Quick Answers
Many mainstream chocolate melts and chips are gluten-free, including brands like Ghirardelli, Guittard, Callebaut, and Merckens. Generally speaking, pure chocolate or chocolate mixed only with dairy, nuts, or fruits is naturally gluten-free. The main things to watch out for are additives like barley malt, wheat, or cookies/graham cracker pieces mixed into the chocolate. When in doubt, check the ingredient list for gluten-containing ingredients.
What Makes Chocolate Gluten-Free?
Chocolate is naturally gluten-free. Gluten refers to the proteins found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Pure chocolate contains nothing but cocoa beans, cocoa butter, sugar, milk products, and flavors like vanilla. Sometimes nuts, fruits, or other gluten-free ingredients are added as well. As long as no gluten-containing grains or additives are added during processing, the chocolate remains 100% gluten-free.
Ingredients That Make Chocolate Not Gluten-Free
The main things that can make chocolate NOT gluten-free are:
- Wheat or barley malt – May be added as flavoring
- Graham cracker pieces or other cookies – These contain wheat flour
- Oats – Some people cannot tolerate oats due to gluten cross-contamination
- Maltodextrin – Sometimes derived from wheat
- Artificial flavors – May contain gluten from unknown sources
As long as none of these ingredients are present, the chocolate will be gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Mainstream Chocolate Brands That Are Gluten-Free
Many popular chocolate chips, melts, and baking bars are gluten-free. Here are some of the top mainstream brands that produce gluten-free chocolate:
Ghirardelli
Nearly all Ghirardelli chocolate products are gluten-free, except for a couple products containing cookies/wafer pieces. Their miniature chocolate chips, melting wafers, and baking bars contain only gluten-free ingredients.
Guittard
Guittard Chocolate makes many gluten-free baking chips, wafers, and chocolate bars. They have confirmed their semi-sweet, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate contain only gluten-free ingredients.
Callebaut
Callebaut is a popular brand of chocolate made in Belgium. Their pure chocolate blocks, chips, and baking wafers are gluten-free. However, some of their specialty flavors contain wheat flour or glutenous ingredients.
Nestle
The Nestle Toll House brand of chocolate chips and morsels are gluten-free, except for their varieties containing cookies or crackers. Their semi-sweet mini chips are gluten-free.
Hershey’s
Most standard Hershey’s chocolate chips are gluten-free, including their semi-sweet and milk chocolate mini chips. However, some products like Cookies ‘N’ Creme may contain gluten.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s brand chocolate chips and melting wafers are labeled gluten-free. Their semi-sweet mini chips and dark chocolate wafers contain no glutenous ingredients.
Enjoy Life
Enjoy Life is a brand specializing in allergen-friendly foods. They offer many gluten-free chocolate chips, bars, and morsels made in dedicated gluten-free facilities.
Kraft
Kraft chocolate chips are gluten-free except varieties with cookie mix-ins. Their mini semi-sweet chips are gluten-free and safe for gluten-free baking.
Boutique & Specialty Chocolate Brands
Many gourmet and boutique chocolate companies also make gluten-free chocolate in forms like bars, chips, fudge, and more. Here are some top gluten-free specialty chocolate brands:
TCHO
TCHO chocolates are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. All their baking chips, chocolate bars, and specialty offerings are labeled gluten-free.
Choczero
Choczero specializes in ultra low carb and keto-friendly chocolate. All their sugar-free chocolate bars and chips are made without any gluten-containing ingredients.
Lily’s Sweets
Lily’s makes gluten-free baking chips and chocolate bars sweetened with stevia rather than sugar. These keto-friendly chocolates contain no glutenous additives.
Endangered Species
This eco-friendly brand offers dark chocolate bars that are all gluten-free. They are made in a facility that also processes gluten, but practices gluten cross-contamination prevention.
Pascha Organic
Pascha Organic Chocolate makes gluten-free, vegan dark chocolate baking chips and chocolate bars. They are processed separately from gluten-containing ingredients.
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange chocolate bars and chips — including varieties like chocolate chips, baking bars, and hot chocolate mix — are labeled gluten-free and made from purely gluten-free ingredients.
How to Check if Chocolate is Gluten-Free
When unsure if a brand of chocolate is gluten-free, check for:
- Any mention of wheat, barley, rye or malt ingredients on the label
- Statement of being made in a gluten-free facility
- Certifications like GFCO or labels clearly marked “gluten-free”
- Customer service contacts to inquire about gluten-free status
Reputable brands that make gluten-free chocolate will state so clearly on their packaging. When in doubt, look up the brand online or contact the company to verify if their products are gluten-free and safe for celiac diets.
