Huge List Of Gluten-Free Candy Options (Updated 2023)

If you need a comprehensive list of gluten-free candy options, I’ve got you covered! Here’s my ultimate list of every type of gluten-free candy – it includes chocolate bars, candy corn, and everything in between. If you’re gluten-free, check out these great options for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any occasion! Often when people decide to go gluten-free for whatever reason, there’s a sense of loss because they think they can’t enjoy some of their favorite treats. And holidays (like Halloween) are one of those times when kids tend to feel that sadness most acutely. But I have great news! A gluten-free diet doesn’t mean your child can’t enjoy any candy ever again! Whether they want to enjoy sweets for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthday parties, or regular special treats throughout the year, there are plenty of gluten-free candy options that your child can enjoy without worrying about a tummy ache or other issues later on. As everyone in the gluten-free world knows, limiting your gluten intake can be a challenge. It seems like reading labels has become a pastime. Memorizing the hidden names of gluten-derived ingredients is an ongoing process. Well, here’s an area where you can put down your reading glasses and step away from the fine print of the package labels. I have spent time researching the matter so that you don’t have to, and I have put all my findings together in one list! Use this gluten-free candy list as an easy reference list to help you know quickly and confidently which candy is safe for your child (and you) to eat (or avoid).

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Gluten-free safety note

Use this list as a guide only – recipes and ingredients can change at any time. This list only includes candy that contains no gluten in its ingredients.

This doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t any cross-contamination with equipment. Some brands avoid cross-contamination, while others do not. Additionally, this is for candy in the United States because ingredients may vary in other countries. Also, some candies are gluten-free year-round, while others may be gluten-free only seasonally because the manufacturer uses a different plant for seasonal candy creation, and there can be cross-contamination. One prominent example of this is seasonal Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (eggs, pumpkins, trees, hearts), which are not gluten free, even though their standard peanut butter cups are. I have included notes throughout this list. If you have ANY questions, please research it more thoroughly to be sure. Finally, although wheat is one of the eight allergens that are required to be highlighted on the ingredients label, gluten is NOT. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats. If you see barley malt listed in the ingredients, that candy is NOT gluten-free.

Take this list and use it as a starting point. Make notes or cross off items that may not work for you based on your needs and sensitivities!

Most popular gluten-free candy

Here are some of the most popular gluten-free candy options to enjoy:

• 3 Musketeers – These fluffy and chocolatey treats are gluten-free. Grab a bag and have no worries as you enjoy a treat for yourself before you share them!
• Almond Joy and Mounds – Avoid almond joy pieces. All other varieties are gluten-free.
• Baby Ruth
• Butterfinger – The original flavor in single-size, fun-size, and share packs are gluten-free- avoid bites, minis, cups, seasonal shapes, crisp bars, etc.
• Dove Chocolate – AVOID milk chocolate cinnamon graham, cookies and cream, and holiday options, such as milk chocolate truffles. All others are gluten-free
• Heath bars
• Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars – Milk chocolate bar (1.55oz only) and milk chocolate bar with almonds (1.55oz only) are both gluten-free. AVOID all other versions.
• Jolly Ranchers – They appear to be gluten-free; their website says: “While JOLLY RANCHER Candies have not been fully evaluated to qualify as gluten-free by FDA standards, they do not include any gluten-containing ingredients.”
• M&M’s – Avoid the pretzel and crispy varieties as well as the seasonal flavors. All others, including milk chocolate and peanut, should be safe without gluten.
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Avoid seasonal shaped items- all other Reese’s cups, including unwrapped Mini Minis milk and white chocolate, are safe for gluten-free (make your own peanut butter cups with this easy recipe.)
• Skittles are gluten-free
• Snickers bars
• Sour Patch Kids

Chocolate Gluten-Free Candy

Love chocolate (me too!)? These candies are good options:

• 3 Musketeers – These fluffy and chocolatey treats are gluten-free. Grab a bag and have no worries as you enjoy a treat for yourself before you share them!
• Almond Joy and Mounds – Avoid almond joy pieces. All others are gluten-free.
• Baby Ruth
• Butterfinger – The original flavor in single-size, fun-size, and share packs are gluten-free. Avoid bites, minis, cups, seasonal shapes, crisp bars, etc.
• Dove Chocolate – AVOID milk chocolate cinnamon graham, cookies and cream, and holiday options, such as milk chocolate truffles. All others are gluten-free
• Heath bars
• Hershey’s Chocolate Nuggets – According to Hershey’s website, all nuggets are gluten-free.
• Hershey’s Kisses – These ARE gluten-free:
  • Milk chocolate
  • Special dark, mildly sweet chocolate
  • Kiss deluxe
  • Creamy milk chocolate
  • Creamy milk chocolate with almonds
  • Giant kiss (7 oz only)
  • Specialty flavors: hot cocoa, hugs candy, milk chocolate filled with caramel, milk chocolate filled with cherry cordial creme, dark chocolate filled with mint truffle, meltaway milk chocolates.
• Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars – Milk chocolate bar (1.55oz only) and milk chocolate bar with almonds (1.55oz only) are both gluten-free. AVOID all other versions.
• Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Snack Bars
• M&M’s – Avoid the pretzel and crispy varieties as well as the seasonal flavors. All others, including milk chocolate and peanut, should be safe without gluten.
• Milky Way Midnight and Milky Way Caramel. Avoid the original Milk Way, but Milky Way Midnight and Milky Way Caramel Bars are gluten-free
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Avoid seasonal-shaped items. All other Reese’s cups, including unwrapped Mini Minis milk and white chocolate, are safe for gluten-free (make your own peanut butter cups with this easy recipe.)
• York Peppermint Patties – All except York Pieces candy, sugar-free peppermint patties, York minis, and York shapes (5 oz)

