Some Chocolate Chips are Vegan!

If you are wondering if chocolate chips are vegan, the good news is that some brands are, and they taste good too!

If you are starting a vegan or plant-based diet, it’s nice to know that you won’t have to give up chocolate chip cookies, perhaps the most beloved cookie of all time!  You have options!

When it comes down to it, most people would opt for something with a bit of chocolate rather than a piece of fruit when they want something sweet. I mean, let’s be honest!

The Best Vegan Chocolate Chips

The best way to determine if a brand of chocolate chips is vegan is by reading the label. It should clearly state that the product is vegan. You must always check this for yourself if you require 100% certainty.

I personally like the brand Enjoy Life. They make semi-sweet and dark chocolate chip options which come in mini chips, morsels, and mega chunk shapes

There are only three ingredients listed on a package of semi-sweet chocolate mini chips.

1. Cane Sugar
2. Unsweetened Chocolate
3. Cocoa Butter

If you have any concerns and want to make sure that the chocolate chips are vegan, do a little research on their website! It’s clearly stated that the semi-sweet chocolate mini chips are dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free, and gluten-free. The chips are free of 14 common allergens and certified gluten-free and Vegan.  

Vegan chocolate chips should very clearly state something like this. The only thing not listed, but is important as well, is that they taste good and the Enjoy Life chocolate chips are.

Aside from the Enjoy Life brand, here are a few vegan chocolate chip options that I’ve never tried, but have heard are good.

1. Evolved Chocolate Chips
2. Pasha Chocolate Chips
3. Nestle Toll House Allergen-Free Morsels

Are Guittard Chocolate Chips Vegan?

Well, kinda.  This gets a little confusing.

I eat a plant-based diet which I also refer to as vegan.  I’ll also use the Guittard brand of extra dark and semisweet chips on occasion.  The ingredients themselves are vegan. 

There is mention on the packaging, however, that the chips are made on equipment used to make milk chocolate, which makes the chocolate chips not suitable for people with milk allergies.

The confusing ingredient in the Guittard Chocolate Chips is white cane sugar. If white sugar is not organic, it’s often processed with bone char. You can read all about this process here on the Guittard website.  White cane sugar processed this way is not really considered “vegan”.

Who knew, so you’ll have to make the choice for yourself. I personally use these chocolate chips on occasion. They’re plant-based and vegan enough for my personal diet and lifestyle.

Where to Buy Vegan Chocolate Chips

Today, you can find vegan chocolate chips just about everywhere

1. Whole foods
2. Natural Grocer
3. Sprouts
4. Target
5. Walmart
6. Amazon

What to Make with Vegan Chocolate Chips

Besides the obvious, making chocolate chip cookies, what else can you make with vegan chocolate chips?

Try melting some vegan chocolate chips to drizzle over dates that have been stuffed with a bit of peanut butter.

These peanut butter-stuffed dates are so easy, I can’t even call it a recipe! I use Medjool dates, remove the seed and stuff it with a bit of peanut butter, or another kind of nut butter. Melt a few of the vegan chocolate chips, drizzle over the date, and top with crushed pistachios or peanuts or almonds, or a pinch Maldon salt. You get the idea. Sometimes I like to stuff the date with a brazil nut, then drizzle the chocolate. There are so many variations and these are really good. Plated up, they actually look very fancy.

Have you heard about the Vegan “butterfingers”? Here’s what they look like.

The center is made using 2 1/2 cups of crushed cornflake cereal, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, and 1/3 cup of maple syrup. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Next form and the mixture into small bars and freeze them for about 15-20 minutes. After they’re hard you can dip and roll them in 1-1 1/2 cups of melted vegan chocolate chips and then put them in the refrigerator until they cool and set up. This makes around 10 bars. Of course the amount varies depending on the size and shape you prefer.

Let me know if you discover another good brand of vegan chocolate chips!