10 Best Healthy Chocolates in 2022 (Nutritionist-Reviewed)
In our research, we found that the best chocolates have less ingredients but more cocoa, are low in sugar, and fit your dietary restrictions. Keeping these things in mind, we’ve put together a list of 10 of our favorite healthy chocolates available online. We've also included a buying guide with tips from nutritionist Kara Swanson to help you weed out the healthy chocolates from the not-so-healthy ones!
Kara Swanson is a certified nutritionist and the founder of Life Well Lived. She is married to her best friend and the proud mother of three. Her passion is to make nutrition simple+easy+delicious!
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How to Choose Healthy Chocolates
Aim for Minimal Ingredients When Possible
The most common ingredients that you’ll want to avoid in chocolate include stabilizers, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors and dyes. These ingredients may cause adverse health effects such as weight gain and increased risk of diabetes.
However, of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Botanical additives could provide additional health benefits (like the relaxing effects of lavender), and added protein can keep you satisfied for longer periods of time.
The best and healthiest foods are minimally processed and have minimal ingredients. Make sure you read the labels but don't just look at the calories, fat, and carbs. Start to make a habit of looking at the ingredients, this tells you what is actually in the food you're eating.
The Higher the Cocoa Content, the Better for Your Health
For a good milk chocolate, look for about 50% cocoa. If you can appreciate bitter dark chocolates, look for a minimum of 70%. Some bars with more cocoa could taste sweeter depending on sugars or flavor additives, so see what else is included if you're not a fan of bitter foods.
When you're looking for a healthy chocolate, the darker and higher the cocoa content it has, the better. The higher the cocoa content the less sugar there typically is as well. But dark chocolate can be bitter so it might take you some time to get used to. Grab one that's higher in cocoa than you normally eat and gradually work your way up to a higher cocoa content if you need to.
Watch Out for Too Much Sugar and Fat
According to the American Heart Association, you shouldn’t have more than about 25 grams of added sugar per day, and many chocolates can have that much in one serving. Instead, look for chocolates lower in total sugars that use sweeteners like unrefined sugar, coconut palm sugar, or agave syrup.
You should also be careful about how much fat a chocolate has. Chocolate is a naturally fatty food thanks to cocoa butter, but many bars include other oils that can inflate your fat intake unnecessarily. To avoid this, look for bars that cocoa butter as the only source of oil.
Sugar seems to be added to everything now and chocolate is no exception. That's why it's important to read the labels and determine how much sugar is being added so you don't exceed the recommended amount you should have in a day. And added oils will add extra calories and fat so make sure you choose a dark chocoalte with the least amount of ingredients.
Look for Official Certifications for Peace of Mind
On the other hand, chocolate production can sometimes be exploitative or potentially harmful to the environment. So if you’re concerned about the ethics of your bar, read the packaging to see if it’s Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance certified.
It's always a good idea to look for official certifications if you struggle with certain dietary needs, preferences, or allergies. Most healthy dark chocolate bars should be free of dairy or gluten because chocolate is naturally free of both, so try and choose one that has minimal ingredients added so it's naturally free of gluten and dairy.
10 Best Healthy Chocolates Ranking
| Products | Image | Click to purchase | Popularity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Strong + Velvety Dark Chocolate｜12 pack Endangered Species |  | No.1 | |
2 | Cashew + Pure Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate｜4 pack Hu |  | No.2 | |
3 | 54% Cacao Dark Milk｜6 pack The Good Chocolate |  | No.3 | |
4 | Dark Chocolate Organic Minis Equal Exchange |  | No.4 | |
5 | Sugar Free Dark Chocolate｜10 pack Simply Lite Chocolates |  | No.5 | |
6 | Ayurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate｜Peppermint infused with lavender, 4 pack Elements Truffles |  | No.6 | |
7 | Guilt-Free Chocolate｜Original, 7 pack JOJO's Chocolate |  | No.7 | |
8 | Super Blackout Organic Dark Chocolate｜12 pack Alter Eco |  | No.8 | |
9 | Creamy Milk Milk Chocolate Style｜4 pack Lily's |  | No.9 | |
10 | Belgian Chocolate Probiotic Chocolate Bouchard |  | No.10 |
Endangered SpeciesStrong + Velvety Dark Chocolate ｜ 12 pack
Reviewers report that despite its intimidatingly high cocoa content, this chocolate is super smooth with a rich, buttery mouthfeel. Independent tester Consumer Labs also rates this as the best dark chocolate available in terms of both flavor and health.
HuCashew + Pure Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate ｜ 4 pack
Reviewers love the texture and flavor and write that it can be hard to stop yourself from eating the whole bar in one sitting. For vanilla connoisseurs, don’t worry - there’s no fake vanilla extract aftertaste.
The Good Chocolate54% Cacao Dark Milk ｜ 6 pack
Reviewers love the way this chocolate straddles dark and milk and write that it’s great for those who are trying to slowly transition to darker chocolates. Though it contains no real sugar, reviewers report no artificial sugar aftertastes or effects.
Equal ExchangeDark Chocolate Organic Minis
Reviewers write that they’re sweet and not at all bitter. They’re on the smaller side, but they’re the perfect size for those who are just looking for the flavor of chocolate.
Simply Lite ChocolatesSugar Free Dark Chocolate ｜ 10 pack
Reviewers write that despite being sugar-free, it doesn’t have the tell-tale taste of artificial sweeteners. That being said, it is quite sweet, which may not be ideal for those looking for a more pure dark chocolate.
Elements TrufflesAyurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate ｜ Peppermint infused with lavender, 4 pack
Reviewers report that the texture is smooth and creamy and that lavender flavor is pleasantly relaxing for those who like lavender. For those who don’t like lavender, these bars also come in a variety of other unique botanical flavors.
JOJO's ChocolateGuilt-Free Chocolate ｜ Original, 7 pack
Reviewers write that these bars are the perfect substitute for unhealthy, sugar-laden chocolates and far more satisfying. Those with grain sensitivities write that they have no issues with this bar and love the bits of texture.
Alter EcoSuper Blackout Organic Dark Chocolate ｜ 12 pack
Reviewers love that it’s low in sugar and appreciate the rich flavor and crisp feel of biting into this bar. That being said, this is definitely not the bar for those who aren’t used to dark chocolates.
Lily'sCreamy Milk Milk Chocolate Style ｜ 4 pack
Reviewers write that this chocolate tastes and feels like a conventional milk chocolate bar without the sugar spike. Do note, however, that this bar does contain some stabilizers that other health-focused bars might not have.
BouchardBelgian Chocolate Probiotic Chocolate
Reviewers love the rich, dark flavor and chewy, Hershey-like texture. Some also report that the added probiotics are effective in aiding digestive function.
Extra Tips from Nutritionist Kara Swanson
My personal favorite for when chocolate cravings hit is JoJo's Dark Chocolate. They have been my chocolate of choice for years now and I love how it satisfies my sugar cravings, is low in sugar, and has plant-based protein added.
And when you're craving chocolate, but want something a little different, a simple and fun treat is to make chocolate-covered strawberries. All you do is melt some dark chocolate and dip the strawberries in, let harden, and enjoy. You'll get a big antioxidant boost from both the chocolate and strawberries.
More Healthy but Sweet Treats to Fill Your Pantry
If you're shopping for chocolate, chances are that you're a snacker. Here's even more temptation to keep you satisfied!
Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist Kara Swanson
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
