The Best Dairy-Free Chocolate For Eating And Cooking in Australia 2023
Intro
There are so many amazing dairy-free chocolates on the market these days that are just as creamy and melt-in-the-mouth as any regular milk-chocolate. And we’ve done the work for you, tasting the best dairy-free chocolate bars and finding the ones that are most versatile for adding to sweet and savoury recipes. So whether you’re looking to indulge a craving or want to add to your kitchen cupboard, you’re in the right place!
What is dairy-free chocolate made of?
The main ingredient in any chocolate is cacao (or at least it should be). Chocolate is derived from the agricultural product cacao, which is found in pods on tropical trees. In order to go from cacao beans to chocolate bars, cacao needs to be harvested and fermented before being processed into cocoa and its derivatives.
There are a few different ingredients that are commonly used to make chocolate: sweeteners, cocoa butter for texture and nutritional benefits, cacao or cocoa powder for its rich chocolatey flavour, and sometimes soy lecithin for consistency.
In contrast to regular chocolate, dairy-free chocolate is made without any lactose or milk-derived products.
You can actually make your own homemade chocolate using cacao or cocoa powder by just adding some plant oil, sweetener of your choice, and a bit of plant-based milk.
Are all dairy-free chocolates vegan?
The short answer is it’s always best to check the label or run a quick Google search of the brand. There are a few brands of ‘dairy-free’ chocolate that contain small amounts of dairy.
At Five Vegans when we say it's vegan, we mean it's 100% dairy and cruelty free. So no need to scrutinise the labels.
Why is milk-free chocolate better than the regular milk one?
The dairy-free version of chocolate is better than ‘regular’ chocolate when it comes to your health, the planet, and ethics.
Chocolate that is free of dairy products is inherently better for your health because it is made with higher percentages of cacao, less sugar, and less saturated fat than milk chocolate. That’s why it’s common to crave a milk chocolate bar during times of stress and sometimes we don’t seem to get enough.
Chocolate that is made without dairy is more ethical, as it spares cows who are too often treated as dairy machines. We all know that cows are mammals, and just like us, they need to be pregnant to produce their milk. The dairy-industry has zero respect for this beautiful animal, their milk and their babies. Therefore, we personally believe milk-free chocolate is better for you because it’s also better for cows.
Consequently, there are also fewer gas emissions from the production of chocolate that is free of dairy, which is good for the planet.
Please note that just because it’s dairy-free, that does not mean it was ethically made. We highly encourage you to run a quick brand check if you wish to buy any milk-free chocolate options outside from this list or our website. If it’s listed in this article or on the Five Vegans’ website, rest assured it’s an ethical and fair-trade product.
Best dairy-free chocolate for eating
When it comes to snacking, we all have our guilty pleasures. And there’s nothing quite like craving a big chunk of vegan chocolate. Here are some of our best selling brands:
Lindt Classic Vegan Smooth Chocolate
Lindt is globally known for their milk chocolates. Good news is that they recently launched their own line of vegan chocolate by replacing dairy with oat milk. And they gave us some of the most ridiculously creamy and delicious chocolate bars out there.
Kresho Almond Nougat Vegan Chocolate Bars
Kresho chocolate bars are vegan, dairy-free, and filled with chewy nougat and slow-roasted almonds. They're also palm oil-free and made in Australia!
Love Raw Cream filled Chocolate Wafer Bars
The Love Raw wafer bars take vegan chocolate to a whole new level. A crunchy wafer is filled with a layer of fluffy vegan hazelnut cream and topped with Love Raw's iconic milk-free chocolate. These bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Clarana Candy Coated Chocolate Buttons
If you're looking for a delicious and vegan-friendly alternative to smarties, these chocolate buttons are a great option! Made with 52% chocolate, they are naturally coloured with fruit and vegetable concentrates. Plus, they're gluten and palm oil free.
Best dairy-free chocolate for cooking
When it comes to cooking and baking, the higher the cacao concentration on your chocolate, the better. All of these chocolates work well for melting and baking.
Vego Chocolate Fine Hazelnut Melts
Vego Chocolate baking melts are a great vegan option for cookies, s’mores, hot chocolate, or your favourite warm drink. They are also gluten and palm oil free.
PBCo Sugar Free Vegan Choc Chips
These sugar-free chocolate chips are a great addition to your low-carb and sugar-free baking. They hold their shape when baked, making them ideal for chocolate chip cookies, muffins, or brownies.
Botanika Blends Marvellous Mug Cakes Choc Chip Cookie Dough
A delicious, quick and easy protein-rich dessert that you can make in a mug at home just using your microwave. It is moist and gooey and will satisfy your sweet tooth!
Loving Earth Cacao Powder
Organic cacao powder from Loving Earth comes from Satipo in the Peruvian Amazon. It's rich in antioxidants and nutrients that can help keep you energised, healthy and happy.
Perfect for baking chocolate desserts or even your very own homemade chocolate (as mentioned above).
Conclusion
The world of plant-based eating is growing rapidly, and with it, the number of products that are becoming dairy-free is increasing. Each of the brands listed above has their own unique approach to creating dairy-free chocolate, and trust that with the increased demand for dairy-free products, you can be sure that these brands will be expanding their chocolate ranges in the near future. So whether you are a long-term dairy-free eater or just starting out, you now have a list of the best chocolate brands for eating and cooking if you live in Australia.