Vegan Chocolate Chips
Posted by propinecone on Jun 17, 2007 · Member since May 2007 · 2842 posts
I know that some brands are obviousely vegan because of the labeling, but i've noticed that some people here suggest using ghiradelli or store brands. when i've looked at the bags they all contain sugar. i made the same comment in regards to the graham cracker topic on here too, but how likely is it that the sugar that wal-mart uses is vegan sugar?
i wouldn't count on it...but
in this age of technology,
in the store, whip out your "handy dandy" cell phone and call the "questions" number on the back of the package
but, there's some stuff vegans should stock up on...
and vegan chocolate is definately one of them!!!!!!
:D
i've been wondering this too. it's not just the sugar, either. most of the brands i see in the store all have milkfat in them, or some other milk product. even the dark chocolate.
i know hershey's used to make an accidentally vegan dark chocolate, but the last i checked, it wasn't any longer. i thought this was the same with ghiradelli's, but maybe the stores i've been in just aren't carrying dark enough type (they sell it by percentages, right)? or maybe i'm reading milkfat wrong? if anyone has recommendations on brands, i'd be appreciative.
I use either use the Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips or the 365 brand's real semi-sweet.
In terms of chocolate I first choose Sjaak's, because it's organic vegan and because Jacque started in the States in a little shop in downtown Eureka, which is in Humboldt County in California, which is the best place on earth. Then there's Green & Black's which uses raw cane sugar.
When people talk about brands, they're not talking about every variety of chocolate the company makes - it's usually just the dark chocolates. Also, unless you try a place like Cost Plus, you're unlikely to find them in regular stores. The US manufacturers of chocolate don't make true dark chocolate, they make darker milk chocolate, so there will be dairy in US brands.
I think it comes down to each person. There is no single definition of vegan and there are many reasons that people become vegan. Vegans may choose to:
1. Not use any suspected bone char processed refined white sugar;
2. Not use it in their homes, but buy products containing it; or,
3. Use it in their homes and buy products containing it.
About chocolate chips: The only chocolate chips they carry at my grocery store (HFS) are vegan. I use a mini chip (more chocolately goodness per bite) that is dairy, soy, and gluten free.
So the trader joe's chocolate chips and 365 brand from WF are both vegan?
Yes, unless there's something I missed on the ingredients lists (below), Trader Joe's and 365 brand chocolate chips are vegan. Here are the ingredients:
Trader Joe's Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips ($1.99) Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla, Extract. While the ingredients don't include any dairy, the package notes that they are made in a facility that processes milk and egg.
365 Real Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (got a couple bags on sale at Whole Foods last weekend for $1.69 each) Sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soya lecithin (added as an emulsifier), vanilla extract. Package says they're "100% natural."
MDvegan - Which ones are malt sweetened? Can you recommend a brand? I only use raw cane sugar not the granulated white stuff... I have tried Carob chips in the past and I do not like them as much as regular dark chips... And they have a strange taste after baking... :-\
Sunspire has grain sweetened chips, both chocolate and carob. They're pretty good. http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/nspired/sunspire/home.d2w/report
Yes, SUNSPIRE is the best ever. I currently have about 5 bags in the pantry. I'm not telling how many will actually make it into a baked good! :-[
Yes. I had to stop buying chips for a while. I bought several bags for cookies. Know how many cookies were baked? ZERO.
Oops. My thighs thanked me.
Tkitty96, if you stop baking then we won't have your great food photos to drool over. Those recent breakfast buns, peach bars and northern beans pictures are quite impressive!
Aw! You're too sweet! Thanks!
a brand that is vegan and uses evap. cane juice is called enjoy life. i've bought it in michigan at meijers for 2something a bag and they're great. i will stock up when i go back.
just wanted to say thanks for the head's up. i found the sunspire brand of chocolate chips. they were in an entirely different section of the store~ the pain in the neck section i think, where they keep the ultra kosher, gluten free, super vegan health food stuff. i don't know why they separate things out like that. turns out they're fair trade certified too, which is a nice touch.
now if any of you know of a calorie free vegan chocolate chip... (no harm in asking, right?) ;D
I totally forgot the vegan sugar thing when I try to buy chocolate chip! I already bought 2 bags of Ghirardelli. Next time I will try Trader joe;s/!! New Vegan mistake! I do use raw cane sugar at home though!
doughbunny - where are the recipes for the amazing looking cupcake photos on your profile?? They look soooooo good :D
They are from the cookbook " Vegan Cupcake Take Over the World." I am pre-diabetes, and on ETL vegan diet right now. In order to give up all the sweets, I make cupcakes like crazy. To me it is a therapy, and I have my husband take all (one dozen) cupcake to work to share with his colleagues. My husband describe them as vultures when they see the cupcakes. It seems as long as I follow the recipes to the T, They all come out nice! It is a good cookbook!