Calling all chocolate fiends! If half of your heart belongs to chocolate, this review is for you.
Some of you may be under the impression that all chocolate bars are considered vegan--after all, cocoa is a plant--while others may believe that going vegan means passing up the chocolatey dessert every time.
First we'll clear up the confusion and then we'll give you the full report on as many of the best vegan chocolates we could find--from bars and chips to cups and nibs!
Whether you are seeking to indulge your chocolate tooth while simultaneously adhering to your plant based eating preferences, or you avoid dairy due to food allergies, we’ve got a vegan friendly chocolate option with your name on it.
Why Isn’t Chocolate Vegan?
Traditional chocolate is made from the roasted and ground seeds of cacao pods. These pods are the fruits of the cacao tree and those seeds inside are what we know as cocoa beans! The seeds contain cocoa solids as well as cocoa butter and both components are important in the chocolate making process. So far so plant-based, right?
Chocolate doesn’t end there though, as from here, many traditional cocoa manufacturers opt to mix in other ingredients. Among these, culprits such as refined cane sugar (which is often processed with an animal product known as bone char) and cow’s milk dairy ingredients such as milk powder. These additions give the bitter cacao a smooth, sweet finish but unfortunately turn what starts out as an entirely plant based ingredient into something decidedly un-vegan.
What Is Vegan Chocolate?
Now onto the good stuff! A vegan chocolate bar contains all of that cacao-based goodness, but without the dairy and refined sugars.
Some vegan chocolate options are nothing more than cocoa solids and organic sugar, while others may be flavored, mixed with plant-based milk, or even include mix-in’s like chopped nuts and crisp bits. Flavors range anywhere from simple twists like mint-chocolate or orange-infused chocolate to complex concoctions like chili pepper hot chocolate or dark chocolate cocoa cookie!
Ranking the Best Vegan Chocolate Brands
The Test Subjects
We scoured candy aisles everywhere to come up with as many vegan chocolate brands and varieties as possible. For our study, we opted to include the following 18 vegan options:
- Beyond Good Uganda Single Origin Chocolate
- Blue Stripes Urban Whole Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar
- Divine Smooth Dark Chocolate with Mint Crisp
- Endangered Species Chocolate-Dark Almond Sea Salt
- Endangered Species Espresso Bean + Dark Chocolate
- Evolved "Salty" Organic Mylk Chocolate Bar
- Lindt Classic Recipe OatMilk Chocolate
- Lindt Classic Recipe OatMilk Salted Caramel Chocolate
- Mast Dark Chocolate
- Navitas Organics Cacao Nibs
- Pascha 100% Cacao Organic Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
- Raaka Coconut Milk Unroasted Dark Chocolate
- Taza Organic Coconut Dark Chocolate
- Taza Perfectly Unrefined, Deliciously Dark Chocolate
- Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate Bar
- UNREAL Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar
- UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- Whole Foods Market Organic Dark Chocolate
The Methodology
As you can see, we encountered quite a wide variety of vegan chocolate bars out there so we organized our findings into the following 8 categories, aiming to determine the winner from each:
- Best Vegan Dark Chocolate
- Best Vegan 'Milk' Chocolate
- Most Nutritious Vegan Chocolate
- Most Responsibly Produced Vegan Chocolate
- Best Vegan Chocolate with a Boost
- Best Vegan Chocolate Chips
- Most Unique Vegan Chocolate
- Best Bite Sized Vegan Chocolate
The Taste Test
Each vegan chocolate bar or product was tasted objectively without prior knowledge as to the ingredients list or method of processing. Our tasting panel was sure to take breaks in between test subjects as palate fatigue when it comes to uber rich chocolate is a real thing!
The Criteria
As we evaluated our vegan bars, each one was graded according to the following 5 criteria. These scores were then used to calculate an overall average, which allowed us to pinpoint those vegan chocolates which deserved a coveted winning title.
- Taste & Texture: looking for rich chocolate flavor and smooth, velvety texture.
- Nutrition Content: especially considering calories, fats, and sugar content as well as any micronutrients that may be present. The nutrition category also takes into account the overall quality of ingredients in the product.
- Unique Characteristics: such as special flavors, noteworthy methods of preparation, or anything else that makes one vegan chocolate stand out among the competitors.
- Value: price per ounce.
- Production & Packaging: where and how each chocolate is produced, its region of availability, and how it is presented to the consumer.
