Sure. Vegan Candy Necklaces? You bet!
You can even grab yourself one of their 1kg Vegan Pick ‘n’ Mix Bags that comes in completely compostable packaging.
(I’m pretty sure that the sustainable packaging offsets the guilt of eating 1kg worth of vegan sweets)
Source: Jealous Sweets Official Website
Jealousy is ugly, but these vegan sweets sure aren’t
These gluten-free and totally vegan sweets are so tasty, you won’t want to share them with anyone else.
Each Jealous Sweets product is based on a candy classic, such as the gummy bear or gummy worm.
But what makes them different is their vibrant flavours and sugar-free range.
Jealous Sweets are also made using real fruit juice, so you won’t have any of those strange artificial fruit flavours found in some other sweets.
Take the sugar-free Love Bears – these tangy grapefruit and pineapple flavoured vegan sweets may be sugar-free, but they’re tasty enough to make anyone feel giddy!
It’s time to make yourself the envy of all of your plant-based pals, with a packet of Jealous Sweets.
Source: Candy Industry
The Free From Fellows are flipping fantastic! (See what I did there?)
These candy connoisseurs have a huge range of gelatin free sweets that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans whether you are four or forty-two.
They even won the Best Food Product Award and the Silver Free From Food Awards in 2020.
They’re also one of the few sweets suitable for vegetarians and vegans that are totally sugar-free and a good option for people with diabetes!
Part of their epic range of vegan sweets includes Wine Gums, Midget Gems and Cola Bottles, all of which come in some delightful pastel pouches.
These sweets are particularly kid-friendly, so you’ll be able to satisfy the little ones without giving them a major sugar rush.
These are a healthier alternative that your kids will actually appreciate!
Not Guilty Sweet Revolution offers a particularly unique range of vegan sweets that are pretty hard to find anywhere else.
This includes vegan gummy beans and vegan liquorice.
Not Guilty’s sweets are also totally organic, another rare feature of these vegan friendly sweets.
Each of their items has a cute and romantic name like ‘Hug Me Please’ or ‘Kiss Me Softly’ that give Love Hearts a run for their money.
Not Guilty is a French company (the language of love, I guess!) but it’s easy to find some bags of Not Guilty’s vegan and vegetarian sweets in the UK too.
Not Guilty really live up to their name.
They donate 1% of their turnover to environmental causes, so by supporting them, you’re definitely doing your bit for the planet.
There’s no question about it – you’ve got to try these revolutionary vegan sweets!
The Fabulous Free From Factory is an older family-owned company, so they’ve really honed their craft when it comes to making awesome vegan friendly sweets.
It’s their dreamy vegan fudge that will really catch your attention.
This soft, rich and creamy soy-based vegan sweet will have you convinced that you’re eating ordinary fudge.
They even offer a sea-salt and chocolate-covered fudge that adds an extra layer of decadence to the experience, creating a blissfully sweet and salty balance.
All of their sweets are suitable for vegetarians and vegans as well as being approved by the Vegetarian Society.
So hurry the fudge up and get your hands on these vegan sweets!
Well, now you know just how many vegan sweets are out there.
Whether you’re reminiscing with an ‘accidentally vegan’ childhood classic or indulging in the newer more exotic vegan sweets available, you’re in for a real treat.
Vegan sweets boxes make a great gift for anybody on any occasion, from birthday to anniversary.
They are fun, tasty and can be delivered straight to anyone’s door!
All of these vegan sweet boxes are positively enchanting, you’ll be ordering one for your next occasion in no time!
The Vegan Sweet Box takes all things retro and gives them a much needed vegan update.
They offer a whopping 25+ flavours of vegan sweets including Cola Bottles, Sour Cherries and Peach Rings!
With such an extensive range of vegan sweets, there is no way that you won’t find something you absolutely adore from the Vegan Sweet Box.
You can opt for their indulgent 900g Ultimate Vegan Sweet Box, or you can go for their ‘Pick Your Favourite’ 200g bag which contains one type of vegan sweet of your choice!
Most of their packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable, including their bags, stickers and eco-tape, (now that’s commitment!)
They’ll also add a free personalised hand-message to their vegan sweet boxes, so you can write something heart-warming and personal to your loved ones.
They suggest eating your vegan friendly sweets within three months of delivery, but I just can’t see them lasting that long!
Source: Etsy
Peak Sweets Retro Vegan Sweet Box will give you peak enjoyment (sorry I had too.)
