Safe Gluten Free Halloween Candy + Other Food Allergen-Free Candy List (Updated 2024) + Tips for Gluten Free Candy Shopping

Gluten Free Halloween Candy can be tricky to identify. If you haven’t procured your gluten free goodies yet, read on, because at first glance, you might think most candy is gluten free, but not so fast! 

Many forms of confections actually use gluten as filler or to give substance to extruded shapes.

(If you’d like to make your own homemade gluten free and vegan candy, it’s not difficult, and it’s actually pretty fun! Check out my homemade vegan Almond Joy recipe to get you started!)

Candies to Avoid — Not Gluten Free Candy

Twizzlers® and nearly all other licorice, for example, are not gluten free (enriched wheat flour is the second listed ingredient!). 

Nor are malted milkballs or candy bars containing rice crisps (Nestle Crunch® — rice crisps are flavored with barley malt), ready-made rice crispy treats or those with cookies inside (like Twix®).

Rice Krispies cereal and therefore Rice Krispies Treats are NOT gluten free. They contain MALT FLAVORING which is made from barley which contains gluten. So avoid those treats, as well.

Instead, make your own homemade crispy rice treats that ARE gluten free (and so much cuter, by the way!!). Here’s my recipe — it’s so easy and so fun!

Aren’t those the cutest?!? Of course you can just make them in a tray the old fashioned way, of course. But whatever you do, make them with gluten free rice crispy cereal instead.

Candy Corn and Gummy Candy May Not Be Gluten Free

Some candy corn and gummy candies contain wheat. Haribo® Gummy Bears now may contain wheat or corn from dextrose — you never know which, so it’s best to avoid, especially since there are other choices. This is from their FAQs: 

Unfortunately, because we use ingredients containing wheat in some HARIBO products, we cannot rule out entirely the possibility that our products or the ingredients used to produce them have come into contact with products containing gluten. Our products may therefore contain traces of gluten. Please always consult the ingredients list on the product packaging. Allergens that are subject to allergen labelling guidelines appear in bold in the ingredients list.

Are M&M’s Gluten Free?

In fact, even M&Ms®  — a candy most people trust as being gluten free — have a new variety called M&Ms Crispy that looks like a regular M&M but has a crispy center that contains BARLEY MALT *(aka gluten); M&Ms pretzel also contains gluten. Most other M&Ms are made with gluten free ingredients although Mars-Wrigley does not label any of its candies as gluten free because they may be made in a facility which contains gluten. The candy maker urges consumers to read each package label for ingredients to determine whether or not that M&Ms variety is made with gluten or gluten-free ingredients.

Bottom Line: Always read those labels! And read them on the exact package you’re considering purchasing, as ingredients change and may differ depending on the shape and size of the candy.

 

Don’t Trust Gluten Free Candy Displays

Another tricky issue when it comes to finding safe candy is the displays in each store. This one looks particularly inviting, doesn’t it?

But look again.

Not all the candies in this display are gluten-free. And while other customers may have caused this kerfuffle, you can never rely on displays to do the label reading for you.

Aside from the fact that these treats are definitely NOT peanut free, KitKat and Twizzlers are also definitely NOT gluten free.

Also, if the Reese’s are in Halloween shapes, Hershey’s says they may be cross-contaminated with gluten.*

Safe Gluten Free Candy Listing

Run-of-the-mill chocolate should be gluten free, but if it’s contaminated in the plant, then of course, it’s not.

Some companies have made it easier on us than others: Hershey’s®, for example, has published a thorough gluten free products list – check it out! They explicitly recommend that customers read the packaging for the most accurate allergen and gluten information.

Here’s an example of the kind of listing you’ll find there:

Reese’s Gluten Free Listing

• Reese’s Fast Break Bar
• Reese’s Nutrageous Bar
• Reese’s with Pretzels
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Minis & Big Cups– All Except Seasonal Shaped Items*
• Reese’s Unwrapped Mini Minis – Milk Chocolate and White
• Reese’s Pieces Candy – All Except Reese’s Pieces Eggs*
• Reese’s Pretzels Big Cup
• Reese’s Peanut Brittle 
• Reeses’s White Cream Miniatures
• Reese’s Mallow Top

Are Reese’s Gluten Free?*

Note that while Reeses® Pieces are labeled gluten free, some seasonal and smaller shapes of traditionally gluten free candies like Reeses® Peanut Butter Cups, are not included on their gluten free list, so double check before shopping or indulging (always check the package itself).