Is Chocolate Gluten-Free? Quick Facts:
- Pure chocolate is naturally gluten-free. The main thing that can make it not gluten-free is added ingredients, like wheat, barley malt, cookies, etc.
- Mainstream chocolate brands that offer gluten-free options include Ghirardelli, Guittard, Callebaut, Nestle, Hershey’s, Enjoy Life, and more.
- When in doubt, check ingredients for wheat, barley, malt, etc. Look for “gluten-free” labels. Contact the manufacturer if needed.
- Specialty chocolate companies like TCHO, Lily’s, Equal Exchange, Pascha and more also make gluten-free chocolate.
Risk of Cross-Contamination
Even chocolate made without gluten-containing ingredients can pose a low risk of cross-contamination at the factory if it is produced alongside glutenous products.
For people with celiac disease or extreme gluten sensitivity, choosing chocolate made in dedicated gluten-free facilities further reduces any risk of traces of gluten. Brands like TCHO, Enjoy Life, or others who avoid gluten entirely in their facilities are the safest choice.
Yet for many people avoiding gluten, chocolate made with gluten-free ingredients on shared lines is still generally considered safe, as any traces are negligible. Always check with your doctor to see if you require fully gluten-free facilities or if avoiding main gluten ingredients is enough.
Choosing Gluten-Free Chocolate
When choosing chocolate, pure chocolate chips, bars, and melts from mainstream trusted brands are typically a very safe bet to be gluten-free. Just double check labels to make sure no cookie pieces or wheat ingredients have been added.
Opting for brands who make chocolate on dedicated gluten-free lines is an extra precaution for those highly sensitive. But overall, most any chocolate without actual gluten-containing ingredients should suit most gluten-free diets.
Dairy-Free & Vegan Chocolate
Many chocolate brands today also offer dairy-free and vegan chocolate options made with alternate milks or no milk at all. These are also typically gluten-free as long as no wheat/gluten additives are present.
Some top brands for dairy-free and vegan gluten-free chocolate include:
- Enjoy Life – dairy-free chips & bars
- TCHO – vegan milk & dark chocolate chips
- Pascha – organic & vegan baking chips
- Lily’s Sweets – dairy-free chips sweetened with stevia
- Equal Exchange – vegan dark chocolate chips
With the rise of plant-based diets, you can now readily find high-quality gluten and dairy-free chocolate options for all your baking and snacking needs.
Baking & Snacking with Gluten-Free Chocolate
Gluten-free chocolate chips, chunks, and melted wafers can be used as direct substitutes in recipes calling for regular chocolate. The taste, texture, baking qualities, and melt factor are virtually the same.
Depending on the brand, some tips when baking include:
- Add 1-2 extra tablespoons of gluten-free flour to absorb extra moisture from dairy-free chocolate.
- Reduce baking time by 2-3 minutes when using mini chocolate chips which hold shape better.
- For melting, use short burst of medium power instead of high heat if chocolate scorches easier.
Brands like Guittard, Ghirardelli, Callebaut, TCHO, and others perform very similarly to traditional chocolate. With a few minor adjustments, your results will be just as delicious.
For snacking, chocolate bars from Endangered Species, Pascha Organics, Equal Exchange, Lily’s, or Choczero make nutritious additions to lunch boxes or snacks.
Homemade Gluten-Free Chocolate Recipes
Making homemade gluten-free chocolate recipes from scratch is also an option using pure ingredients like:
- Cocoa butter
- Cocoa powder
- Cane sugar
- Dairy or non-dairy milk
- Vanilla
You can adapt all types of chocolate recipes to be gluten-free very easily. Here are some recipes to try:
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chips
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cocoa butter | 2 cups |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 1 cup |
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup |
| Dairy-free milk | 3 tbsp |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp |
1. Slowly melt cocoa butter in a double boiler.
2. Whisk in cocoa powder until smooth paste forms.
3. Mix in sugar, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract.
4. Transfer to piping bag and pipe small droplets onto a lined baking sheet.
5. Freeze 10 minutes to set, then store chilled in an airtight container.
Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dark chocolate chips | 3/4 cup |
| Unsalted butter | 1/2 cup |
| Granulated sugar | 1 cup |
| Eggs | 2 large |
| Gluten-free flour | 1/2 cup |
| Cocoa powder | 1/4 cup |
| Salt | 1/4 tsp |
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 pan and line with parchment.
2. Melt butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler until smooth.
3. Mix in sugar, then eggs one at a time.
4. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and salt until just combined.
5. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes.
6. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Conclusion
Following a gluten-free diet definitely does not mean giving up chocolate. There are many gluten-free chocolate options out there for enjoying in baking, snacking, or any way you desire! By choosing pure chocolate and reading labels carefully, chocolate can remain an enjoyable part of your gluten-free lifestyle.