50 Vegan Halloween Dessert Recipes
~ These hauntingly delicious Vegan Halloween Dessert Recipes prove that plant-based treats can be every bit as fun, every bit as scrumptious, every bit as spook-tacular as “traditional” recipes! From copycat vegan candy to darling cupcakes, cute treats for kids to ghoulish, showstopper Halloween party cakes … there’s a fantastic idea here for every festive moment of the Halloween season! ~
As more and more people are exploring the benefits of plant-based eating, there’s an increased demand for vegan recipe ideas – not just in day-to-day eating, but at holidays like Halloween, too.
Whether you’re fully committed to a vegan diet, just dipping your toes in the plant-based waters, or searching for healthier recipes that will meet the needs of party guests with diverse eating styles … it’s always a good idea to have some terrific recipes you can turn to in a pinch.
And {mmmwahhahaha} do we have some diabolically outstanding ideas for you! Our following list below includes:
Why You’ll Love This Variety of Halloween Dessert Ideas
We’ve pretty much covered the gambit in putting this collection together – different types of desserts and treats, different flavor profiles, different skill levels.
There’s something for everyone!
Plus, besides being vegan, many of these recipes have other healthy upgrades, too. Sure, some still leverage ingredients like vegan butter and sugar (I mean, we ARE talking desserts here, after all). But lots of them dig deep to utilize whole food ingredients, less refined sugar, healthier whole grains, or to be gluten free and allergy friendly … in addition to being vegan.
For people who value healthy eating – even at holidays and parties – there’s a whole lot of winning going on here today!
Pro Tip: Vegan Ingredients
I’ve got some helpful tips about vegan dessert ingredients at the end of this article, too. (You might be surprised at some common ingredients that aren’t actually vegan!)
But first, let’s get to the amazing list of recipes …….
Vegan Halloween Dessert Recipes
Vegan Candy and No-Bake Treats
Most of the vegan Halloween treats in this section use chocolate. So, remember to ensure that your brand of chocolate is vegan-friendly (many – but not all – are), as well as any added sugar or candy eyeballs.
Halloween Truffles
So cute on the outside ... and such amazing flavor on the inside! These mummy Halloween truffles are a joy to decorate, encasing a delicious no-bake vegan pumpkin filling. Horrifyingly good!
Vegan Butterfingers
The center of these scrumptious vegan homemade Butterfingers has that flaky, crispy texture of the original. Kinda like a hybrid between crunchy honeycomb bars and peanut butter, only better and without the dairy. They're a true crowd-pleaser!
Pumpkin Caramel Chocolates
Filled chocolates are such an impressive dessert, but they're actually not hard to make at all! The warmly spiced pumpkin-caramel filling in these vegan treats is absolutely perfect for autumn's Halloween parties. Try this recipe with all sorts of other Halloween-themed molds, too ... whatever eerie shapes you like!
Homemade Twix Bars
Made with a delicious date caramel and a quinoa/coconut flour cookie crust, these copycat Twix bars are both vegan and gluten free, which makes it easy for everyone to enjoy them! A terrific, healthy alternative to the store-bought candy bar that's so popular in Halloween treat bags.
Vegan Bat Truffles
How fabulous are these little guys?!? These totally endearing Halloween treats are made with brownies that've been stuffed with vegan candy bars. The post even includes a recipe for making homemade, vegan googly eyes, which is perfect if you're having trouble finding a vegan brand at the store!
Homemade Snickers Bars
These easy, vegan homemade Snickers feature a sweet and creamy peanut butter nougat base, topped with decadent date caramel that's studded with crunchy peanuts, all coated in delicious chocolate – just like the classic candy bar! They’re so good, and taste just like the store-bought version, if not even better!
4-Ingredient Snickers Bliss Balls
Want an even easier way to enjoy the Snickers flavors you love? Try these! With only 4 simple ingredients, these little bites are a perfect vegan and gluten-free indulgence.
Vegan Peppermint Creams
These ghoulish candies are easy to make, and decorating them with frightful faces is a terrific Halloween party activity. They're also brilliant as homemade gifts for friends or for "boo-ing" neighbors, especially packed into a Halloween-themed gift box or decorative jar!
Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
These healthier peanut butter cups are made with only 5 ingredients! They taste like Reese's cups, but they're gluten free, dairy free, vegan, keto, and low on sugar. Keep a stockpile in the freezer for a quick treat, long after the Halloween season has passed!
Vegan Peanut Butter Cups with Pumpkin
Wanna make your peanut butter cups even MORE Halloween-y?!? Here's a great way to do it: add some pumpkin (and some autumn maple syrup) to the peanut butter filling! Pumpkin and dark chocolate are fabulous together, and hey hey ... that pumpkin adds great nutrition along with festive flair. Total win, all around!
Chocolate Almond Butter Cups with Raspberry
Ok ok ... just one more "Reese's cup" idea. With that oozy, blood-red raspberry filling, I simply couldn't resist including this recipe in my vegan Halloween desserts line-up, too! These unique, sweet and salty treats are made with dark chocolate, smooth almond butter, and a homemade, naturally sweetened raspberry chia jam. But don't worry ... you can still make these in less than 30 minutes!
Halloween Peanut Butter Spiders
These wide-eyed spiders are so much fun to make, super spooky-cute, and they taste absolutely amazing! With lots of ideas for plant-based substitutions and add-ons, you can customize these darling, no-bake critters just the way you like them!
Eat-More Bars (Healthy Copycat)
Inspired by the Hershey's Canadian confection, these homemade "Eat-mores" chocolate bars are made with just 4 better-for-you ingredients. Yet they taste identical and are so easy to make, in 10 minutes or less!
No-Bake Halloween Brownie Bites
Sweet, chocolaty, and absolutely delicious, these no-bake chocolate balls are super simple to make, with just a few pantry ingredients. They're also made with only wholesome ingredients, and without added sugars. Give 'em a try and see why they've got so many glowing reviews!
Monster Lollipops
Jolly Ranchers are just about all you need to make these adorable monster lollipops, all decked out in kid-pleasing, vibrant colors! Not a huge nutrition upgrade here, but since Jolly Rancher hard candies do happen to be vegan, these are a great vegan Halloween candy option that's also an enjoyable idea to make with the kiddos. (Vegan note: don't forget to double-check that the candy eyes you purchase are vegan-friendly.)
4-Ingredient Homemade Mounds Bars
This copycat coconut and chocolate treat is vegan, gluten free, paleo, and even top-8 allergy-free. Yet it's easy to make and requires just 4 ingredients. So much healthier – without all the junk – but still so delectable!
Zombie Vegan Popsicles
Looking to cut back on sugar this Halloween? You're in luck with this frozen dessert, because these zombie-shaped popsicles can be made with no added sugar. These tasty matcha pops are packed with refreshing pineapple and have a hint of coconut flavor ... a sophisticated flavor profile that both adults and kiddos enjoy.
Healthy Carrot Cake Truffles
Decked out in Halloween colors, these tasty truffles combine carrots, raisins, and warming spices into healthy, wholesome energy balls. Nutritious enough for snack time ... but mmmmmmm ... that chocolate drizzle really seals the deal in making these decadent enough to be a dessert, too!
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Spiders
All you need here are just 3 simple ingredients and 10 minutes! These creepy-crawly, delicious treats are such a snap to make, and so perfect to bring to a Halloween party, or to enjoy for dessert all throughout October. Ghoulishly addictive!
Healthy Vegan Rocky Road
A wholesome twist on the traditional rocky road candy bars, this vegan version is made with healthy ingredients like nuts, dried fruit and seductive dark chocolate. There are no marshmallows, biscuits or butter, and this chocolate treat is dairy free and gluten free. All with a prep time of just 5 minutes!
Halloween Zombie Fingers
These not-too-sweet treats are spooky enough to please all your Halloween party guests, both young and old. And, they can also be used to add atmosphere to the food table during the party or serve as take-home party favors. With just 5 ingredients, they're a simple no-bake treat your kiddos can help you make.
