What sweets have no animal gelatin?

October 21, 2025 •

4 min read

While many assume all sweets are vegan, the surprising truth is that numerous popular treats contain animal-derived gelatin. Fortunately, a growing number of brands and recipes offer delicious alternatives, making it easier than ever to find what sweets have no animal gelatin.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of sweets and candies that are free from animal gelatin, exploring common plant-based alternatives and highlighting brand-specific options for various tastes.

Key Points

Plant-Based Alternatives: Sweets without animal gelatin use plant-based gelling agents like pectin (from fruits), agar-agar (from seaweed), and carrageenan (from seaweed).
Gummy Options: Many brands, including Candy Kittens and Yum Earth, offer delicious gummies made with pectin or other vegan substitutes.
Hard Candies: Most hard candies and lollipops are naturally gelatin-free, as their texture is from sugar, not animal products.
Labeling is Key: Always check ingredient labels for vegan or kosher certifications, and look for plant-based gelling agents or the gelatin code E441 to confirm suitability.
Marshmallow Alternatives: Vegan marshmallows made with carrageenan or other plant-based stabilizers are widely available from brands like Dandies.
Textural Differences: Pectin creates a firmer, jam-like texture, while agar-agar produces a firm, brittle gel that sets at room temperature.
"Accidentally Vegan" Sweets: Some common sweets like Skittles and Sour Patch Kids are accidentally vegan in many regions, but recipes can change, so always double-check.

Understanding Gelatin and Its Plant-Based Alternatives

Gelatin is a gelling agent derived from animal collagen, typically from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of pigs and cows. It is used in many candies, desserts, and jellies to create a soft, chewy texture. For those following a vegetarian, vegan, halal, or kosher diet, avoiding gelatin is crucial. Fortunately, the market for gelatin-free confections has expanded, offering a wide array of plant-based gelling agents that produce similar, or in some cases superior, textures.

Popular Plant-Based Gelling Agents

Pectin: Found naturally in the cell walls of fruits, pectin is a plant-based carbohydrate that is especially effective in high-sugar, high-acid environments. It creates a firmer, more jelly-like consistency than gelatin and is the gelling agent of choice for jams, jellies, and many vegan gummies.
Agar-Agar: This gelling agent is derived from red seaweed and sets firmly at room temperature, making it ideal for stable desserts like jellies and fruit puddings. Agar-agar is a powerful gelling agent, so a little goes a long way, and it's essential to boil it to activate its gelling properties.
Carrageenan: Also extracted from red seaweed, carrageenan is used to create softer, more elastic gels and puddings. There are different types, with iota-carrageenan producing a soft, flexible gel and kappa-carrageenan forming a firmer gel. It's commonly found in vegan marshmallows and some fruit snacks.
Modified Starch and Other Thickeners: Some sweets use a combination of modified starches, like tapioca or potato starch, to achieve a chewy texture without animal products. Other thickeners, such as cornstarch, arrowroot powder, and guar gum, are also used in various confections.

A Guide to Gelatin-Free Sweets by Category

Vegan and Gelatin-Free Gummies

Gone are the days when all gummy candies contained gelatin. Many modern brands offer plant-based versions that are just as chewy and delicious. Brands like Candy Kittens, Jealous Sweets, and Yum Earth are widely known for their gelatin-free gummies. Even some mainstream brands now have vegan options or use pectin instead of gelatin. When shopping, always check the ingredient list for pectin, agar-agar, or carrageenan as indicators of a gelatin-free formula.

Hard Candies and Lollipops

Most hard candies, including many lollipops and boiled sweets, are naturally free of gelatin as their texture comes from sugar crystallization, not a gelling agent. Classic examples include Jolly Ranchers, Skittles (in many regions), and Millions. Brands like Swizzels also produce numerous popular gelatin-free hard sweets. However, some hard candies may contain non-vegan glazes, so checking the ingredients is still recommended.

