Many new vegans are uncertain whether they can continue to enjoy their favorite chocolate bars and cookies. Is chocolate vegan? The good news is, there are many brands of vegan chocolate bars and cookies available, many even in regular grocery stores. Of course, the best selection of vegan chocolate can be found in health food stores and online.
Dark Vegan Chocolate
Any chocolate bar or cookie can be easily deemed vegan or not just by reading the ingredients on the package. Milk chocolate is obviously not vegan, but unfortunately, not all dark chocolate is free of animal ingredients. Some brands of “dark chocolate” still contain milk ingredients, as indicated on the nutritional label. Dark chocolate isn’t vegan if it includes milk, milk ingredients, milk solids, milkfat, butter, or whey.
Dark Chocolate's Health Benefits
While some new vegans may be disappointed to give up milk chocolate, the good news is that quality dark chocolate is not only vegan, but healthier, too. Dark chocolate contains as much as four times as many flavonoids as milk chocolate. Flavonoids have anti-oxidant properties and have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol and help drop blood pressure.
A new vegan can try sampling different brands of dark chocolate until he/she finds a favorite.
Vegan Chocolate Bars
Note that companies may change their ingredients at any time, so while the chocolate bars listed here are currently vegan, one should always read the nutritional label before consuming.
Here is a list of vegan chocolate bars.
- Ritter Sport: Dark Chocolate (50% Cocoa)
- Ritter Sport: Fine Extra Dark Chocolate (71% Cocoa)
- Chocolove Dark Chocolate Bar
- Chocolove Orange Peel (Dark Chocolate Bar)
- Cocoa Camino Organic Fair Trade Dark Almond Chocolate
- Cocoa Camino Organic Fair Trade Bittersweet Chocolate
- Endangered Species Chocolate: Extreme Dark Chocolate
- Endangered Species Chocolate: Intense Dark Chocolate with Cocao Nibs
- Endangered Species Chocolate: Supreme Dark Chocolate
- Endangered Species Chocolate: Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds
Many of the other bars by the Endangered Species brands are also vegan. Ingredients and nutritional information can be found on the labels. Many health food stores and organic supermarkets carry additional brands of vegan chocolate bars, too.
Vegan Chocolate Cookies
While many specialty stores carry many options for vegan chocolate cookies, surprisingly, some familiar brands sold in regular supermarkets are vegan, too.
Here is a list of vegan chocolate cookies.
- Famous Amos Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate flavor)
- Ferrara Wafer Swirls with Chocolate
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Creme flavor)
- Food Lion Sandwich Cookies (Chocolate Fudge flavor)
- Nabisco Teddy Grahams (Chocolate flavor)
- Nabisco Oreos: Golden Uh-Oh with Chocolate Creme
- Nature’s Path Deep Chocolate Cookies
- Nestle Double Chocolate Thin Mints
Again, the ingredients list on any box of cookies is a vegan’s best friend.
Vegans can continue to enjoy chocolate as they enjoy eating food that is free of animal ingredients. They may have to check labels before indulging, or spend a bit more money on high-quality chocolate, but the taste and health benefits are worthwhile.
Sources
Jennifer Thorimbert - Jennifer grew up in small-town British Columbia, Canada, and moved to Victoria, BC, to attend university. She majored in English ...
Join the Conversation