Are Candy Canes Vegan?

In the realm of festive treats, the classic candy cane stands tall as a symbol of holiday joy. However, if you avoid eggs and dairy due to food allergies or follow a vegan diet, you might be wondering: are candy canes vegan? What about gluten and other common allergens? In this guide, we’ll take a look at candy cane ingredients and other considerations when choosing this minty holiday treat.

Jump to:

• Candy cane ingredients
• Be aware of cross contact
• Vegan and gluten free candy cane brands
• More holiday treats

The holidays are here which means candy canes are making their annual appearance. Whether hung on Christmas trees, adorning packages, or given as class treats at school, candy canes can bring on the holiday cheer. 

As a food allergy mom and a dietitian dedicated to supporting those with dietary restrictions, I understand the importance of finding safe, traditional treats like candy canes that work for your dietary restrictions.

In this article, I walk you through the ingredients used to make candy canes and explore whether they work for a vegan diet and other dietary restrictions due to food allergies. 

I will also highlight some vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly brands and suggest how to incorporate them into other festive holiday treats!

Candy cane ingredients

The ingredient list for basic candy canes is pretty simple: sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor (peppermint), and food coloring (red). All of these ingredients are gluten free and free from common allergens including dairy, eggs, and wheat. 

However, if you’re following a true vegan diet, there are some things to consider. 

Sugar is inherently vegan, but its production often involves bone char, derived from animal bones. Although this technically categorizes sugar as a non-vegan food due to the use of animal products, even PETA says not to stress too much about it.

Corn syrup is a vegan ingredient and does not contain any common food allergens.

Natural flavoring in candy canes is peppermint, derived from the peppermint plant which is vegan and gluten free.

Food coloring in candy canes is often red dye 40 which is vegan and free from common allergens. 

Another type of red food dye called carmine or cochineal is derived from crushed bugs (ew!) but is not commonly used these days.  

Other candy cane ingredients

The ingredients listed above are the most common ingredients in candy canes but some other ingredients might pop up depending on the variety. Let’s take a look at some of these other ingredients:

• Calcium carbonate gives candies a glossy finish. In candy canes, it can help to prevent the red coloring from bleeding into the white. Usually sourced from limestone, it does not typically contain gluten, dairy, eggs, or any animal products. 
• Glycerine is often sourced from vegetable oils (coconut, palm, soy) but may contain beef tallow. In this case, it wouldn’t contain allergens like dairy, eggs, or wheat but would not be vegan.
• Palm oil is a fat derived from the fruit of the palm tree and is naturally gluten free and vegan. That said, those living a vegan lifestyle might choose to avoid it due to concerns about how the sourcing and producing impacts animal welfare. For those avoiding gluten, dairy, eggs, and other common allergens, palm oil is safe.
• Coconut oil, like palm oil, is naturally gluten free and vegan. Coconut is considered one of the top 9 allergens (classified as a tree nut by the FDA) but is otherwise free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, and wheat.
• Tapioca syrup is made from the cassava plant and is suitable for gluten free and vegan diets. 
• Artificial flavorings cannot be derived from natural foods like dairy, eggs, or wheat, according to the FDA. That means these flavorings are free from these and other common allergens. They also do not contain animal products.

Be aware of cross contact

Even though most candy canes don't have ingredients containing gluten, eggs, dairy, and other common allergens, it’s important to also consider cross-contact.

Cross contact is when two foods touch each other and their proteins mix. In food manufacturing, cross-contact can happen when two different foods are produced in the same area. 

For example, an allergy friendly candy cane might be produced in the same area as candies that contain wheat, dairy, or eggs. Even though the candy cane itself is allergen-free, the shared production space increases the likelihood of allergen exposure, which may make it unsafe for individuals with allergies.

While not mandatory, many manufacturers opt to include a statement on the packaging indicating the potential for cross-contact. For instance, they might state, "This product is made in the same facility as eggs, dairy, and wheat."

You can read more about cross-contact and how to manage it in this article. 