Marshmallows and Chews

Traditional marshmallows are a classic example of a gelatin-based sweet, but vegan versions are readily available. Brands like Dandies and Freedom Confectionery produce popular gelatin-free marshmallows using plant-based ingredients. Many fruit chews and taffy-style candies, such as Starburst (in some markets) and Laffy Taffy, are also often made without gelatin.

Comparison of Gelling Agents


Feature	Gelatin	Agar-Agar	Pectin	Carrageenan
Source	Animal collagen	Red seaweed	Fruit cell walls	Red seaweed
Dietary Suitability	Not suitable for vegan/vegetarian	Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal	Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal	Vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal
Texture	Soft, elastic, chewy	Firm, brittle, jelly-like	Firmer, jam-like set	Soft, elastic, or firm depending on type
Setting Condition	Sets upon cooling; melts at warm temps	Sets at room temperature; heat-stable	Requires sugar and acid; sets upon cooling	Gels upon cooling
Typical Use	Gummies, marshmallows, jelly, desserts	Jellies, fruit puddings, vegan gummies	Jams, jellies, some vegan gummies	Vegan marshmallows, milk alternatives, soft candies

Navigating Labels to Find Gelatin-Free Sweets

Checking ingredient labels is the most reliable way to confirm a product is gelatin-free. Look for the common plant-based alternatives listed above. Some products may be labeled with a vegan, vegetarian, or kosher (pareve) certification, which indicates they are free of animal products. Keep in mind that some brands may change their recipes, so it's always best to re-check if you haven't bought the product in a while. Additionally, be aware that gelatin may sometimes be identified by its code, E441.

A Quick Note on “Accidentally Vegan” Sweets

Many classic sweets are often accidentally vegan, meaning they don't contain animal products but aren't specifically marketed as such. While convenient, manufacturers may change recipes without notice, so staying diligent with label reading is wise. Examples that have historically been gelatin-free include Skittles (UK), Sour Patch Kids, and Love Hearts.

Conclusion

Finding sweets without animal gelatin is easier than ever, thanks to the proliferation of plant-based gelling agents and the increasing market for vegan and vegetarian confections. With alternatives like agar-agar, pectin, and carrageenan, you can enjoy a wide variety of chewy gummies, marshmallows, and jellies without compromising your dietary preferences. By learning to identify these substitutes and familiarizing yourself with gelatin-free brands, you can confidently navigate the candy aisle and satisfy your sweet tooth guilt-free.

Sources

https://you-well.co.uk/best-vegan-sweets/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vegansimplerecipes/posts/1030841962517568/
https://www.pastryclass.com/articles/gelatin-vs-pectin-in-fruit-fillings
https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/carrageenan-candy.html
https://www.bears-friends.sg/products/veggie-gummy-bears-vegan
https://gentleworld.org/gelatin/

Frequently Asked Questions

Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, which is found in the bones, skin, and connective tissues of animals like pigs and cows. It is often used as a gelling agent in many foods and pharmaceutical products.

Common vegan substitutes for gelatin include pectin, which is a carbohydrate from fruits; agar-agar, derived from red seaweed; and carrageenan, also from red seaweed.

No, not all gummy candies are made with gelatin. Many brands, particularly those marketed as vegan or vegetarian, use plant-based gelling agents like pectin or agar-agar.

Yes, you can substitute gelatin with pectin, but the resulting texture will be firmer and more jelly-like, rather than the elastic texture of gelatin. You may also need to adjust sugar or acid levels to activate the pectin properly.

To know if a sweet contains gelatin, check the ingredients list on the packaging. Gelatin is sometimes listed as "gelatin" or the code "E441". Look for vegan or kosher certifications for easier identification.

Many hard candies are naturally gelatin-free, including Skittles (in some countries), Jolly Ranchers, Love Hearts, and most lollipops. However, checking the ingredients is still the safest method to confirm.

No, vegan sweets are not necessarily less flavorful or chewy. Modern manufacturers have mastered the use of plant-based gelling agents and other ingredients to produce treats with vibrant flavors and satisfying textures that rival traditional confections.

Yes, vegan marshmallows are widely available. Instead of gelatin, they typically use plant-based gelling agents like carrageenan or other stabilizers to achieve their light, fluffy texture.