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Decadent enough for dessert, yet healthy enough for an after-school snack or a quick “pick-me-up” to your busy day. They feature that classic "Reese's Cup" combo of peanut butter and chocolate, but are loaded with nutritious energy – a great Halloween treat to satisfy your sweet tooth instead of candy!
Vegan Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies and Cakes
Love baking? Then fire up the oven to bake up some Halloween fun! With a few clever ingredient swaps, vegan cupcakes and baked goods can be just as easy to make as their non-vegan counterparts. And surprisingly, you don't have to compromise on flavor and texture, either. Just check out these truly "bewitching" ideas!
Vegan Halloween Cupcakes
These chocolate cupcakes use Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a dark, Halloween-y color and a rich, deep chocolate flavor that contrasts so well against the tart blackberry filling (which looks wonderfully gory as it oozes out!). An eggless Swiss meringue buttercream frosting and chocolate skulls complete this upscale dessert perfectly!
Homemade Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights
This recipe is a copycat version of the Little Debbie Pumpkin Delights seasonal treat you know and love! It's also much healthier, vegan, gluten free and allergy free. Soft, pumpkin-spiced cookies are stuffed with a pumpkin butter filling for a vegan dessert that tastes like pumpkin pie (but you don't have to wait for its limited-edition arrival at your grocery store)!
Chocolate Blackberry Halloween Cake
A true showstopper for your Halloween dinner party! Beside being incredibly impressive, this cake recipe is made with as many organic ingredients and natural colors as possible. And, it helpfully includes information on vegan food coloring options, since food colorings for frosting and decorating aren't always vegan.
Vegan Mummy Cupcakes
These cupcakes have a rich chocolate flavor with a tender crumb, and the mummy faces are frosted with silky vegan buttercream. Yummy! Plus, they're a fun baking project to get kids involved, since the piping doesn't have to be perfect, and any imperfections will only add to a mummy's character. Bonus: with only a little frosting, they're a bit healthier than cupcakes piled sky-high with buttercream (even if it's vegan buttercream).
Vegan Pumpkin Brownies
These easy vegan brownies are fudgy, gooey, and so inviting. Yet, they're ingeniously made without flour or butter, instead using ingredients like ground almonds, almond butter, seasonal pumpkin and warming pumpkin spices. A healthier Halloween treat you'll feel terrific serving to people you care about!
Venus Fly Trap Cupcakes
It’s ALIVE! These man-eating cupcakes are a frightful addition to any Halloween party! They feature a delightfully fruity raspberry cupcake topped with dairy-free vanilla buttercream, and have a hungry strawberry on top, ready to bite! This homemade Halloween treat is vegan and free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts.
Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
So creamy and full of indulgent Halloween-season flavors. Surprisingly healthy, too! This luscious vegan dessert cleverly uses cashews and silken tofu to get that light, swoon-worthy texture. Pumpkin spice and just a hint of citrus elevate the flavors, but you can ratchet the wow-factor up even further with lots of tasty add-in suggestions like ginger cookies, pecans or vegan caramel sauce!
Vegan Chocolate Layer Skull Cake
If deep, dark chocolate cravings have been haunting you, try this decadent vegan chocolate layer cake … if you dare! Filled and coated with a lush chocolate buttercream, dripped in a satiny ganache and topped with pure chocolate skulls, this is one wicked cake for Halloween night! A gorgeous, elegant and spooky dessert to complete an absolutely perfect vegan Halloween party!
Cute Halloween Donuts
Baked pumpkin spice donuts are covered in chocolate, and transformed into baby Halloween bats. This post includes loads of great tips, shortcuts, and even help on cutting back the sugar if you'd like.
Vegan Pumpkin Cake
This impressive 3-tier cake is incredibly moist, made with easy-to-find ingredients, and topped with the most delicious cinnamon buttercream icing. (Hint: you're gonna want to make this vegan treat again for Thanksgiving, too!)
Vegan Ghost Cupcakes
These not-too-spooky Ghosty Cupcakes are vegan, gluten free and allergy free, so they're great for kids' parties where there may be allergies or dietary restrictions! They're easy to make with a simple black chocolate cupcake base and dairy-free vanilla buttercream frosting. Whether you need a unique Halloween party treat or a simple non-candy dessert, these cuties are a good bet!