Vegan and gluten free candy cane brands

Now that you know what to look for on ingredient lists, let's take a look at some brands that make candy canes and whether they are allergy friendly and vegan.

Please note the Amazon links in this section are affiliate links that allow me to earn a commission if purchased through the link.

Brach's

Brach's is a well-known candy maker and among their lineup is a variety of candy cane flavors.

The traditional red and white peppermint candy canes contain corn syrup, sugar, peppermint oil, and red food coloring (red 40 and red 40 lake). None of these ingredients are derived from the top 9 allergens so they appear to be safe.

Brach's parent company, Ferrara, states on their Frequently Asked Questions page that they do include advisory statements on labeling if cross-contact with common allergens occurs in production so read those labels carefully.

Brach's candy canes do not appear to contain any ingredients derived from animals except sugar processed with bone char. If you're following a strict vegan diet, you might choose to look elsewhere for your candy canes.

Where to buy: Brachs.com or Amazon.

Spangler

If you’re buying candy canes, chances are, Spangler made them. According to Wikipedia, the candy company makes approximately 45% of the candy canes in the United States.

This is good news for people with food allergies because the company is very transparent about food allergens. The company website includes ingredient lists and specific allergen statements for each product. Each candy cane variety states: "This product is free of top common allergens and manufactured on dedicated equipment". 

Like Brach's, Spangler candy canes appear to be vegan except for the use of bone char to process the sugar used.

Where to buy: Spangler.com, Amazon, or any major retailer.

Sweet Nature

Made by Spangler, Sweet Nature candy canes are another allergy-friendly option free from the top 9 allergens (may have trace amounts of refined soybean oil). They're also gluten-free.

The ingredient list is short and sweet: sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor, and vegetable juice for coloring (no artificial colors). 

Like the other Spangler candy canes, it is not clear if the sugar is bone-char free. Other than that, they appear to be vegan.

Where to buy: Amazon.

Sweet Organics

The ingredients used for Sweet Organics candy canes include organic cane sugar, organic brown rice syrup, natural peppermint flavor, colored with organic fruit, and vegetable concentrate (radish, apple, blackcurrant).

While none of these ingredients contain common allergens like dairy, eggs, and wheat, the manufacturer does note some potential for cross-contact: “Produced on dedicated nut-free and gluten-free equipment in a segregated area of a facility that also processes wheat, dairy, eggs & soy.”

If you're following a vegan diet, this brand looks like a great choice as they use organic sugar which is bone char free. You can read the manufacturer notes and purchase at naturalcandystore.com.

Where to buy: naturalcandystore.com.

Yum Earth

Yum Earth makes a bunch of allergy friendly treats including candy canes! None of their products contain the top 9 allergens including dairy, eggs, and wheat.

While the company does list potential cross-contact for some of its products, the candy canes do not have any advisory statements. In addition to being allergy-friendly and gluten-free, they are vegan as well!

Ingredients include organic cane sugar, organic brown rice syrup, natural peppermint flavor, and organic fruit and vegetable concentrate (radish. apple, blackcurrant) for coloring.

Where to buy: YumEarth.com or Amazon.

More holiday treats

Candy canes are sweet on their own but they can also add a pop of minty freshness to other holiday treats!

Oat milk hot chocolate is dairy-free deliciousness in a mug! Adding a candy cane stir stick or crushed candy canes gives it a minty twist perfect for the holidays.

Not a fan of oat milk? Try this dairy-free hot cocoa recipe with powdered coconut milk. The instructions cater to both single servings and a jar of hot chocolate mix, perfect for gifting. Attach a candy cane to the jar with a pretty ribbon for an extra special touch!

Candy canes also make great decorations for Christmas cookies! Try these dairy and gluten free candy cane cookies topped with crushed candy canes. 

We also love adding a variety of candies when decorating, gluten free sugar cookies and gingerbread. You could even add crushed candy canes on top of these spritz cookies!

For more Christmas treats, be sure to check out this post with some of my family’s allergy-friendly favorites.