On the hunt for the best vegan candy bars to sink your teeth into? You’ve come to the right place.
A number of companies are churning out vegan candy bars that rival the classics. New York-based vegan chocolate company Trupo Treats is an up-and-coming brand that’s setting the bar high. After surpassing its $100,000 crowdfunding goal, the brand, founded by twins Brian and Charlie Trupo, aims to begin the production of its vegan candy bars in June.
All of its bars are dupes for some of the most popular chocolate bars on the market, from Hershey bars to Nestlé Crunch and then some. Its Mylk Chocolate Covered Wafer, for example, is a dead ringer for KitKat. It features layers of crunchy wafer cookies covered in creamy chocolate. Its Mylk Chocolate Covered Caramel Cookie bar is a dairy-free version of Twix.
The company aims to launch in Canada first and has plans of expanding into the UK. “So many people—3,225—have supported us so far. And it’s just been really amazing,” Charlie said.
“I believe the key to our success was bringing nostalgia back to vegan consumers,” Brian told LIVEKINDLY in an email. “The demand for vegan chocolate and plant-based products is at an all-time high. And if you can give the consumers what they are looking for and provide value to them, you can hit a home run.”
Vegan Chocolate
So, what’s vegan chocolate actually made of? Unlike dairy-based chocolate, vegan chocolate is free from dairy products like milk solids, whey, milk fat, and casein—a dairy protein.
Vegan chocolate features all the same yummy ingredients—sugar, cocoa, cocoa butter—just minus the cow’s milk. This often makes it a more sustainable option due to the dairy industry’s highly pollutive practices.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the dairy sector emitted 1 969 million tonnes of CO2-eq—1 328 million tonnes of which milk is responsible for. Overall, the global dairy sector emits 4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Vegan chocolate may also be better for your health. Studies suggest that—when consumed in small quantities—dark chocolate does have a variety of nutritional benefits.
Dark chocolate is high in magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese, as well as antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that work to fight free radicals in the body. High concentrations of free radicals have been linked with a higher risk of certain cancers and chronic disease.
According to registered nutritionist Nicola Shubrook, a healthy amount of dark chocolate for the average person to consume is around 20 grams. “Around six small pieces or two large squares, depending on the bar,” she wrote for BBC Good Food. “However, as dark chocolate is high in saturated fat and sugar, it’s important that it is enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.”
33 Best Vegan Candy Bars to Try
Plant-based peanut butter cups, KitKats, and Snickers. Need we say more? These are the best vegan candy bars to try.
Vegan Milky Way
Vegan chocolate company Go Max Go Foods has done it yet again.
Vegan Snickers
Ah, the iconic Snickers bar: loaded with nougat, peanuts, caramel, and a creamy chocolate coating. If you’re looking to bite into one sans all the dairy, try these four brands.
Jokerz Candy Bar
Nelly’s Organics Caramel Nougat
No Whey Caramel and Nougat Bar
Gigantic! Salted Peanut Sortasweet Candy Bar
Vegan Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
You don’t have to miss out on the peanut butter-chocolate goodness that is Reese’s. These vegan products taste so good you won’t even notice the difference.
Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Unreal Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups With Crispy Quinoa
Cleo’s Peanut Butter Cups
No Whey Peanot Butter Cups
Theo Organic Peanut Butter Cups
LoveRaw Butter Cups
Free2b Sunflower Butter Cups
Vegan Almond Joy
For all the coconut lovers out there—these some of the best vegan chocolate bars on the market.
Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars
Mahalo Candy Bar
OCHO The Organic Candy Bar Coconut
Nelly’s Organic Coconut Bar
Vegan Twix
You can still indulge in this caramel shortbread chocolate bar with Go Max Go Foods’ 2fer Candy Bar. You can thank them later.
Vegan KitKats
Your search for the best vegan candy bars just got easier. Break off a vegan piece of this KitKat bar. Last year, KitKat confirmed it would be launching vegan KitKat bars in the UK. “Demand for plant-based food is growing everywhere,” Alexander von Maillot, head of Nestlé’s confectionery business, said in a statement. “KitKat was a logical choice, as it’s by far the biggest brand and a global brand.”
Vegan Butterfinger
Crispy, crunchy, full of peanut butter—and all vegan. Enjoy them with a friend or indulge in them all by yourself.
Thumbs Up Candy Bar
Nelly’s Organics Peanut Butter & Coconut Bar
Vegan Nestlé Crunch Bar
The original Nestlé Crunch bar features milk chocolate and crisped rice. These dairy-free dupes top the list for best vegan candy bars.
Snap! Candy Bar
No Whey Milkless Crunchy
Evolved Quinoa Crunch Bar
Beyond Good Crispy Rice Bar
Taza Chocolate Almond Milk Organic Chocolate Bar, Quinoa Crunch
Vegan Hershey Bar
For a classic chocolate bar, make these vegan chocolate bar dupes your go-to.
No Whey Milkless Chocolate Bar
Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Bars
Taza Chocolate Almond Milk Organic Chocolate Bar
Beyond Good Pure Dark Chocolate Bar
Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Bar
Evolved Signature Dark
Vego Whole Hazelnut Chocolate Bar
LIVEKINDLY is here to help you navigate the growing marketplace of sustainable products that promote a kinder planet. All of our selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, LIVEKINDLY may earn a commission.
