18 best vegan sweets to buy in the UK

Are you a vegan with an insatiable sweet tooth? Here are the best vegan sweets readily available in UK supermarkets and stores.

Read Time:   |  12th April 2023


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Are you a vegan with an insatiable sweet tooth? Then this is the article for you! Keep reading for our pick of the best vegan sweets available in the UK.

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Sweets, they’re pure happiness in a colourful form. And some of us have extremely sweet teeth!

If that sounds like you, then keep reading for the top vegan sweets in the UK. Some might even surprise you as we’ve included a mix of accidentally vegan sweets as well as some from our favourite vegan brands.

1. Skittles

Skittles

You can taste the rainbow whilst still being vegan as these childhood favourites are ‘accidentally’ completely free of animal products!

With five fruity flavours, there’s at least one for everyone, but obviously, the red ones are the best.

Plus, you can find Skittles in every supermarket and most corner shops making it easy to get your sugar fix wherever you go.

Have a Skittles-loving friend? This vegan Skittles hamper is the perfect gift!

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2. Fruit Pastilles

Rowntree's range of vegan sweets, including Jelly Tots and Fruit Pastilles

Following a recipe change in 2020, Fruit Pastilles sweets are now vegan, pleasing nostalgic sweet lovers everywhere. Who doesn’t remember picking up a tube of fruit pastilles from their local corner shop as a child and praying the next one was a red one (again, the best flavour)?

To celebrate the switch, Rowntrees also launched the new ‘Dessert Pastilles’ which are also vegan and come in four classic dessert flavours: Bakewell Tart, Blueberry Pie, Apple Crumble and Mango Sorbet. Yes, please!

You can find Fruit Pastilles in all supermarkets and most corner shops – there’s no excuse not to try them!

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3. Drumstick Lollies

Drumstick Lollies

If you’re a fan of Drumstick Lollies, you’ll be thrilled to know that they’re entirely vegan! These classic British sweets have been around for generations, and their iconic pink and yellow colours make them instantly recognizable.

However, until recently they contained gelatine in the ingredients making them unsuitable for vegans. Following a recent recipe change by manufacturer Swizzels, Drumstick Lollies are now suitable for vegans*.

Whether you’re in the mood for a tasty treat or a nostalgic trip down memory lane, these lollies have got you covered. The delicious raspberry and milk flavours are sure to hit the spot, without compromising your vegan lifestyle.

Swizzel’s Drumstick Lollies are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

*Please check the ingredients before purchasing as some retailers may still be selling old stock that contain gelatine

4. Candy Kittens

Very Cherry sweets

Created by Made in Chelsea star Jamie Lang, Candy Kittens is a fully vegan sweet brand. Choose from quirky flavours such as Blueberry Bliss, Tropical Mango and Sour Watermelon.

If you’re more of a sweet person than a chocoholic, you’ll be pleased to hear that at Christmastime Candy Kittens offers a vegan advent calendar with one sweet behind each door. Truly irresistible!

You can find Candy Kittens on Amazon, TheVeganKind, or at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett, and Boots.

5. Jealous Sweets

Jealous Sweets Tangy Worms

These 100% vegan and gluten-free sweets are available in many familiar and nostalgic shapes such as worms, bears and beans. Jealous uses real fruit juice and is free from palm oil, synthetic ingredients and artificial flavours.

If you like something with a sour twist, try the Tangy Worms or Fizzy Friends, but if you’re after something sweet give the pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured Love Bears a go.

You can find Jealous Sweets on Amazon, or at Asda, Sainsbury’s and www.thejealouslife.com.

6. Free From Fellows

Free From Fellows vegan sweets

100% vegan brand Free From Fellows offers nostalgic sugar-free sweets such as Gummy Bears, Cola Bottles, Rhubarb and Custard, and Pear Drops. You can relive your childhood in seconds by curling up with a packet of plant-based sweets and a Disney movie!

You can find Free From Fellows at stockists including Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Grape Tree and Ocado. Alternatively, head to www.freefromfellows.com to order online. 

7. Chewits Juicy Bites

Chewits Juicy Bites

Chewits Juicy Bites are not only packed with a variety of delicious fruit flavours, but they are also made entirely without animal products, making them 100% vegan.

These chewy, liquid-filled bonbons come in three tempting flavours and the gooey centre is so delicious we just can’t get enough of them!

Available in Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, and sour Apple and Lemon flavours, they’re sure to satisfy any sweet tooth, and their tangy taste is perfect for those who love a little bit of sourness in their snacks.

Chewits Juicy Bites are available to purchase via Amazon.

8. Starburst

Starburst - accidentally vegan sweets

You’ll be pleased to know that these fruity favourites are in fact ‘accidentally’ vegan. While you might assume the mouthwatering chewiness comes from gelatine, they are completely animal-free!

With five colourful flavours in the pack, there’s one for everyone. But who doesn’t fight over the red ones?

You can find Starburst sweets in all major supermarkets and corner shops – they’re everywhere!

9. M&S Plant Kitchen Marshmallows

M&S Plant Kitchen Marshmallows

Thought you’d have to give up marshmallows after going vegan? Think again!

High street supermarket Marks & Spencers has created completely animal-free and gluten-free vegan marshmallows in classic pink and white colours, perfect for baking, toasting and straight-up snacking.

They’re light, fluffy and taste exactly like their non-vegan counterparts, all without the addition of gelatine. Plus, at £1.95 for a 140g bag, they’re the most affordable vegan marshmallows on the market.

