Your ultimate guide to vegan chocolate

Vegan…chocolates?

No, you aren’t dreaming. You’ve read right, and there’s actually a whole section of our website dedicated to nothing but vegan chocolates.

In a world where dietary preferences are ever-evolving, the demand for delectable vegan alternatives to our favourite treats continues to soar.

Whether you're a seasoned vegan, curious foodie, or looking to cut out dairy, this article will be your gateway to exploring the diverse and mouth-watering world of vegan chocolate.

From velvety dark cocoa delights to luscious white chocolate alternatives, we'll delve into the exciting variations and brands that cater to every vegan chocolate lover's desire.

If you didn’t have a chocolate craving at the start of this article, we can guarantee you will have by the time you reach the end of it…

Skip to: What is vegan chocolate? | Common ingredients to avoid | What is vegan chocolate made from? | Which chocolates are vegan? | How to make your own vegan chocolate | 14 best vegan chocolate products | Chocolate FAQs

What is vegan chocolate?

Vegan chocolate is a type of chocolate that is made without any animal-derived ingredients, including milk.¹

Traditional chocolate typically contains milk solids or milk fat, which makes it unsuitable for those following a vegan diet, as vegans avoid all animal products.²

Any chocolates made from animal products aren’t classed as vegan, and the use of milk is one of the main signs chocolate isn’t suitable for vegans to tuck into.

What is vegan chocolate made from?

Chocolate is made using cacao beans which are found on cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), meaning chocolate in its ‘raw form’ is vegan friendly as it’s a plant-based food.⁴

To make chocolate products such as bars, truffles, cakes etc. animal and dairy ingredients are often added such as milk products, butter and eggs.⁵

To create vegan chocolate, manufacturers replace dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives. Common substitutes for milk solids or milk fat include:⁶

• Plant-based milk: Non-dairy milk like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or rice milk can be used to replace regular cow's milk.
• Cocoa butter: This is a natural fat extracted from cocoa beans and is used in many vegan chocolate products to provide the creamy texture.
• Coconut oil: Sometimes used as a substitute for cocoa butter, coconut oil adds richness to the chocolate.
• Nut butters: Almond butter, peanut butter, or other nut butters can be incorporated into the chocolate for flavour and texture.
• Soy lecithin: Often used as an emulsifier to keep the ingredients mixed together, it's derived from soy and is a common component of vegan chocolate.

Which chocolates are vegan?

Most types of milk and white chocolate are made with all or some of the ingredients above, making it strictly off-limits for vegan chocolate lovers.⁸

Only chocolate that’s been made using zero dairy products and hasn’t become contaminated by manufacturers using the same machinery to make vegan and non-vegan chocolate can be classed as vegan.

It is possible to get vegan ‘milk’ chocolate, provided the chocolate hasn’t been made with dairy milk, but a plant-based milk alternative, such as coconut, instead.

Lecithin can also be animal or plant-based; the soy and sunflower versions of it are vegan-friendly.⁹

Is all dark chocolate vegan?

Now that’s a good question! No, unfortunately not all dark chocolate is vegan.

While dark chocolate typically contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less milk than milk chocolate, some dark chocolate products still include milk or other non-vegan ingredients.¹⁰

Vegan dark chocolate will usually explicitly state that it is dairy-free or vegan on the packaging. Alternatively, you can always check the product's ingredients list on the packaging. Look for any dairy-related ingredients like milk solids, milk fat, or whey, as well as other non-vegan additives.

Some dark chocolates may also contain animal-derived additives like honey, gelatine, and certain food colourings or flavourings.

If you’re vegan, it’s best to presume that most dark chocolate isn’t vegan at first glance (sorry, but it’s really best to err on the side of caution when it comes to chocolate).

Another little tip to remember when buying dark chocolate…

The percentage of cacao tells you how much cacao is in the chocolate bar. Where possible, try to choose dark chocolate that contains between 55 and 85% cacao.

Is white chocolate vegan?

Just like dark chocolate, most white chocolate is not suitable for vegans due to the reasons mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, vegan versions of white chocolate do exist, and you can even make it yourself without requiring many ingredients.

Legally, for a product to be classified as white chocolate, it must contain 3.5% milk fat and 14% milk solids. So, any white chocolate that lacks milk cannot officially be labelled as such.¹¹

The main ingredient in vegan “white chocolate” alternatives is cocoa butter, followed by powdered sugar, rice powder (not milk powder), salt and vanilla extract.¹²

How to make your own vegan chocolate

If you like the idea of making your own vegan chocolate, then you’re in luck, because there are lots of vegan chocolate recipes out there.

Here are a couple of our favourite vegan chocolate recipes:

A few final words about vegan chocolate…

If you’re vegan, you don’t have to forego your beloved chocolate because there are so many incredibly satisfying vegan chocolate treats available today.

The best way to know if a product is vegan is by checking the label! Ideally, you want to stick with vegan-certified products to make sure the chocolate you buy is 100% vegan. Always keep an eye out for trace warnings in case there is a chance of cross-contamination.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you could always have a go at making your own! It’s pretty simple and only requires a few ingredients.

We don’t know about you but we’re feeling a bit peckish after that…