Spider Sugar Cookie Bars
A festive yet easy way to spook-ify a delicious treat! A thick, soft, sugar cookie base is topped with a rich, faux “butter” cream, then decorated so all your ghouls and goblins will love it. A festive Halloween party treat, this dessert can feed just about anybody, since it’s vegan and also free of gluten, dairy, egg, soy, peanuts and tree nuts.
Pumpkin Filo Rolls
Sweetened pumpkin is wrapped in layers of crunchy filo dough, and topped with a cascade of powdered sugar. *swoon* With just 4 ingredients, these are simple to make and can even be frozen. (With great ideas to switch up the filling ... sooooooo ... you can make a double batch and get ahead on your holiday baking, too!)
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Healthy Orange Frosting
These soft chocolate cupcakes are topped with a lip-smacking orange frosting that's made without artificial coloring, and without any sort of butter or shortening. The Halloween hues make these party-worthy, and adding chocolate chips for eyes gives them an extra-festive touch!
Frosted Vegan Pumpkin Bread
This recipe cleverly leans into whipped aquafaba to address a common problem with baked vegan desserts (denseness), to create a nice lift and make this loaf more tender. Enjoy it plain, as more of a snack-time treat, or choose from two different frosting options to transform it into a luscious vegan dessert that's almost cake-like. Unless you announce it ahead of time, no one will ever guess it’s vegan! Psssst ... if you like the nutrition boost of baking with whole grains, two other healthy loaves to try are this Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread or this Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread.
Healthy Vegan Halloween Cookies with Cashew Frosting
Made from oatmeal and decorated with cashew frosting, these cookies feature healthy, unprocessed ingredients. Decorate them any way you like, and even slash the fat by using a reduced-fat coconut milk in the frosting. Virtuous yet spook-tacular!
Apple Vegan Cake
Looking for a break from all the pumpkin and chocolate flavors of Halloween desserts? Try autumn's cozy apple-spice combo! This healthy vegan bundt cake is naturally sweetened with applesauce and maple syrup. You certainly don't have to be vegan to enjoy this moist cake ... it's lovely for sharing with friends, family and kids, even if they aren't vegan!
Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cupcakes
These moist homemade cupcakes are frosted with a creamy pumpkin spice buttercream everyone at the Halloween party will love. But there are lots of great ideas to customize them, like adding nuts or mini chocolate chips, switching to a vegan cream cheese frosting or cinnamon buttercream, and making a little extra frosting to use as a surprise filling. So many tasty options!
More Spooky Dessert Ideas (Puddings and Beyond!)
We're not done yet, friends! Here are even more terrific ideas for plant-based desserts that celebrate Halloween in style!
Halloween Dirt Cups
These Halloween dirt cups feature rich and creamy chocolate pudding, homemade chocolate cookie crumbs, and banana ghosts. A real treat for kids of ALL ages! Lots of tips for finding vegan products (like the gummy worms), and also for easily making these gluten free and paleo if needed.
Halloween Fruit Kabobs
These are delightful alone, but extra-sweet paired with your favorite vegan dessert dip! Pick Halloween-colored fruit and (optionally) try our tips to use holiday-shaped cookie cutters for extra flair. You can even add these to dessert grazing boards or follow our guide to turn them into an impressive fruit bouquet as a centerpiece for your Halloween party spread!
Meringue Ghosts
Meringues and marshmallows may seem like tricky things to make on a vegan diet. But these adorable, bite-sized Halloween desserts cleverly use aquafaba from chickpeas to make a wonderful vegan meringue that's even lighter (and easier to make!) than the traditional version using eggs.
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
Crisp, soft and chewy, these easy Rice Krispie treats are gluten free, vegan, allergy free and nut free. No marshmallows needed. They're loaded with real pumpkin, and topped with a web-like white chocolate drizzle. This is an exhaustively tested recipe that's a lower-sugar kid-pleaser!
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
An altogether different spin on this quintessential Halloween goodie! These are packed with peanut butter and crowned with dark chocolate, yet contain no added, refined sugar. (Be sure to choose a cereal brand such as the Barbara's Organic used here, to keep these vegan, since Kellogg's Rice Krispies aren't vegan-friendly.)
