Trader Joe's Has New Dark Chocolate Chips — They're Low in Sugar and Rich in Flavor

In my vegan baking recipes, Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips have always been a trusted ingredient. They're dairy-free, affordable, easy to find, and taste great! When I went to pick up another package, on the shelf next to my beloved chips, I saw a new product: 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips. The packaging is gold, so they had to be good, right? Keep reading to learn how Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips compare to the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (hint: they're better for two reasons!).

Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Nutritional Information
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Nutritional Information

For a one-tablespoon serving of Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips, there are 80 calories, six grams of fat, seven grams of carbs, two grams of fiber, four grams of sugar, and one gram of protein.

For comparison, a one-tablespoon serving of the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips has 70 calories, four grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs, one gram of fiber, eight grams of sugar, and less than one gram of protein.

These new Dark Chocolate Chips are lower in carbs and sugar, and slightly higher in fiber and protein.

Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Ingredients
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Ingredients

Trader's Joe's 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips are made with dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, sunflower lecithin [emulsifier], vanilla extract [water ethyl alcohol, vanilla bean extractives]).

For comparison, the first ingredient in the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips is cane sugar, and this list continues with chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanilla extract (water, ethyl alcohol, and vanilla bean extractives).

What Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Look Like?
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

What Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Look Like?

Here's a close-up photo of Trader's Joe's 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips. They look very much like the Semi-Sweet Chips, but are slightly flatter.

How Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Taste?
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

How Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Taste?

The real question you want answered is which tastes better? The Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are sweet and yummy — they taste delicious on their own, sprinkled on oatmeal, or used for baking. With half the sugar, the Dark Chocolate Chips still taste delicious, but are slightly less sweet, which I actually preferred, because it allows the deep chocolate flavor to come through. Being 72 percent cacao, they didn't taste bitter at all.

These Dark Chocolate Chips have a nice solid feel when you bite into them, and melt into a silky texture. The Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are very similar, but have a slightly waxier mouthfeel. Both are delicious, but after trying them both, I'll be buying the Dark Chocolate Chips from now on!

How Much Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Cost?
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

How Much Do Trader's Joe's Dark Chocolate Chips Cost?

One 10-ounce package of Trader's Joe's 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips costs $2.50. The Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips are a litter cheaper at $2 for a 12-ounce bag. For a little extra money, the Dark Chocolate Chips are definitely worth it!