Best Vegan Dark Chocolate:
Mast Dark Chocolate
Size: 2.5 oz bar
Flavor: Plain Dark
Cacao Content: 80%
Here is how Mast Dark Chocolate scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.6 / 5.0
- Value: 4.0 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 5.0 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0
We tried a handful of plain vegan dark chocolate bars and we found that this chocolate bar from small-batch chocolate company Mast is a prime example of what a dark chocolate should be. Its flavor is of strong dark chocolate, complimented perfectly by fruity citrus notes, all mixed up in a perfectly smooth and creamy texture.
Like most dark chocolate, the ingredients list is cacao focused and light on additives and we love that it only takes 3 simple components to produce a chocolate bar like this: organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, and organic vanilla.
One serving of this stuff provides you with 7 grams of dietary fiber and a small boost of protein as well--4 grams! Our panel of tasters also agree that the packaging of this chocolate only added to its intrigue, with a beautiful gradient coloring and simple printing that leaves you wondering if you should hang on to and display it after you’ve devoured the goodness inside. Which, if you’re anything like us, won’t take very long at all.
On the downside, this chocolate bar has one of the highest fat contents of all we tested, with a whopping 14 grams per serving, further highlighting the fact that no matter how much fiber or how many antioxidants, this chocolate is indeed, a treat.
It also is way up there in terms of price, as this small 2.4-ounce bar ran us up almost $6.00! And, allergen folks beware, the nutrition panel states that this pure dark chocolate bar may have had contact with milk and/or nut ingredients.
Pros:
- Wonderful dark chocolate flavor with subtle notes of fruit.
- Smooth, creamy texture.
- Simple and natural--just 3 ingredients.
- Contains 7 grams fiber and 4 grams protein per serving.
- Packaging is beautiful and intriguing, further adding to the enjoyable experience.
Cons:
- High in fat, with 14 grams per serving.
- Expensive, costing almost $2.50 per ounce!
- Has some cross-contamination/allergen warnings.
Best Vegan ‘Milk’ Chocolate:
Lindt Classic Recipe OatMilk Chocolate
Size: 3.5 oz bar
Flavor: Plain OatMilk
Cacao Content: Not Given
Here is how Lindt Classic Recipe OatMilk Chocolate scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.2 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.2 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.6 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 5.0 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
If you don’t care for the all-consuming flavor of dark chocolate, we feel your pain on how tough it is to find a milky and creamy--yet completely dairy-free--chocolate bar. Thankfully, those masters at Lindt chocolatiers have solved this puzzle, finally delivering an oat milk based milk chocolate to their lineup of expertly crafted confections.
On first glance, the years of experience are obvious as the chocolate itself has a beautiful presentation, is blemish free, shiny, and just oh-so inviting. The flavor is velvety and rich, and the inclusion of oat milk definitely helps to balance all of the richness inherent to the cacao itself.
The smaller-sized bricks of chocolate that make up the bar offer a nice “snap” when broken apart and as with anything from this chocolate maker, this bar comes with a quality guarantee. Oh, and those oats used to make the oat milk used in this creamy dreamy treat? They’re completely gluten free!
Right in line with the deliciousness of this milk chocolate is the sugar content, which at 13 grams per serving, is the highest of all vegan milk chocolate bars we tried. In addition, this bar also contains both almond and soy ingredients, making it a very non allergen friendly item.
Pros:
- Includes oat milk, producing a milk chocolate experience without the dairy!
- Extremely velvety, smooth texture.
- Chocolate itself is beautiful, with shiny smooth surfaces and crystal-clear imprinting.
- Bricks snap apart cleanly and satisfyingly.
- Comes with a quality guarantee.
- Made with gluten free oats.
Cons:
- Very high in sugar with 13 grams per serving.
- Has some allergen issues, as it contains both almond and soy ingredients.
Most Nutritious Vegan Chocolate:
Blue Stripes Urban Whole Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar
Size: 2.1 oz bar
Flavor: Peanut Butter
Cacao Content: 70%
Here is how Blue Stripes Urban Whole Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.2 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 5.0 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.9 / 5.0
- Value: 4.0 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.4 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Who says all chocolate is a guilty pleasure? The fact is, pure chocolate actually contains plenty of health benefits, it's the ingredients that are often added to the chocolate during manufacture that turn this plant based superfood into a super-unhealthy choice.
Blue Stripes is out here making chocolate their way and reaping as many nutrients as possible from their cacao pods by using the whole pod--yes, beans, fruit, shell, and all! This unique makeup gives their chocolate bars a nutritional advantage as they are not only super rich in antioxidants, but also feature some of the lowest calorie, fat, and sugar contents. The vitamin & mineral profile is equally as impressive, offering a smorgasbord of good-for-you micronutrients like niacin, manganese, iron, vitamin E, biotin, copper, calcium, and more!