Remember all of those sweets that you didn’t know were vegan?
Well, if you want to try all of them, Peak Sweets has done all of the work for you by putting all of these items into a neat and colourful vegan sweet box.
They make a particularly good gift for anyone who’s turned vegan but is missing some of their old childhood favourites.
Why not surprise them with a plethora of vegan sweets that they didn’t even know were vegan?
These vegan friendly sweets are available on Etsy and fit right through your post-box, so you don’t need to worry about being in to collect them or about anybody stealing the package off your door-step!
Oh, and they offer free UK delivery!
It’s almost too easy to get this satisfying vegan sweet box delivered right to your door without even leaving your sofa.
Source: Amazon
Confusingly, this one doesn’t contain strawberry laces…
But who needs strawberry laces when you’ve got four bags of vegan sweets including Fizzy Dummies, Gummy Mix, American Hard Gums and Bubblegum Bottles.
That’s enough to get anyone’s head in a spin!
The Sweet Vegan Hamper is very substantial and tied off with a pretty organza ribbon. This makes it great for people of any age because it feels mature but also fun!
It is available on Amazon and can be delivered anywhere. With a consistent 4.5 star rating, you can be sure you’re getting a great value vegan sweet box to surprise just about anyone with!
Looking for vegan gifts on Amazon? Check out these 10 Awesome Amazon Gift Ideas For Vegans.
Source: Vegummies Official Website
A Love Heart Selection Box?
I’m already sold.
The Vegummies Love Heart Selection Box is just one of the many different sweets suitable for vegetarians and vegans that Vegummies offers.
Vegummies has put some real effort into making this into a Love Hearts and pink themed box.
Aside from including four packets of Love Hearts, the box includes several bags of pink vegan sweets, vanilla fudge and white marshmallows.
You’ll also find a rarer variation of Love Hearts – the Love Heart Dip, which includes fun flavours like Candy Floss Sherbert to dip your love hearts into!
What could make someone feel special more than Love Heart Dip?
If this pink bonanza is a bit much for you, Vegummies also offers a smaller (and cheaper) mixed vegan sweet jar and a personalised label, so the recipient knows exactly who it’s from!
Whether you order this for a special someone or just yourself (self-care!), you’ll fall in love with this vegan sweet box.
Source: Yumbles.com
These guys are a hidden gem when it comes to sweets that are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
In fact, they bring a whole new vibe to vegan sweet boxes.
Despite only being established in 2017, the Bear & Bee Sweet Company definitely offer some of the most classy packaging I have ever seen.
They also offer high levels of personalisation, including ribbon colour, text and text colour.
Why not pick your loved-ones favourite colour and a funny inside joke to go with this vegan sweet box?
In fact, if your order is over £30, they’ll give you free UK delivery too.
The Bear & Bee Sweet Company’s sweets are not only suitable for vegetarians and vegans but are alcohol and nut-free.
With a box of Bear & Bee’s, you don’t need to worry about cross-contamination or the frustratingly vague disclaimer ‘may contain nuts.’
You’ll be worry-free with Bear & Bee!
This independent and vegan owned company only stocks vegan sweets, so you never need to worry about what sweets are vegan here.
Their Gluten Free Pick ‘n’ Mix Vegan Sweet Box is great for those who need gluten free and vegan friendly sweets, but they also offer standard vegan sweet boxes too.
Innocent Sweets Co. even triple-check their items to ensure that their sweets are totally vegan!
They have a stunningly wide range of 55 different vegan sweets, so you can get loads of variety in your order.
It’s an especially good option if you want to support small businesses too.
Here’s a tip!
They sell vegan ‘Jelly Dogs’ which look suspiciously like M&S Percy Pigs, (which are suitable for vegetarians – but sadly aren’t vegan friendly.)
We all know someone obsessed with Percy Pigs, (the person I know, is myself.)
So if you know a vegan who can no longer enjoy the iconic British Percy Pig – check out the Jelly Dog!
Their standard vegan sweet box is 900g, so you don’t need to worry about sending anyone enough vegan sweets!
If you need to get some vegan friendly sweets delivered somewhere quickly, they also offer first-class delivery.
Source: Rubydooby’s Official Website
To wrap up, we’re looking at this absolutely gargantuan vegan sweet box.
Weighing in at 1.5KG, the Rubdydooby vegan sweet box is not for the faint of heart (or stomach.)
