Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time to focus on the important stuff: what we’re hoping lands in the trick-or-treat bag.
We love the classics as much as anyone, but the candy aisle has gotten a lot more interesting. Brands are rethinking familiar favorites with less sugar, simpler ingredients, natural colors and flavors, allergy-friendly recipes and more thoughtfully sourced chocolate.
And, importantly, they’re still making candy. Gooey, chewy, chocolatey, peanut-buttery, sour, fruity candy.
So before the doorbell starts ringing, here are five candy brands we’d be very happy to discover in our Halloween haul.
(story continues below)
Alter Eco
Photo: Alter Eco
If your ideal Halloween haul leans heavily chocolate, Alter Eco has you covered. The brand is known for its silky chocolate truffles, with plenty of flavors to keep things interesting, alongside dark chocolate bars and crunchy quinoa treats. And those individually wrapped truffles are practically begging to be dropped into a trick-or-treat bag.
There’s plenty to feel good about after the wrapper comes off, too. Alter Eco uses organic, fair-trade ingredients and sources cacao with a growing focus on regenerative agriculture and agroforestry, supporting healthier soil, forests and farming communities.
Get to Know: Alter Eco
Shop online at alterecofoods.com.
SmartSweets
Photo: SmartSweets
Gummies, sweet fish, peach rings, sour candy and even light, airy, squishy Dream Puffs inspired by Swedish candy. SmartSweets has taken plenty of candy-aisle favorites and given them a lower-sugar rethink.
The big difference is just how much lower. SmartSweets says its candy contains up to 92% less sugar than conventional candy, without artificial sweeteners or synthetic dyes. The brand also skips sugar alcohols, while adding fiber and keeping the focus where candy belongs: on something that actually tastes good.
Get to Know: SmartSweets
Shop online at SmartSweets.com
TCHO
Photo: TCHO
TCHO gives the Halloween chocolate haul a little San Francisco flair. The bean-to-bar chocolate maker has never been shy about flavor, with creations like Holy Fudge, Toffee Time, Born Fruity and Choco Latte. And for Halloween, TCHO gets fully into the spirit with seasonal chocolate made for handing out, sharing or strategically keeping for yourself.
Behind all that chocolate is a serious approach to how it gets made. TCHO is a certified B Corp, organic, Fair Trade and entirely plant-based, while working directly with cacao farmers and investing in better practices at the source.
Get to Know: TCHO
Shop online at tcho.com
UNREAL
Photo: UNREAL
UNREAL takes the candy you already know and love and gives it a modern makeover. Think creamy peanut butter cups, dark chocolate coconut bars, chewy caramel-peanut-nougat bars and colorful peanut butter drops, plus Halloween-ready variety packs made for the candy bowl.
The brand intentionally leads with taste, then lets you discover the rest: less sugar, simpler ingredients, colors from natural sources and Fair Trade certified chocolate. Depending on the product, there are also vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO options. In other words, familiar candy without quite so much baggage.
Get to Know: UNREAL
Shop online at unrealsnacks.com
YumEarth
Photo: YumEarth
If variety is the best part of dumping out a Halloween bag, YumEarth makes a strong case for taking up some serious space in it. The lineup stretches from fruity gummies and chewy candy to sour treats, lollipops, fruit snacks and more, with plenty of seasonal Halloween options designed specifically for trick-or-treating.
YumEarth is also one of the easiest picks for households navigating food allergies. Its candies are allergy-friendly, made without the top common allergens and skip artificial dyes, artificial flavors and high-fructose corn syrup. Even the bright colors come from ingredients like turmeric, radish and black carrot.
Get to Know: YumEarth
Shop online at yumearth.com
Others Worth Checking Out
Five spots fill up quickly when there’s this much candy around.
We’ve also got our eye on our trick-or-treat bag hoping to see these too:
7th Heaven Chocolate
Candy Kittens
Climate Candy
Endangered Species Chocolate
Free2b
JOJO’s
Joyride
Justin’s
Katjes
Magic Chocolate
Sweet Stash
Theo Chocolate
Whims
Some bring big chocolate flavor, chewy textures, fruity favorites or a fresh spin on classic candy. And there’s more to feel good about, too, from cleaner ingredients and less sugar to plant-based recipes, thoughtful cacao sourcing and allergy-friendly options.
And if any of them happen to land in our trick-or-treat bag tomorrow night, we’re not giving them back.
Happy Halloween from Seeing Green!