Best Keto Chocolate Chips: Taste And Quality

Chocolate chips are a staple in baking, but for those on a keto diet, finding the right ones can be tricky. Conventional chocolate chips are often loaded with added sugar and carbs, making them unsuitable for a ketogenic diet. However, there are plenty of low-carb and sugar-free options available that can satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your keto lifestyle.

When choosing keto-friendly chocolate chips, it's important to look for options with a low net carb count and no added sugars. Some popular brands that fit the bill include Lily's, ChocZero, Bake Believe, and GoodSAM. These brands offer a variety of flavours, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate, so you don't have to compromise on taste.

In addition to store-bought options, you can also make your own chocolate chips at home by melting cacao butter, cacao liquor, cocoa powder, and a powdered sweetener, then pouring the mixture into a silicone mould and freezing it. This ensures you know exactly what's in your chocolate chips and can control the ingredients to fit your dietary needs.

Best keto chocolate chip brands

There are several brands of keto-friendly chocolate chips available on the market, offering the same rich, chocolatey taste without the added sugar. Here are some of the best keto chocolate chip brands to satisfy your sweet tooth while sticking to your keto diet:

ChocZero

ChocZero is a popular brand among those following a keto diet. Their chocolate chips are sweetened with monk fruit extract, a natural zero-calorie sweetener that won't affect your blood sugar levels. ChocZero offers a variety of flavours, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. They are also available in mini chocolate chip size and are known for their smooth texture, making them a versatile choice for baking and desserts.

Lily's

Lily's chocolate chips are a favourite in the keto community. They are sweetened with a blend of stevia and erythritol, two keto-friendly sweeteners that won't spike your blood sugar. Lily's offers a range of flavours, including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate, so you can satisfy your cravings without compromising your diet.

Pascha

Pascha chocolate chips are organic, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. They are sweetened with organic vanilla beans and a small amount of organic cane sugar. Pascha offers a variety of flavours, including milk, dark, and white chocolate, with the latter two using rice milk instead of dairy. Their chocolate chips have an earthy, chocolatey aroma and flavour and are the perfect size for making cookies.

GoodSam

GoodSam chocolate chips are sweetened with allulose, a natural sugar substitute with a low glycemic index. They are currently available only as dark chocolate chips but are known for their creamy texture, which melts similarly to traditional chocolate chips. GoodSam sources their cacao directly from farmers in Colombia, supporting direct trade and ensuring more profits go back to the farmers.

Luv Ice Cream

Luv Ice Cream's sugar-free chocolate chips are keto-friendly and sweetened with stevia, chicory root inulin, and plant polyols (sugar alcohols). They offer an 80% dark chocolate option known for its deep chocolate flavour, making it a great choice for baking. However, these chips are on the smaller side and prone to melting, so they may be best suited for use in cooler months.

Lakanto

Lakanto sugar-free chocolate chips are sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract, both natural sugar substitutes. They currently offer only dark chocolate chips but have a variety of other chocolate products if you enjoy their chips. Lakanto chocolate chips have a fruity chocolate pudding aroma and are a bit smaller than average, making them a versatile option for baking and snacking.

Honourable Mentions:

Other notable brands of keto-friendly chocolate chips include Hu's Chocolate Chips, which are sweetened with organic dates and vanilla bean, and Bake Believe Chocolate Chips, which offer a blend of stevia and erythritol at a budget-friendly price point.

Remember to always read the labels and choose chocolate chips that align with your specific dietary needs and preferences. Enjoy your keto treats!