Halloween Gluten-Free Candy

Trick or treat! In addition to the candies mentioned above, these popular Halloween candies are generally safe for a spooky good time:

• Airheads – Regular and sour only. Avoid the Xtreme variety.
• Atomic Fireballs
• Bit-O-Honey
• Black Forest gummies and fruit snacks
• Jelly Belly Candy Corn 
• Charms Super Blow Pops
• Dots
• DumDum Pops
• Goobers
• Hershey’s Milk Duds
• Hot Tamales – Except Licorice Bites
• Jelly Belly beans
• Junior Mints
• Laffy Taffy and Laffy Taffy Rope
• Lemonheads
• Lifesaver gummies
• Mike and Ike
• Necco Wafers
• Nips
• Oh Henry!
• Payday bars
• Raisinets
• Reese’s Candy – The following ARE gluten-free: Reese’s Fast Break Bar, Reese’s Nutrageous Bar, Reese’s Pieces candy (all except Reese’s Pieces Eggs)
• Ring Pops
• Rolo Caramels – All except Rolo Minis
• Sixlets
• Skor
• Smarties
• Starburst chews and jelly beans are gluten-free
• Surf Sweets gummies by Wholesome Yum
• Swedish Fish are gluten-free
• SweeTARTS – Most consider this candy to be gluten-free. However, a couple of ingredients (including maltodextrin) can be made from wheat and barley, so you may want to avoid them if your child is extremely sensitive or has Celiac disease. AVOID SweeTARTS ropes.
• Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks
• Pixy Stix

Christmas Gluten-Free Candy

The holiday season is often filled with sweet treats. In addition to the candies listed above, stick with these options to feel your best:

• Andes Mints
• Bob’s Candy Canes
• Lifesavers Christmas Story Books
• Red Bird Peppermint Puffs
• See’s Candies
• Sno-Caps

Valentine’s Day Gluten-Free Candy

Love is in the air! You and your kiddos will love these GF-safe treats:

• Brach’s Conversation Hearts
• Junior Mints (Heart-Shaped)
• Lifesavers Candy ‘n Stickers
• Sweethearts Conversation Hearts

Easter Gluten-Free Candy

In addition to the candy options listed above, celebrate the holiday with these gluten-free candy options:

• Jelly Belly jelly beans
• Starburst jelly beans (original, tropical, red fruits)
• Peeps – All colors except Rainbow are safe.
• Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops
• Cadbury Cream Eggs – According to celiac.com, most (if not all) Cadbury Cream eggs are gluten-free
• Dove chocolates
  • Dove chocolate eggs
  • Dove hollow chocolate bunnies
  • Dove solid chocolate bunnies
  • Dove truffle eggs
• Almond Joy eggs
• Mounds eggs
• Palmer’s chocolate bunnies and candies
• Reese’s peanut butter
  • Reese’s Easter peanut butter eggs, including white and miniatures
  • Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups
  • Reese’s pieces pastel eggs
  • Large Reese’s bunny (LARGE only – The mini-sized bunnies are unsafe, according to celiac.com
  • Avoid the foil-wrapped mini eggs because those do contain gluten.
• Starburst – Easter fruit chews

Candies that are NOT gluten-free

Did you know these candies are NOT gluten-free?

• Gummy bears are typically NOT gluten-free
• Wonka Everlasting Gobstoppers
• Wonka Gummies
• Wonka Nerds are NOT gluten-free

Of course, there are a bunch more candies that are not safe, but I wanted to let you know about those 3 Wonka candies because I thought they were gluten-free until I checked more closely.

Gluten-Free Candy FAQs

If you’re new to the gluten-free world (or even if you’re experienced), there are probably at least one or two questions about this topic floating around your brain. Here are the questions I see most often from readers.

Are Snickers bars gluten-free?

Yes, according to the Snickers website, all Snickers, including Snickers Dark, fun-size, and minis, are gluten-free!

Are Lindt or Lindor Chocolate gluten-free?

It appears that most of their chocolate, including their popular truffles, are NOT gluten-free. Their website states: Gluten can be found in several premium chocolate products that Lindt & Sprüngli produces; either as a cereal ingredient or as a barley component. For consumers who are sensitive to gluten, we do offer certain premium chocolate products that are manufactured without cereal or barley malt, which may be suitable for consumers with such dietary restrictions. These offerings include our white chocolate products, as well as high cocoa content chocolate bars from our EXCELLENCE line – 70%, 78%, 85%, 90%, 95% and 99%.

Are M&M’s gluten-free?

M&Ms, except for the pretzel, crispy, and seasonal items, are gluten-free.

Are Reese’s gluten-free?

All Reese’s items are gluten-free, with the exception of seasonal items.

Are Butterfingers gluten-free?

As of writing, original Butterfingers are gluten-free, BUT all other Butterfinger flavors are NOT. From candy bars to candy corn, you’d be surprised at how many allergy-friendly options there are out there. I hope this list helps reduce the time you spend figuring out what you and your kids can eat so that you all can spend it enjoying those tasty morsels!

More Gluten-Free Ideas

• Chewy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
• Gluten-Free Lemon Bars With Shortbread Crust
• Blueberry Dump Cake With Cream Cheese Icing (Gluten-Free)
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles
• 60+ Gluten-Free Lunch Ideas For Kids

What’s your child’s favorite gluten-free candy? Know of any I missed? Leave a comment to share, and I’ll update the list.