Just because it’s nutrient dense doesn’t mean that eating this one is going to be a chore though. It has almost a marbled appearance, with a rich dark chocolate layer covering a velvety layer of savory peanut butter, with chopped peanuts sandwiched in between.
And, this bar is fair trade as well as is up-cycled certified for the way the Blue Stripes opts makes use of cacao components which are often wasted in normal chocolate making. Where other chocolate manufactures waste up to 70% of each cacao pod, Blue Stripes makes use of the whole kit and caboodle!
Despite the recycled nature of this product, it is still one of the most expensive vegan chocolates we tested, coming in at $2.40 per ounce. We also noted the fact that it is extremely soft and melty, which is nice for eating, but not so nice for tossing in the backpack or taking along for the ride anywhere.
Pros:
- Is made from the whole cacao pod, as opposed to just the beans.
- Rich in antioxidants.
- Low in calories, fats, and sugars.
- Provides a ton of vitamin and mineral content in each serving.
- Has layers of dark chocolate, crunchy peanuts, and creamy nut butter.
Cons:
- Expensive--the petite 2.1 ounce bar cost us 5 bucks!
- Consistency is very soft and melty, making this a bad option for taking on the go.
Most Responsibly Produced Vegan Chocolate:
Beyond Good Uganda Single Origin Chocolate
Size: 2.64 oz bar
Flavor: Toasted Hazelnut
Cacao Content: 73%
Here is how Beyond Good Uganda Single Origin Chocolate scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0
Nuts and chocolate are a true match made in heaven and we found this Toasted Hazelnut from Beyond Good to be one perfect pairing. The flavor is rich thanks to that 73% cacao content and there are plenty of crunchy toasted hazelnuts mixed in throughout the bar.
One of the things we love most about this chocolate maker is that they use direct trade certified cocoa, meaning the farmers work directly with the Beyond Good factory. No middleman, no price hikes, just satisfied parties on both sides and excellent quality product to boot. A trip to the Beyond Good website even introduces you to each and every one of the farmers who grow and sell the cocoa--love that!
Each bar is divided into nice small squares for easy snapping, and is all wrapped up in festive looking gold foil. This bar is also certified organic, non-GMO project verified, and care is taken to ensure that wildlife is not disrupted due to cocoa growing and harvesting activities. In fact, Beyond Good helps to protect 5 different endangered species of lemurs which live in the very same chocolate supply chain they make their products from! Now that’s truly, beyond good.
We also have to say that despite all of the hazelnut crunch mixed into the bar, the flavor was really not all that hazelnutty and our money’s on the fact that the super strong 73% cacao takes over.
And finally, when compared to the others, our Beyond Good chocolate bar was pretty scuffed up and battered looking so if you’re looking for a chocolate that puts its best foot forward visually speaking, this might not be the one.
Pros:
- Cocoa + toasted hazelnut = a classic, crowd pleasing combo.
- Made using direct trade chocolate.
- Beyond Good features each of the cacao farmers they work with, highlighting the personal nature of these relationships.
- Nicely packaged as a solid bar of smaller sized bricks and gold foil wrapper.
- Organic and non-GMO verified.
- Care is taken to ensure that wildlife can live harmoniously alongside the cocoa operations.
Cons:
- Hazelnut flavor doesn’t come through very strongly.
- Overall appearance of the chocolate bar is not the best, pretty beat up looking upon first opening!
Best Vegan Chocolate with a Boost:
Endangered Species Espresso Bean + Dark Chocolate
Size: 3 oz bar
Flavor: Dark Chocolate Espresso
Cacao Content: 72%
Here is how Endangered Species Espresso Bean + Dark Chocolate scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.8 / 5.0
- Value: 4.6 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 5.0 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.8 / 5.0
Looking for a treat that does more than just give you a sugar crash? This Espresso Bean + Dark Chocolate bar from Endangered Species Chocolate will give you just that. The combo of these two tropical treats is more than just energy boosting--it’s flat out delicious as well!
Throughout the silky rich chocolate you’ll find real espresso bean grounds, giving the mouthfeel a subtly pleasant crunch. The bar itself is thick and stocky as opposed to the other thinner, more dainty vegan chocolate bars we tested and we have to say, we love the heft here! The bar cleanly (and quite satisfyingly) snaps apart into separate pieces and each smaller square has a wee little elephant imprint on the surface. Overall, this is one beautifully presented chocolate bar.
You may also notice the striking pattern on the outer label is none other than that of a tiger’s coat. In accordance with their name, the cornerstone of this brand’s mission is to support endangered wildlife, and each variety of their vegan chocolate bars pays homage to and includes a page full of information on a particular species. The best part? 10% of the net profits from Endangered Species Chocolate sales goes to supporting global wildlife conservation efforts.
