Unwrapping a chocolate bar is an eternally satisfying experience, but most of the beloved chocolate bars we remember from childhood are long gone. Chocolate giants including Mars, Dove and Hershey’s still offer mostly chocolates made from cow’s milk, despite growing interest in more sustainable, dairy-free chocolate. However, there is no need to worry! Vegan chocolate options are plentiful, especially since several brands have adopted plant-based milk in their recipes.
Indulging in a chocolate bar is a decadent treat that’s hard to give up, even when adopting a dairy-free diet. But chocoholics can breathe a sigh of relief because most chocolate is vegan unless manufacturers add cow’s milk or another dairy to their recipes. So, there are tons of plant-based chocolate options on the shelves.
For the most part, dark chocolate is vegan, but it’s important to double-check labels because sometimes companies add milk fat, cream, lactose, or whey to “dark” chocolate. Although some brands add animal ingredients to dark chocolate, it’s always a reliable place to start looking when you need something sweet to munch on.
Producing cow’s milk is significantly more tax the environment compared to their plant-based counterparts. On 87.5 percent of Gen Z shoppers are concerned about the environment. Younger generations will most likely continue to look for sustainable chocolate instead of traditional brands that contain dairy products.
Cutting out dairy is good for your health
Milk is going out of fashion fast. Nearly half of Gen-Z consumers actively feel embarrassment when asking for cow’s milk in public, motivated not only by environmental concerns but also by the health risks associated with dairy products. Eating and drinking more cow’s milk increases the risk of illnesses, strokes and heart attacks.
Regardless of the milk content, vegan chocolate is still an indulgent, sugary snack. So plant-based chocolate isn’t necessarily an excuse to eat more chocolate, but without dairy, it does offer a slightly healthier option than cow’s milk-based options.
The best vegan chocolate bars
Ordering vegan chocolate can be tricky at first, especially when you’ve been familiar with your favorite brands for a long time. But there’s plenty of chocolate for everyone, from new specialty oat milk chocolate brands to revamped recipes from iconic companies like Lindt.
Here’s our guide to the best vegan and dairy-free chocolate available.
Awake Chocolate: Dark Chocolate Bites
Awake Chocolate is a delicious snack on the go, especially when you need a little energy. These little vegan chocolates contain enough caffeine to get you through the rest of the workday with a clear head without another cup of coffee. Each chocolate is the equivalent of half a cup of coffee! This chocolate snack is effective and delicious, without a bitter aftertaste.
Portion size: 1
calories 70
total fat 5g, Saturated fat 3g
Total sugars 6g
Giant Butter Pecan
Perfectly sized, these chocolate bars bring all the nostalgia of your favorite childhood chocolate treats with a much cleaner label. Completely vegan and made with just 7 grams of sugar, these chocolate bars in four different classic flavors are unbelievably delicious. The Banana Pecan is a surprising standout, but if bananas aren’t your thing, there are 3 other amazing options. This may be the tastiest vegan chocolate bar on the market.
Portion size: 8
Calories: 210
total fat 15g, Saturated fat 4.5g
Total sugars 7g, Added Sugar 6g
Huh plain dark chocolate
Hu’s timeless Simple Dark Chocolate bar delivers the classic kids’ chocolate bar experience we all want. This organic, healthier take on traditional chocolate bars gives you a guilt-free, diet-friendly chocolate bar. The recipe is also super allergen friendly. These delicious chocolates do not contain gluten, refined sugar or soy lecithin. Be sure to moderate the amount you consume, because Hu contains 8 grams of saturated fat per serving, and one bar contains two servings!
Portion size: two
calories 190
total fat 14g, Saturated fat 8g
Total sugars 7g, Added Sugar 7g
Lindt Classic Recipe Oat Milk
Lindt turned the world of luxury chocolate upside down with its OatMilk Classic Recipe chocolate bar. This smooth and creamy chocolate bar is good enough to fool Willy Wonka into thinking it’s made with dairy. The bar is portioned into small squares, making it the perfect chocolate snack to spread out throughout the day. However, it’s important to emphasize that this dairy-free chocolate bar is a rich treat with 10 grams of added sugar and 5 grams of saturated fat per serving. And each 3.5-ounce chocolate bar contains 9 servings!
Portion size: 3.5
calories 170
total fat 10g, Saturated fat 5g
Total sugars 13g, Added Sugar 10g
Choco Latte TCHO
TCHO has partnered with Blue Bottle Coffee to create a plant-based chocolate bar that tastes just like the specialty espresso drink. The plant-based chocolate bar contains roasted coffee beans, cashew butter, and cocoa butter, giving chocoholics a creamy chocolate bar that you wouldn’t know isn’t vegan unless someone tells you. With notes of caramel and coffee, this delicious chocolate bar can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night. However, for the heart-conscious, please note that this bar contains 5 grams of saturated fat per serving!
Portion size: 3
calories 130
total fat 9g, Saturated fat 5g
Total sugars 7g, Added Sugar 7g
TCHO dark duo
TCHO’s “distinguished cocoa experience” lives up to the hype. This smooth dark chocolate is an indulgently sweet treat with just 6 grams of sugar per serving. The Dark Duo features an intense cocoa flavor from Ghana without the bitter aftertaste typical of dark chocolates. And the next time you want to bake cookies, these plant-based chocolate bars are the perfect ingredient for chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy this bar in moderation because it contains 7 grams of saturated fat per serving.
Portion size: 3
calories 120
total fat 10g, Saturated fat 7g
Total sugars 6g, Added sugar. 6g
Tony’s Classic Choconely
Opening one of Tony’s fair trade chocolate bars feels like a classic Hershey bar. The socially responsible chocolate brand offers several plant-based chocolate bars with its dark chocolate selection with the exception of its dark milk pretzel toffee flavor. But Tony’s Choconlonely Dark Almond Sea Salt offers an amazing mix of salty and sweet richness rare in plant-based chocolate. This is also a great option when looking for a low sugar option!
Portion size: 6
calories 160
total fat 10g, Saturated fat 5g
Total sugars 12g, Added Sugar 12g
Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Chocolate Bars
Smooth and rich, if you’re short on milk chocolate but want to hold down on the milk, this Trader Joe’s chocolate bar will hit the spot. Dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and kosher, this bar is a good allergen-friendly option as a treat for kids. If you’re looking for a creamy, no-frills yet decadent chocolate bar, this is it.
Portion size: 3
calories 140
total fat 10g, Saturated fat 6g
Total sugars 11g, Added Sugar 8g
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