*The Hershey’s website does not indicate that seasonal Reese’s shapes are gluten-free, nor does the packaging say gluten-free, however, some company representatives have explained that allergen controls are in place to prevent cross-contact for those items, as some are run on the same equipment as other gluten-containing confections.

It is up to you to decide if you would like to enjoy the seasonal shaped Reese’s with this caveat or stick to the regular shapes with the gluten-free claim.

The Reese’s Franken-Cups and even the Reese’s with Pretzels are now marked Gluten-Free! So you have plenty of choices without having to risk the ones that are potentially contaminated. (ALWAYS read package labels for up-to-date gluten free claims, though!)

 

Other Gluten Free Halloween Candies

Most candy companies are now putting their allergen information on their websites, you just have to look for it.  Of course, the best gluten free Halloween candy shopping experience comes when these companies go to the trouble of telling you right on the package that their products are gluten free. 

That’s one reason why Marshmallow Peeps® always fill my candy bowl.

As candies go, you can’t beat the fact that now emblazoned across the front of Peep packages everywhere is the declaration: “Always Gluten Free”!

And if you’re looking to avoid food dyes in candy, choose the white Peeps Ghosts — dye-free!

Note that Peeps do declare “May contain MILK” on their packaging, and some varieties DO contain milk.

All candy made by the TOOTSIE company is made in a gluten-free facility. “At this time, all of our confections are gluten free. We do not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt or any of their components and that includes our dusting on our conveyor belts. We do use corn and soy products in the manufacturing of our products.” Which means that these super fun DOTS are considered gluten-free, as well!

Jelly Belly® boasts that “All flavors of Jelly Belly beans are free of gluten. We do not use any wheat, rye, barley, or oats in the basic recipe for Jelly Belly jelly beans. The modified food starch listed on the package is cornstarch.”

And now, the company has embraced Halloween with their fun packs made just for the occasion! They also make gluten free candy corn. “All Jelly Belly Candy Corn are OU Kosher, gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, fat free, and vegetarian friendly.” NOT ALL CANDY CORN IS GLUTEN FREE, so it’s great that Jelly Belly offers gluten free Candy Corn, especially when it also meets so many other dietary needs, as well!

All kinds of gummy candy can be found in Halloween shapes and packaging, but make sure the ingredients are safe before assuming they’re all gluten free. 

Black Forest food dye-free gluten-free Gummy Worms are a fun find for all kinds of fun Halloween baking and munching! 

Even easy-to-find brands like Welch’s has started packing its fruit snacks in Halloween packs for easy trick-or-treating.

While they still contain corn syrup and sugar, the first ingredient is lots of real fruit, and they are fat free (ahem … for moms who might want to steal a bag once in awhile!).

 

Another brand my kids love is YumEarth®. Their Lollipops, Hard Candy, Sour Beans, Gummy Bears/Worms and Candy Corn are all made in a gluten free facility and are made without corn syrup, using natural food dyes; check their website for other candy options and allergens.

Their Gummifruits in Halloween packaging are also currently available on Amazon. And they have a great variety box that’s

• Free from: peanuts, gluten, tree nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, egg, soy, and sesame.
• No high fructose corn syrup or artificial dyes
• Made with organic ingredients, non-GMO, vegan and gluten free

DumDums lollipops are also gluten free and those that are packed by the Spangler Candy Company are free of the Top 8 Food Allergens, but they are made with corn syrup and artificial dyes. Be sure to check their website and packaging for updated allergen information.

For most products, the best place to check is their actual packaging. What’s in your hand is the best place to find information about what’s inside, or what’s not inside.