While our tasting panel thoroughly enjoyed the coffee + chocolate combo here, they also found the result to be extremely rich in a way that noshing on this chocolate could quickly turn into a case of sensory overwhelm.
Also, we really wish they had printed some caffeine content info on the label here! Chocolate already naturally contains caffeine (at a rate of about 25 milligrams per ounce) but with all of that espresso powder in the mix, it certainly would be nice to know what you’re in for before you go disrupting your REM cycle because you had a late night cocoa craving!
Pros:
- Delicious pairing of coffee + chocolate is the ideal pick me up.
- Contains real ground espresso beans which impart nice texture.
- Bar has a thick, satisfying weight to it and breaks apart clearly into smaller squares.
- Has a beautiful appeal, shiny with an elephant embellishing each portion.
- Each variety from this brand features a different endangered wildlife species.
- 10% of profits support wildlife conservation efforts.
Cons:
- Combination of dark chocolate + espresso might be overwhelming to some folks’ palates.
- No information on caffeine content!
Best Vegan Chocolate Chips:
Pascha 100% Cacao Organic Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
Size: 8.8 oz bag
Flavor: Unsweetened Dark
Cacao Content: 100%
Here is how Pascha 100% Cacao Organic Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Chips scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 3.8 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.6 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.7 / 5.0
- Value: 4.8 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0
Chocolate chips are one of the most beloved baking ingredients--starring in important roles like ice creams, cookies, and how about these Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins with Macadamia Nuts! Baking chocolate chip studded treats means you need vegan chocolate chips though, and we think these little droplets from Pascha are the best around.
First things first, they are 100% cacao, meaning they offer the utmost versatility. Sweetened or semi-sweet chocolate chips can sometimes be a gamble but with pure cacao chips, you can always adjust the other sources of sugar in your recipe to achieve the level of sweetness you’re looking for. In addition to incorporating these dark chocolate chips into baked goods, you could also use them to make a luxurious melted chocolate drizzle--just be sure to get some sweetener into the mix if you do!
These vegan chips are supremely affordable, coming in at just $.70 per ounce and with just 2 net carbs per serving, are actually completely keto-friendly. They are certified USDA organic, made with cocoa that meets the Rainforest Alliance standards, and this brand supports the 1% For The Planet initiative by donating a portion of its annual revenue to environmental efforts.
Our only complaint for these chocolate chips is this word of warning: don’t count on eating these chips by the handful! Due to their 100% cacao content, they are so bitter, and truthfully, quite unpleasant to eat out of hand. Their purpose is for baking and cooking with, not snacking on nor as a topping for your favorite vegan yogurt.
Pros:
- Made from 100% cacao--no sugar, additives, or allergens!
- Are extremely versatile, as they can add chocolate flavor to recipes without overdoing it on the sweetness.
- Suitable for baking chocolate desserts and snacks or for chocolate sauce making.
- One of the most affordable chocolate products we tested, just $.70 per ounce.
- USDA organic.
- Made with Rainforest Alliance Chocolate.
- Pascha is a 1% For The Planet member.
Cons:
- Far too bitter to eat on their own--if you’re looking for chocolate chips to snack on or use as a topping, opt for sweet or semi sweet!
Most Unique Vegan Chocolate:
Taza Perfectly Unrefined, Deliciously Dark Chocolate
Size: 2.5 oz bar
Flavor: Plain Dark
Cacao Content: 70%
Here is how Taza Perfectly Unrefined, Deliciously Dark Chocolate scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.2 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 5.0 / 5.0
- Value: 4.2 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.4 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Taza chocolate is truly in a category of its own and here’s why. Upon biting into a bar of their Perfectly Unrefined, Deliciously Dark Chocolate the first thing you’ll notice is the immediate lack of any silkiness or creaminess.
Don’t worry though, this is not a result of something going wrong in the tempering process, rather it is due to the fact that this chocolatier opts to send their cacao seeds through a stone grinder as opposed to refine them according to modern and more conventional methods. The result is a chocolate bar with a rustic appeal, slightly gritty (in a good way, trust us!) mouthfeel, and flat-out interesting texture.
Taza chocolate is USDA organic and made using only direct trade certified cacao. As mentioned above, this means it comes from farmers who sell their goods directly to the chocolate company itself which promotes good relationships and fair pay on both sides.
They also make mention of the fact that they only work with cacao growers who use environmentally sound farming practices as well as fair labor practices for workers in their care.