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Pudding
This vegan pudding has a short ingredient list and it's quick to make, but it's full of pumpkin flavor and warm spices! It's also free of refined sugars, but is still sweet, fluffy and creamy with an incredibly fresh, authentic pumpkin flavor that's perfect for the Halloween season.
"Caramel" Apple Skewers
Caramel apples are a classic Halloween treat, but most recipes aren't vegan – or even very healthy. This recipe is a fabulous alternative with a plant-based drizzle that's a source of healthy fats and protein. These little skewers are an alluring sweet treat for Halloween parties and fall get-togethers. There are even ideas for customizing the toppings and creating a party-worthy DIY caramel apple bar. How fun!
Hocus Pocus Peanut Butter Popcorn
For those of you who love a sweet and salty combo in your desserts, this is a great option ... and totally perfect for munching through a horror movie marathon. Break out your broomstick, procure plenty of corn cobs, and get poppin’!
Baked Apple Healthy Halloween Treats
Baked apples are a fall-favorite dessert, and carving them with jack-o'-lantern faces (like in the back of the photo) turns this recipe into a festive Halloween treat. And it's so healthy, you could even serve it as an extra-special breakfast to kick off Halloween morning!
As you scroll through the collection above and begin making your grocery list, I thought a few tips might be helpful – especially if you’re new to making vegan desserts.
Vegan Dessert Ingredients to Watch Out For
Tip #1: Be Careful About Sweeteners
The sweeteners you use in vegan desserts can get a little tricky.
First of all, remember that honey isn’t technically, strictly vegan.
Also, while many vegan recipes simply list “sugar,” you need to make sure that the type or brand of sugar you purchase is, indeed, vegan. Some sugar (specifically cane sugar) may be processed with bone char, a by-product of the meat industry, making it unacceptable to many people following a vegan diet. Raw sugars, beet sugars and organic sugars are good bets. Check out this handy Guide to Sugar for more deets about what to look for at grocery stores.
Tip #2: Other Common Ingredients to Double-Check
FAQs At-a-Glance
A lot of vegans don’t eat honey because it’s produced by insects (which are animals). Although the whole issue of honey has a bit of controversy surrounding it, strict vegans will opt for another similar sweetener, such as maple syrup.
Many kinds of sugar are, in fact, vegan. But some refined sugars, particularly those made from sugar cane, may be processed using animal bone char. This makes them unsuitable for a strict vegan diet. If you’re not sure, always double-check your brand and type of sugar until you find favorites you can rely on.
While many vegan desserts have health advantages over their “traditional” counterparts, remember that vegan butters and shortenings still have large amounts of problematic fats and calories, so use them sparingly when you can. Similarly, even if your brand of sugar is vegan, it’s still sugar … so all of the issues with diabetes, high caloric intake, blood sugar spikes, etc. still apply.
I’m so inspired by this collection of spooky vegan Halloween recipes!
So many monstrously WONDERFUL Halloween dessert ideas that just happen to vegan, too! Exactly what you need when you’re making treats for a group with a mix of dietary needs and eating styles.
Sweet treats and ghoulish delights you’ll love making, love eating … and love sharing (with vegans and non-vegans alike), both on October 31st, and also allllll throughout this most spooky season!
Psssssst … For even more ideas you’ll feel great sharing, check out our collections of adorable Halloween Fruit Recipes. And also our big-batch Non-Alcoholic Halloween Punch Recipes and (small-batch) Alcohol-Free Halloween Drinks like virgin mocktails and festive kids’ drinks.
Happy Halloween, everyone!
~ by Shelley
My mouth is watering from all of these Halloween treat ideas! Can’t wait to try out a few of them this weekend!
I knoooowwww! We’re not strictly vegan at my house, but love incorporating plant-based foods FREQUENTLY … and I was so ridiculously inspired by all these ideas! So many ingenious and adorable recipes for literally every Halloween event I can imagine. Have a monstrously fabulous Halloween weekend! 😀 ~Shelley