Smash them between two vegan digestive biscuits with a square of vegan chocolate and let it melt slightly for the ultimate s’mores vibes.

You can find M&S Plant Kitchen Marshmallows in store and online via Ocado.

10. Love Hearts

Love Hearts sweets

You might be surprised to learn that the iconic fizzy sweets are in fact 100% vegan. Love Hearts contain zero animal products, making them ‘accidentally’ vegan.

This means that even vegans can do Valentine’s day in style by showering their other half with heart-shaped sweets containing even sweeter messages. Don’t be shy, tell that person you think they’re cute with a sweet.

You can find Swizzels Love Hearts in all major supermarkets and corner shops as they remain a cult favourite. 

11. Jelly Tots

Jelly Tots

Jelly Tots are bite-sized, fruity treats that are 100% vegan as they don’t contain any any animal products or gelatine. With their vibrant colors and irresistible flavors, Jelly Tots are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.

Plus, they’re perfect for sharing with friends and family who may not be vegan – it’s always great to show that delicious treats can be made without any animal products. We love using them to decorate cupcakes and cookies as their bright colours and sugary coating look so appealing!

Jelly Tots are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

12. Percy Pig

A bag of vegan Percy Pig sweets

Three years after removing gelatine from the ingredients, M&S’ iconic Percy Pig sweets are vegan!

For years, vegans have been begging the company to remove beeswax from the ingredients to make them vegan, and finally they’ve given the recipe a refresh.

The chewy, fruit-flavoured gummy sweets are M&S’ most popular product and they sell a whopping 16 million bags a year. So the fact that Percy Pigs are vegan means millions of people can now enjoy them guilt-free.

Percy Pig sweets are available to buy at Marks & Spencer stores across the UK.

13. Refreshers Choos

Refreshers Choos

Do you remember those tangy and fizzy Refresher sweets from your childhood? Well, now you can relive those memories without breaking your vegan lifestyle!

Swizzels, the makers of Refresher Choos, have removed gelatine from their recipe, making these sweets 100% vegan-friendly. The new recipe still has that signature lemony-lime flavor and the perfect chewy texture you know and love, but now without any animal products.

Refresher Choos are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

14. Haribo Rainbow Strips

Haribo Rainbow Strips

Not only are Haribo Rainbow Strips a delicious treat, but they’re also accidentally vegan! Although Haribo is known for its gummy bears made with gelatin, these Rainbow Strips are made with alternative ingredients, and they’re completely free from any animal-derived ingredients.

Coated in sour sugar crystals, they’ll make your mouth water but won’t compromise your vegan values as they’re totally free from animal products.

Haribo Rainbow Strips are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

15. Parma Violets

Parma Violets

These small, purple sweets have been a British classic for over 70 years, and they’re loved by many for their unique floral flavor. Parma Violets may be an acquired taste to some, but we can’t get enough of their powdery, violety goodness!

So, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly candy option, look no further than Parma Violets! They’re perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without any animal products. Plus, who doesn’t love a candy that’s been around since the 1950s? Indulge in some nostalgia and enjoy these little gems guilt-free.

Parma Violets are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

16. Vimto Chew Bar

Vimto Chew Bar

If you’re looking for a chewy and fruity candy that’s free from animal products, then Vimto Chew Bars are perfect for you!

These bars are made with the unique blend of grapes, raspberries, and blackcurrants that we all know and love from Vimto. And the best part? They’re entirely vegan!

Vimto Chew Bars are widely available in corner shops and supermarkets across the UK. 

17. Love Hearts Dip

Love Hearts Dip

Get ready for your mouth to water, fellow vegans! Love Hearts Dip is a treat that combines two classic sweets – Love Hearts and sherbet – for a flavour explosion that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds.

The thought of dipping the iconic Love Hearts candy into tangy, fizzy sherbet is enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

So, next time you’re in the mood for something sweet and tangy, reach for Love Hearts Dip, and let your taste buds dance with delight!

Love Hearts Dip is available in corner shops across the UK. 

18. Biona Organic

Biona Organic vegan sweets

Organic brand Biona has a range of gelatine and animal-free sweets in familiar shapes and flavours from our non-vegan childhoods. These include Cool Cola Bottles, Sour Snakes, Liquorice Spirals and Mini Fruit Bears.

Other fun varieties include Jelly Dinos, Fizzy Peaches and Tutti Frutti Gums. But watch out, as not all Biona products are suitable for vegans!

You can find Biona Organic sweets at Amazon

If you loved learning about vegan sweets, why not indulge your sweet tooth and take a look at our pick of the best vegan brownie recipes?

Written by

Victoria Smith

Vic is a freelance writer and content creator, passionate about ethical and environmental issues. When she’s not busy scribbling away she can be found visiting the best vegan restaurants in the UK and making delicious dairy-free coffees at a café in Essex. Her favourite animals are dogs, cows and pigs and her lifelong dream is to open an animal sanctuary with an onsite vegan café. You can find Vic on Instagram @vicsveganeats

Also written by

Rachel Smith

Having launched the brand's digital presence in 2015, Rachel shares her love for animals and the planet through her work as Vegan Food & Living’s Digital Editor. As a passionate vegan for over ten years, Rachel loves creating delicious vegan dessert recipes for her award-winning blog, Rawberry Fields. Rachel's recipes and photography have been featured in numerous international print and digital publications including the Daily Mail, Huffington Post, Thrive, and Buzzfeed.

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