While we love the rustic nature and minimal processing of this product, we have to note that it is definitely not as appetizing looking as many of the other vegan chocolates we tested. It lacks any shine, is very dark, and feels cloudy to the touch. It also takes the cake in both fat and sugar contents as it has high quantities of each: with 14 grams of fats per serving and 11 grams of sugars.
Pros:
- Cacao is stone ground as opposed to fully refined.
- Processing method gives the product an interesting texture and completely unique characteristics.
- USDA organic.
- Made with direct trade certified cacao.
- Taza only works with cacao farming operations that employ good environmental and fair labor practices.
Cons:
- Not the most appealing chocolate, as lack of processing leaves it dull and raw feeling.
- Has the highest fat content.
- High in sugars.
Best Bite-Sized Vegan Chocolate:
UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Size: 4.2 oz bag (with 8 individually wrapped peanut butter cups)
Flavor: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
Cacao Content: Not Given
Here is how UNREAL Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.6 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0
If you celebrated Halloween as a kid and were thrilled whenever a peanut butter cup was tossed into your trick or treat bag, we are right there with you. Well, get ready to celebrate once more because the folks at UNREAL have figured out how to give us the peanut butter cup fix we all crave with a fully grown up and completely vegan version of the classic.
Each super dark chocolate shell has a satisfying thickness to it, and when cracked open or bitten into, plenty of gooey sweet peanut butter oozes out. Despite this decadence though, these vegan peanut butter cups are actually quite low in calories, with just 80 per serving!
Also, rather than being sweetened with pure sugar, these cups make use of blue agave inulin--a soluble fiber derived from the agave plant which aside from adding sweetness to foods is also thought to have several health benefits as well. The packaging points out that these peanut butter cups are non-GMO, made using fair trade ingredients, and include sustainable palm oil!
Speaking of packaging, we didn’t love how much plastic packaging is going on here with this product. Inside each thick outer plastic bag are 8 individually wrapped peanut butter cups which, while important for keeping them from melting together, also seems incredibly wasteful.
Also, it’s important to note that the serving size of this product is based on 1 peanut butter cup which. Let's be honest, that number is probably not all that realistic. 2 peanut butter cups seems more like what most folks would go for as a treat or dessert and this would greatly affect the nutritional profile of things.
Pros:
- Is a perfect match for the peanut butter cups you might be longing for--this time around, with dark chocolate!
- Low in calories.
- Incorporates agave inulin as a sweetener to reduce sugar and calorie content.
- Non-GMO.
- Made with fair trade ingredients.
- Uses sustainably sourced palm oil.
Cons:
- Packaging decisions leave you with a lot of plastic waste.
- Serving size of “1 peanut butter cup” is pretty unrealistic.
Best Vegan Chocolate FAQs
Is All Dairy Free Chocolate Vegan?
Not necessarily. Just because a chocolate bar or candy does not contain any actual cow’s milk doesn’t mean it is entirely vegan, as it may contain other animal products like gelatin or refined sugars.
Always check the back of the label for a “vegan” indicator, or do your own research as to the vegan-friendliness of any particular product you have in hand. To avoid sugar which has been processed with bone char, opt for chocolates that contain organic cane sugar or another natural sweetener like coconut sugar.
Where Can You Buy Vegan Chocolate?
We have to say, we were surprised and thrilled at just how easy it was to locate so many excellent vegan chocolate options! We found that most regular grocery stores, markets, and online retailers we visited had a good vegan chocolate selection.
In addition, there are what seem to be countless other smaller-batch vegan chocolatiers out there which you may special order from.
What Tastes Exactly Like Chocolate But Isn’t?
Looking to get your chocolate fix without the caffeine? Reach for carob! This product has an appearance and consistency similar to that of chocolate, but is actually made from the seed pods of an entirely different plant species.
Some folks feel the rich, sweet, earthy flavor of carob is right in line with that of real chocolate, while others feel that carob is much more different than it is similar. Either way, carob is your next best bet for replacing chocolate in a recipe or for enjoying it on its own.
Final Thoughts on the Best Vegan Chocolate
As you can see, not all vegan chocolate is created equal. There are many different vegan chocolate candy bars, cups, and chips out there--each with its own set of unique characteristics and distinguishing features.
All this chocolate talk giving you the urge to hit the gym as soon as possible? For a less guilt-inducing chocolate fix, try one of the best chocolate flavored Vegan Protein Bars. Or if you're feeling extra inspired, try your hand at making a batch of homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Cups!
Whether you crave milk chocolate or dark chocolate, homemade or healthy, there are plenty of ways to satisfy that hankering. So slow down, put your feet up, and melt into a piece of your new favorite vegan chocolate!
Leave a Reply