What Sweet Treats Can Vegans Eat? A Guide to Dairy-Free Desserts

October 22, 2025 •

5 min read

While it may seem that a vegan diet eliminates most desserts, a surprising number of delicious options are available or can be easily adapted. This guide will explore what sweet treats can vegans eat, from popular 'accidentally vegan' candies to delectable homemade desserts using plant-based alternatives.

Quick Summary

This article details the wide variety of sweet treats suitable for a vegan diet, highlighting popular "accidentally vegan" candies, readily available brands, and simple baking substitutions. It also provides a comprehensive list of non-vegan ingredients to avoid, ensuring you can confidently choose or create cruelty-free desserts.

Key Points

Accidentally Vegan Treats: Many common candies like Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Oreos contain no animal products, making them surprisingly vegan-friendly.
Hidden Ingredients to Avoid: Look out for non-vegan ingredients such as gelatin (in gummies), confectioner's glaze (in shiny candy coatings), carmine (red dye), and dairy derivatives like whey and casein.
Creative Vegan Baking Swaps: Replace eggs with alternatives like applesauce or flax eggs, and use plant-based milks and vegan butter for dairy in your baking.
Specialized Vegan Brands: The market is full of dedicated vegan brands for everything from gourmet chocolate (Hu Kitchen) to dairy-free ice cream (Oatly, Ben & Jerry's).
Global Vegan-Friendly Desserts: Many international sweets, such as Turkish delight and certain Indian sweets like vegan kaju katli, are naturally vegan or can be easily adapted.
DIY Options: Create simple, delicious desserts at home, like "nice" cream made from bananas or rich chocolate avocado mousse.

Unexpectedly Vegan Store-Bought Treats

Many popular store-bought sweets are naturally vegan, a delightful surprise for those new to a plant-based diet. These products are often referred to as "accidentally vegan" because they were not specifically formulated for a vegan audience but contain no animal products. Reading labels is always recommended, as manufacturers can change ingredients, but the following are generally safe bets:

Candies and Chews: Look for classics like Skittles (all flavors), Starburst, Swedish Fish, and Sour Patch Kids. Many hard candies, including Jolly Ranchers and Dum Dums, are also free of animal-derived ingredients.
Cookies and Biscuits: Several popular biscuit brands, such as Oreo Original, Lotus Biscoff, and some plain varieties of McVitie's Hobnobs, are vegan. Always double-check ingredient lists, especially for cream-filled items or different flavor variations.
Desserts: Sorbet is a classic vegan-friendly frozen dessert, as it is made from fruit and sugar rather than dairy. Other options, like some brands of fruit pie fillings or apple crumble, can also be vegan.

Decoding Ingredient Labels for Hidden Animal Products

Navigating ingredient lists is crucial for ensuring a treat is vegan. Certain animal-derived products can hide in sweets, acting as gelling agents, colorings, or flavor enhancers. Here are some common ingredients to look for and avoid:

Gelatin (E441): This gelling agent is derived from animal skin, bones, and cartilage and is frequently used in chewy sweets, marshmallows, and some desserts. Vegan alternatives often use pectin, agar-agar, or carrageenan.
Dairy Derivatives: Milk solids, whey, casein, and lactose can be found in many chocolates, cookies, and creamy sweets. Look for dairy-free alternatives made with soy, coconut, oat, or almond milk.
Confectioner's Glaze (E904): Also known as shellac, this shiny coating is made from the resin secreted by the lac bug. It gives a glossy finish to many candies and sprinkles. Some vegan glazes use plant-based waxes instead.
Carmine (E120): This red food coloring is derived from crushed cochineal insects. It can be labeled as cochineal extract or natural red 4. Vegan colorings often come from beet juice or other plant sources.
Honey and Beeswax: These bee products are generally avoided by vegans. Honey is often used as a natural sweetener, while beeswax is used as a thickener or emulsifier in some candies and coatings. Maple syrup or agave nectar can serve as alternatives.

Comparison Table: Vegan vs. Non-Vegan Dessert Ingredients


Ingredient Category	Non-Vegan Option	Vegan-Friendly Alternative	Found In	Effect on Dessert
Binder/Thickener	Gelatin (E441), Eggs, Casein	Agar-Agar, Pectin, Chia Seeds, Flax Eggs	Gummies, custards, marshmallows, baked goods	Adds texture, stability, and structure
Sweetener	Honey, Refined Cane Sugar (processed with bone char)	Agave Nectar, Maple Syrup, Organic Cane Sugar, Dates	Cookies, cakes, candies	Provides sweetness and moisture
Fats	Butter, Lard	Coconut Oil, Vegan Butter Sticks, Applesauce, Nut Butter	Cookies, pastries, brownies	Adds richness, moisture, and flakiness
Glaze	Confectioner's Glaze (Shellac), Beeswax	Carnauba Wax (E903), Maple Syrup Glaze, Simple Sugar Glaze	Jelly beans, sprinkles, shiny candies	Adds a glossy finish and texture
Coloring	Carmine (E120)	Beet Juice, Turmeric, Spirulina	Red candies, frostings, sweets	Adds vibrant color

Creative Homemade Vegan Desserts

For those who prefer to bake, creating delicious vegan sweet treats is easier than ever with a variety of plant-based substitutes.