Keto chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic dessert, and they can be easily adapted to fit a keto diet. The key is to use keto-friendly chocolate chips, which are low in net carbs and free of added sugars and wheat flour. Here is a recipe for delicious keto chocolate chip cookies that you can easily make at home.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup keto-friendly sweetener (such as erythritol or monk fruit extract)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup keto-friendly chocolate chips

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate large bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil and keto-friendly sweetener until well combined. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until a dough forms.
• Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Use a cookie scoop or spoon to form the dough into balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden on top.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for the Perfect Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies:

• Choose dark chocolate chips with at least 85% cocoa solids to keep the sugar content low.
• Use a combination of sugar substitutes and keto-friendly sweeteners like monk fruit extract or stevia to achieve the perfect level of sweetness without adding too many carbs.
• Pay attention to the serving size and the amount of chicory root fiber or other low-carb fibers in your recipe. While these can add texture and flavor, too much can lead to digestive issues.
• Use xanthan gum in small amounts as a binding agent to hold your cookies together without making them gummy or tough.
• Store your baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh and prevent them from getting too soft or hard.

Recommended Keto-Friendly Chocolate Chips Brands:

• Lily's Chocolate Chips: Sweetened with stevia and erythritol, these chips come in dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate flavors.
• ChocZero Chocolate Chips: Sweetened with monk fruit extract, a natural zero-calorie sweetener. They offer dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate varieties.
• Bake Believe Chocolate Chips: Sweetened with a blend of stevia and erythritol, these chips are a budget-friendly option available in dark chocolate and milk chocolate flavors.
• Pascha Chocolate Chips: Organic and gluten-free, these chips are sweetened with vanilla beans and a small amount of organic cane sugar. They offer a 100% cacao sugar-free option and a diabetic-friendly 85% cacao option.
• GoodSam Chocolate Chips: These dark chocolate chips are sweetened with allulose, a natural sugar substitute with a low glycemic index. They have a creamy texture similar to traditional chocolate chips.

With these tips and recommendations, you can enjoy delicious keto chocolate chip cookies that fit your dietary needs. Happy baking!

Keto chocolate chip alternatives

Chocolate chips are a staple in many baked goods, but finding tasty sugar-free alternatives can be challenging. Fortunately, several brands offer chocolate chips with the same rich, chocolatey taste without the added sugar. Here are some of the best keto-friendly chocolate chip alternatives:

ChocZero Chocolate Chips:

ChocZero offers a range of keto-friendly chocolate chips sweetened with plant fiber and monk fruit extract. They come in various flavors, including mint, butterscotch, milk, dark, and white chocolate. These chips are known for their smooth texture and are popular among those following a ketogenic diet. They can be purchased directly from the ChocZero website or on Amazon.

Lily's Chocolate Chips:

Lily's chocolate chips are a favorite among the keto community. They are sweetened with stevia and erythritol, two keto-friendly sweeteners that won't spike your blood sugar. Lily's offers a variety of flavors, including dark, milk, and white chocolate, and can be found on Amazon, Thrive Market, or directly from their website.

Pascha Chocolate Chips:

Pascha chocolate chips are made with organic cacao beans and sweetened with vanilla beans and a small amount of organic cane sugar. They offer a variety of allergy-friendly flavors, including milk, dark, and white chocolate. The dark chocolate option is diabetic-friendly and keto-friendly, even in larger portions. Pascha chocolate chips can be purchased on Amazon, Thrive Market, or directly from their website.

GoodSam Chocolate Chips:

GoodSam chocolate chips are sweetened with allulose, a natural sugar substitute with a low glycemic index. They offer a creamy texture that melts similarly to traditional chocolate chips. GoodSam sources their cacao directly from farmers in Colombia, supporting direct trade. Their chocolate chips can be found on Amazon, Thrive Market, or directly from their website.

Luv Ice Cream Chocolate Chips:

Luv Ice Cream offers keto-friendly chocolate chips sweetened with stevia, chicory root inulin, and plant polyols (sugar alcohols). Their chocolate chips have a deep chocolate flavor and are perfect for baking. However, they are prone to melting and clumping together, so it's best to order them during cooler months. Luv Ice Cream chocolate chips can be purchased on Amazon or directly from their website.

