The Best Gluten-Free Candy to Give Out This Halloween
Updated: Oct. 22, 2020Whether you or your kids avoid gluten because you have a gluten sensitivity or just feel better without it, you can still enjoy this gluten-free Halloween candy.
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Choosing gluten-free candy
Gluten-free diets have become much more than a trend—they’re a way of life for many people. Avoiding gluten—proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley—is a necessity for people who have celiac disease or those who have a milder form of gluten intolerance or sensitivity.
For people with celiac disease, gluten triggers an autoimmune reaction that can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, fatigue, joint pain, depression, and osteoporosis, to name just a few of the related issues. About 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, and just over 5 percent have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity.
Yet around one in three Americans tries to avoid gluten, so people may choose to limit gluten for other reasons. Some people avoid gluten thinking it will help them control their weight; others say they simply feel better when following a gluten-free diet.
Whether you or your kids are gluten-free due to a sensitivity or just feel better without it, this curated list of gluten-free Halloween candy will come in handy.
Chocolaty treats:
Baby Ruth
$27 for a 3-pound bag
Baby Ruth bars are caramelly, chocolaty, nutty—and gluten-free. Note for people with a nut allergy: These also contain peanuts.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
$9 for a 35.6-ounce bag
Both the full size and mini size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are gluten-free, but the seasonal shapes aren’t. If you’re avoiding gluten, you’ll want to skip the pumpkin-shaped Halloween treats from Reese’s or risk digestive issues.
Heath Bars
$10 for a 10.2-ounce bag
Gluten-free toffee lovers will be happy to know that Heath bars are safe for them to indulge in this Halloween. Meanwhile, check out what eating chocolate does to your body.
Butterfinger
$12 for a 10.2-ounce bag
When it comes to Butterfinger, the gluten-free options are more specific. Gluten-free Butterfinger candies include the fun size, singles, and share packs. Butterfinger options that aren’t gluten-free include the giant bars, seasonal shapes, bites, minis, and cups. (Check out the gluten-free foods nutritionists love.)
Rolo
$16 for a 17.8-ounce bag
Rolo chocolate caramel candies are gluten-free—unless they are the mini varieties. If you want to be sure you’re stocking up on a gluten-free option, look for the individually wrapped and regular-sized varieties. Or try these healthy Halloween candy choices.
Almond Joy
$34 for a pack of 36
Jump for joy: Here’s another classic candy bar that’s gluten-free. An Almond Joy chocolate bar is the perfect choice for coconut lovers who also happen to be avoiding gluten. If you’re sugar-conscious, opt for these low sugar Halloween candies.
Mounds
$9 for an 11.3-ounce bag
Similar to Almond Joy, Mounds bars contain coconut and chocolate—but they skip the almonds. (“Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t!”) That makes Mounds a potential option for nut-free environments, and they also happen to be gluten-free. However, if you have a nut allergy always check the label to make sure the product hasn’t been processed in a facility or on the same equipment used to manufacture nut-containing products.
Nut-free candies:
Smarties
$9 for a pack of 3
An old-school candy, Smarties (and Smarties wafers) are gluten- and peanut-free. They’re 25 calories per serving, making them a sweet and relatively low-calorie treat.
Enjoy Life Halloween Variety Chocolates
$26 for a pack of 4
Enjoy Life might be the safest option for children with allergies. Enjoy Life chocolates don’t contain gluten, and they also sidestep 14 other allergenic substances. That means they’re safe for almost all kids.
Enjoy Life Ricemilk Crunch
$20 for 18 bars
Satisfyingly crunchy and gluten-free, these mini chocolate bars are individually wrapped and ready to hand out on Halloween night.
SweeTarts
$39 for a pack of 36
Whether you choose the original or chewy variety, both of these SweeTarts versions are gluten-free.
Pixy Stix
$5 for a 3.2-ounce pack
A classic, Pixy Stix are gluten-free. Buy a variety pack and get four flavors kids will love. (This is the worst Halloween candy for your teeth.)
AirHeads
$21 for an 8-pound box
AirHeads come in a variety of individually wrapped flavors and sizes. In addition to being gluten-free, AirHeads are also free of other top allergens.
Starburst
$18 for a 54-ounce party-size bag
Each Starburst candy is individually wrapped, and with four flavors to choose from, they’re a gluten-free and fruit-flavored Halloween candy.
Skittles
$26 for a 5-pound bag
Skittles come in a few flavor varieties—such as regular, tropical, and sour—and are often found in the individually wrapped fun-size packages. They are gluten- and nut-free. (This is what eating sugar does to your body.)
Jelly Belly
$11 for a 12.6-ounce bag
Definitely a nostalgic candy, Jelly Belly comes in almost too many flavors to count. They’re not only gluten-free, but also vegetarian, dairy-free, and peanut-free.
- Celiac Disease Foundation: "What is Celiac Disease?"
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: "Eating, Diet, and Nutrition for Celiac Disease"
- Celiac Disease Foundation: "Celiac Disease in Children"
- Celiac Disease Foundation: "Gluten-Free Candy List"
- NYU Langone Health: "One-Third of Americans Are Trying to Avoid Gluten—But Is It the Villain We Think It Is?"