Vegan Baked Goods: Use alternatives like applesauce or mashed banana for eggs, and plant-based milks (oat, almond, soy) and vegan butter for dairy. Decadent vegan brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and cupcakes are all simple to make with these swaps.
"Nice" Cream: This is a simple, healthy alternative to ice cream, typically made by blending frozen bananas with other fruits or flavorings. You can add cocoa powder for a chocolate version or berries for a fruity twist.
Chia Seed Pudding: A simple, nutritious dessert made by combining chia seeds with plant-based milk and a sweetener. Chia seeds naturally swell and create a pudding-like consistency. Top with fresh fruit or vegan chocolate chips.
Chocolate Avocado Mousse: For a rich, creamy mousse, simply blend avocado with cocoa powder, a sweetener like maple syrup, and a splash of plant milk. The avocado provides a silky texture without any animal products.

The Expansion of Vegan-Specific Brands

The market for purpose-built vegan sweet treats has exploded in recent years, offering more variety and convenience than ever before. Many of these brands specialize in creating vegan versions of traditional treats.

Vegan Chocolate: Brands like Hu Kitchen, Chocolove, and Alter Eco produce high-quality dark and milk-style chocolates without any dairy. Hershey's even offers an 'Oat Made' range.
Vegan Ice Cream: Major brands like Ben & Jerry's and Breyers now offer extensive vegan lines, alongside dedicated vegan companies such as Oatly and NadaMoo!. Bases range from almond and coconut to oat and cashew, providing different textures and flavors.
Artisanal and Gourmet Sweets: Companies like Candy Kittens focus on creating gelatine-free gourmet gummies. Artisanal bakeries and online stores also offer a vast selection of vegan-friendly cakes, pastries, and more.

The Rise of Global Vegan Sweets

Beyond Western-style treats, many international desserts are naturally vegan or easily adapted. Exploring global cuisine opens up a whole new world of delicious options.

Indian Sweets: While many traditional Indian sweets are milk-based, there are numerous vegan versions and naturally vegan options available. Examples include vegan kaju katli (cashew barfi) and sooji halwa made with plant-based ghee.
Turkish Delight: Many traditional Turkish delight recipes are naturally vegan, made with starch and sugar. Always check the specific brand to ensure no gelatin or other animal products are included.
Japanese Sweets: Some traditional Japanese sweets, like mochi and certain types of yokan (a thick, jellied dessert), are plant-based.

Conclusion: The Expanding World of Vegan Sweet Treats

The landscape for vegan sweet treats is richer and more diverse than ever. From mainstream "accidentally vegan" finds to dedicated plant-based brands and easy-to-master homemade recipes, vegans can enjoy a vast array of delicious desserts without compromising their values. By knowing which ingredients to avoid and exploring the growing number of available options, anyone can satisfy their sweet tooth the vegan way. The key is reading labels, embracing plant-based ingredient swaps, and enjoying the journey of discovering new, delightful treats.

[Optional Outbound Link: For more information on vegan ingredient substitutions and recipes, visit Veganuary's guide to accidentally vegan sweets.]

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but with a caveat. While sugar itself is plant-based (from sugarcane or beets), some cane sugar is refined using bone char from animal bones. To be safe, look for sugar explicitly labeled as vegan, certified organic, or made from sugar beets.

Excellent vegan substitutes for gelatin include agar-agar (a seaweed-based thickener), pectin (derived from fruits), or carrageenan. These can be used to create the same gelling effect for jellies, marshmallows, and other chewy sweets.

No, not all dark chocolate is vegan. While dark chocolate typically has a high cocoa content, some brands may still contain dairy-derived ingredients like milk solids, whey, or butterfat for flavor or texture. Always check the ingredient list to confirm.

The easiest way is to look for a certified vegan logo on the packaging. If this isn't available, check the ingredient list for common animal products and derivatives like gelatin, whey, casein, carmine, and confectioner's glaze.

For binding in baking, a 'flax egg' is a popular and simple option, made by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons of water. Applesauce or mashed banana can also work well, especially in cakes and cookies.

Yes, in many regions, Skittles are considered vegan as they no longer contain gelatin and the colors are from plant-based sources. However, as recipes can vary by country, it's always best to quickly check the label for confirmation.

Vegan ice cream is now widely available in most grocery stores, with many mainstream brands offering non-dairy lines. Look for options made with bases like almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy, from brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Oatly, and So Delicious.