Looking for lollies that aren’t full of artificial stuff? Check out Tazzy Candy.

A woman-owned company making lollipops in flavors like Spicy Mango, Sour Watermelon, Acai Berry, Lemon, Grapefruit …. they’re anything but ordinary. No added sugars or artificial colors; Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher and only 25 calories a POP!

 

And the seasonal releases from Enjoy Life Foods® are all free of the Top 14 Food Allergens (and free of gluten). Plus, super cute packaging!

They’re often sold out early though, so shop quickly!

 

Mind you, I’m not a candy buyer any other time of the year — I’ve been known to hand out more than my share of stickers and glow sticks when kids come knocking on October 31 — but when companies take the trouble to assure me that they have made their product gluten free (and therefore, that they want my business) I’ll give it to them any day before I would other companies who cannot bother to prevent cross-contamination or take the risk to state that their product is gluten free when it really is.

Some of the companies I love for their clear labeling and mission include Free2B®, which even offers organic, dairy-free dark chocolate sunbutter cups sold in 10-packs and mini bags that are perfect for Halloween night!

And Unreal® makes a plethora of pretty delicious vegan chocolate mocks of your favorites like chocolate-peanut butter cups, chocolate-almond butter cups, candy covered peanut chocolate gems (like M&Ms), coconut-chocolate bars (like Mounds Bars) and more.

All fair trade, non-GMO, and no artificial colors or flavors. Their cups and gems are now certified gluten free from GFCO and the dark chocolate varieties are vegan. Three cheers for that!

NoWhey Foods makes Chocononos™ that are also like a vegan M&M! All natural, and made with milk free, nut free, gluten free, wheat free, soy free chocolate. They also make vegan peanut butter cups and Halloween figurines (and Easter chocolates, too! so you may want to bookmark their page).

Lots to choose from in fun seasonal packaging.

Made Good is another brand to look for in the a little less bad for you department, but they have some gluten-free packaging that is fun and you can count on them for gluten-free and even purity protocol oats!

 

UN-Sweet Gluten and Allergen-Friendly Halloween Treats

Sometimes a girl, or a kid, needs a few un-sweet treats. AmIright?

Think about your favorite salty snacks and I bet there are some that are packaged in super cute snack packs for the holiday. Potato chips, popcorn, you get the idea.

So zig when they zag and go salty this Halloween. Snack packs are great ideas!

Popcorn packed in snack sizes with Halloween packaging is a popular offering this time of year. Brands like Angie’s BoomChicaPop Kettle Corn Snack Packs and Lesser Evil are pretty easy to find (and certified gluten free!).

Or tr gluten free potato chips, gluten-free Popcorn Balls or … even gluten free and vegan chickpea snacks from Hippeas!

The Teal Pumpkin Project

And speaking of Teal Pumpkins …

If you’d rather go the food-free, allergy-friendly route this holiday, go for it! You’ll have the support of thousands, and you should be sure to paint a pumpkin teal for your front porch!

 

FARE (Food Allergy Research Education) is sponsoring the #TealPumpkinProject to promote safe trick-or-treating stops for food allergy kids. When they see a teal pumpkin, they know the loot they’ll rake in won’t make them sick and parents can relax, knowing their little ghouls will be safe at that house.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of gluten free Halloween candy choices to make your Halloween tasty, sticky and fun without being scared about whether they contain ingredients that would make your night go sour.

Even More Gluten Free Candy List Resources

To make the task of finding the right treats for your family easy-breezy, check out these additional resources and their Gluten Free Candy Lists:

• Allergic Living Candy List (updated 2023)
• Very Well Fit (updated 2024)
• To hear my Gluten Free Voice podcast about navigating Halloween with food allergies and celiac disease, listen to the free podcast anytime! 

Print a list, hit the stores, and enjoy the spirit of the holiday! Grab that York Peppermint Patty, Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, Marshmallow Peep, Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kiss … or whatever suits your fancy.  Happy Haunting!

One more fun idea for you this Halloween is to make a Gluten Free Gingerbread House!!! So fun, right??

I hope you found this list helpful! Remember to Pin it for later!