In addition to these brands, there are also some alternative options for keto-friendly chocolate chips:

• Cacao nibs: These are crushed cocoa beans that provide a crunchy texture and a chocolatey flavor without melting. They are a great alternative in keto cookies, fat bombs, pancakes, and granola.
• Unsweetened chocolate bars: You can chop up a bar of unsweetened chocolate into chunks and add them to your baked goods. This gives a more rustic and varied texture to your treats.
• Homemade chocolate chips: You can make your own chocolate chips at home by melting cacao butter, cacao liquor, cocoa powder, and a powdered sweetener together and pouring the mixture into a silicone mold.

How to make keto chocolate chips

Keto chocolate chips are a great alternative to traditional chocolate chips, offering the same rich, chocolatey taste without the added sugar. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make your own keto chocolate chips at home:

Ingredients:

• Cocoa butter (also known as cacao butter)
• Unsweetened chocolate (100%)
• Sugar-free powdered sweetener (erythritol, allulose, or stevia)
• Vanilla extract
• Salt (optional)

Utensils:

• Double boiler or microwave-safe bowl
• Chocolate chip mold, silicone trivet, or any chocolate mold
• Heavy saucepan (optional)
• Fine mesh sieve (optional)

Method:

• Prepare your ingredients and utensils. If using a double boiler, set it up and adjust the heat to low. Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe bowl.
• Melt the cocoa butter in the double boiler or microwave until fully melted. Cocoa butter has a high melting point, so it may take some time.
• Once melted, add the unsweetened chocolate to the cocoa butter and heat until both are combined and smooth. Stir continuously to avoid burning.
• Quickly add the sugar-free powdered sweetener of your choice and whisk until combined. You can use a blender or food processor for a smoother mixture.
• Add the vanilla extract and salt (if using) to the chocolate mixture and remove from the heat.
• Pour the melted chocolate into your chosen mold. If you don't have a mold, you can spread the mixture in a parchment paper-lined pan and chop it into small chunks later.
• Refrigerate the mold until the chocolate is completely firm. This may take an hour or more, depending on the size and depth of your mold.
• Once firm, remove the chocolate chips from the mold. If using a pan, break the chocolate into small chunks.
• Store your keto chocolate chips in an airtight container or ziplock bag. They can be kept at room temperature or refrigerated for longer freshness.

Tips:

• Use high-quality unsweetened chocolate, such as Ghirardelli or Scharffenberger, to avoid a gritty texture.
• Sift your powdered sweetener and cocoa powder to remove any lumps and create a smoother texture.
• If using a chocolate chip mold, be sure to refrigerate until the chocolate is completely firm to ensure they hold their shape.
• For a more stable chip that holds its shape during baking, use cocoa butter instead of butter or coconut oil.
• Get creative with flavors! You can add a few drops of peppermint oil for a minty flavor, or even a bit of Tabasco for a spicy kick.

How much keto chocolate to eat

When it comes to how much keto chocolate you can eat, moderation is key. The general consensus is that dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or more is best for a ketogenic diet.

On a standard ketogenic diet, you should restrict your carb intake to 5% of your daily calorie intake. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this equates to about 25 grams of carbs per day. A 28-gram portion of dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa contains around 10 grams of net carbs, so it would account for approximately 40% of your total daily carb allotment.

Therefore, if you want to indulge in some keto chocolate, you need to ensure you don't consume too many carbohydrates throughout the rest of the day. Opt for high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70% to avoid exceeding your carb limit.

Additionally, portion control is crucial. While a small 28-gram serving of high-quality dark chocolate can fit into a keto diet, a larger serving will likely push you over your daily carb limit.

It's also worth noting that chocolate made from 100% cocoa solids can be quite bitter and may be an acquired taste. If you're new to keto, a good-quality dark chocolate with 70-85% cocoa solids might be a more palatable option.

Some popular keto-friendly chocolate chip brands include ChocZero, Lakanto, Lily's, Pascha, GoodSam, Luv Ice Cream, and Hu's Chocolate Chips. These brands offer a variety of flavours, including milk, dark, and white chocolate, and are sweetened with natural sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol.

Frequently asked questions