But there is no doubt you’ll impress any recipient of this vegan sweet box with the sheer volume of vegan sweets available.
In fact, this epic vegan sweet box contains over thirty different kinds of totally vegan friendly sweets including Watermelon Bon Bons and the aptly named ‘Tongue Painters.’ (No points for guessing what those would do!)
You can also choose whether you want only fizzy vegan sweets, non-fizzy vegan sweets or a mixture of both.
If you just can’t get enough of vegan friendly sweets, Rubydooby has got you covered.
Now that you know all about the mind-blowing selection of vegan sweet boxes available in the UK, you have no excuse not to order one as a gift the next time your plant-based loved ones are celebrating. (Including National Parma Violets Day!)
If none of these vegan sweet boxes quite take your fancy, take a look at these awesome vegan cakes for delivery in London instead!
Now that you’re a proper expert in all things vegetarian and vegan sweets, why not take things up a level and learn how to make vegan sweets?
Maybe you envision skilled patisserie chefs and intimidating sugar work when you think about learning how to make sweets, but it is actually a total breeze.
One of the best things about the recipe we’re about to share with you is that you’ll be learning how to make vegan sweets that are gelatin free, gluten free and totally delicious.
This particular recipe uses Agar Agar, which is an awesome natural gelatin replacement made from red algae, (yes, the stuff from the sea!)
Agar Agar is also halal and kosher!
Don’t worry, you won’t need to swim to the bottom of the sea for it, you can just buy it on Amazon. (Not as glamorous, but much more convenient!)
Learning how to make vegan sweets is a wonderful way to spend a fun evening with your friends or family because you can make them into any fun and fabulous shapes, flavours and sizes!
It’s especially entertaining for kids!
This awesome guide on how to make vegan sweets is from the ever-bubbly, Candice of the Edgy Veg.
If you want to hear more about Candice’s journey to veganism, make sure to check out her Plant Sumo interview!
This recipe makes approximately 50 gummy bears, depending on the size of your mould.
Source: The Edgy Veg
Source: Amazon
Source: Unsplash
Once you’ve mastered how to make vegan sweets, why not get interesting with some whackier flavours?
You’ve probably already guessed from the formulaic nature of this recipe that you can replace the apple juice with any kind of fruit juice and experiment with different flavours!
Here’s the basic formula for these vegan sweets:
240 ml liquid (fruit juice/blended fruit) + 2 tbsp of sweetener + 2 tbsp of agar agar
Source: Pixabay
Life without these little cuties would just be unbearable….
Learning how to make vegan sweets is so much easier than you thought right?
It’s super fun, easy and kids will absolutely love the fun shapes and bright colours of these homemade vegan sweets.
It’s more than safe to say that the world of sweets suitable for vegetarians and vegans is bigger and better than ever before.
Gone are the days of vegetarians and vegans longingly gazing at a packet of sweets that they just can’t eat!
Now you’re an expert on what sweets are vegan, including ‘accidentally’ vegan sweets, ethical vegan sweets and playful vegan sweet boxes!
You can even try your hand at making some vegan sweets yourself.
Who said being plant-based meant being restrictive?
If you’ve exhausted yourself making it this far down this blog post, why not get your next vegan meal delivered straight to your door with zero prep?
Plant Sumo offers a banging range of totally vegan meals from a comforting Soul Curry to a lively Salsa State Burrito.
With Plant Sumo, you’ll find some irresistible plant-based meals to fit any mood.
Whether you want one-off meal boxes or a meal subscription, you can sign up to Plant Sumo right here.
Here are some top vegan sweets!
Strawberry laces are sweets suitable for vegetarians because they are gelatine free.
Love hearts are perfect sweets for vegetarians along with rainbow drops, fizzers, and parma violets.
Dip dabs are sweets suitable for vegetarians and Halal approved.
Here are top sugar-free vegetarian sweets!
Here are some top plant based desserts you can put in a vegan sweet box! Recipes are from Mamasezz.
We’re Plant Sumo, a London-based UK vegan meal prep service, delivering innovative, exciting, and flavoursome plant-based meals. If you’re on the hunt for healthy and delicious vegan food in London, look no further.
UK: +442081632608
US :+16502784421
Plant Sumo, Unit 6, Acton Business Centre, Park Royal, London NW10 6TD, United Kingdom
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plant Sumo’s Soul Curry has been the perfect fully plant based substitute for my favorite curry dishes and I look forward to this option with each order – Lydia Sims
