14 of the Best Healthier Chocolate Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

• Best overall: JOJO’s Original Chocolate Bars
• Best dark chocolate: Taza 85% Super Dark Chocolate Disks, BarkTHINS Snacking Dark Chocolate, Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt
• Best for white chocolate lovers: Honey Mama’s Birthday Cake Blonde Truffle Bar
• Best vegan chocolate: Enjoy Life Sunseed Butter Enjoy Bites
• Best chocolate bar: Hu Chocolate Bars
• Best peanut butter cup: Perfect Snacks Refrigerated Peanut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt
• Best chocolate-covered nuts: SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds
• Best chocolate-covered fruit: Nib Mor Blueberry Organic Dark Chocolate
• Best chocolate protein bar: RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt
• Best chocolate granola: Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic Granola
• Best no-added sugar option: HighKey Mini Cookies, Chocolate Mint
• Best frozen chocolate treat: Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars, Chocolate Fudge
• Best chocolate beverage: Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats

Referred to as “Food of the Gods” by the Mayan people, chocolate continues to be a popular treat around the world (1).

Although it’s best known for its flavor, chocolate may offer some health benefits as well. For example, it’s high in protective plant compounds like flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (1).

While chocolate can fit into a healthy diet, not all chocolate products are created equal. Many are high in calories, added sugars, and highly processed ingredients.

Whether you’re in the mood for a simple chocolate bar or something crunchy to munch on, when buying a chocolate snack, you want to consider the product’s nutritional content and ingredient quality.

The products on this list were selected based on the following criteria:

• Nutritional and sugar content: We included chocolate products that are lower in added sugar than many popular chocolate treats.
• Ingredient quality: We chose products made with minimal ingredients whenever possible. The products on this list are free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.
• Taste: We included a variety of products with different flavors and textures, including peanut butter cups, frozen chocolate bars, good old chocolate bars, and more.
• Price: Options on this list have a range of prices to accommodate many budgets. We even have a handful of homemade options.

Best overall

JOJO’s Original Chocolate Bars

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 180
• Pros: limited ingredients, low in added sugar
• Cons: can be hard to find in stores

JOJO’s Original Chocolate Bars are the best overall healthy chocolate snack option, as they’re chocolatey and crunchy while being high in protein and fiber to help keep you satisfied for longer.

They’re also made with just five high quality ingredients, including dark chocolate, almonds, pistachios, dried cranberries, and hemp protein.

Made from hemp seeds, hemp protein is one of the few plant-based protein sources that contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a source of complete protein (2, 3).

In addition to a short ingredient list, JOJO’s bars are vegan, gluten-free, certified non-GMO, soy-free, and paleo-friendly.

One bar (34 g) provides 180 calories, 13 g of fat, 6 g of saturated fat, 12 g of carbs, 4 g of fiber, 8 g of sugar (including 7 g of added sugars), and 5 g of protein (4).

These bars come in three additional flavors — peanut butter, macadamia coconut sea salt, and raspberry almond pistachio. All of these contain at least 3 g of plant-based protein and fewer than 200 calories per serving.

Sweetened with erythritol, the raspberry and macadamia flavors are free from added sugar.

Best dark chocolate

Dark chocolate contains a higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate — usually at least 70% cocoa. As a result, dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, which are plant compounds with potent antioxidant activity (5, 6).

In fact, observational studies have linked eating antioxidant-rich dark chocolate to benefits for heart health and brain function (6, 7, 8).

While dark chocolate is often lower in sugar and added fats than milk chocolate, dark chocolate products may still be high in added sugars. As a result, it’s important to look at both the nutrition fact label and ingredient list before buying a product.

Taza 85% Super Dark Chocolate Disks

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 230
• Pros: low in added sugar, made with just two ingredients, high in fiber
• Cons: a bit pricier than other dark chocolate products

Taza Chocolate is a Massachusetts-based company that produces high quality, stone-ground chocolate products.

In addition to being gluten-free, non-GMO Project verified, and certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Taza was the first U.S. chocolate maker to establish a third-party-certified direct trade program.

Taza’s direct trade certification ensures that cocoa products are sourced directly from cocoa farmers, as well as that those farmers are treated fairly and paid at or above market price.

Perfect for anyone who loves the deep, slightly bitter flavor of dark chocolate, these super dark chocolate disks are made with just two ingredients — stone-ground organic cocoa beans and organic cane sugar.

One serving is half a disk. Still, as it contains 85% cocoa, even just a small bite is likely enough to satisfy your chocolate craving.

One-half of a disk (1.35 oz. or 38 g) provides 230 calories, 15 g of fat, 10 g of saturated fat, 16 g of carbs, 9 g of fiber, 6 g of added sugar, and 4 g of protein (9).

barkTHINS Snacking Dark Chocolate, Pumpkin Seed & Sea Salt

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 160
• Pros: crunchy texture, fair trade certified, a good source of iron
• Cons: high in added sugar

If you prefer a dark chocolate snack you can munch on, barkTHINS Snacking Dark Chocolate is one of the best options.

Crunchy and slightly salty, these chocolate snacks are made from three simple ingredients — dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, and sea salt. These ingredients are also fair trade certified and non-GMO verified.

In addition to providing a nice crunch, pumpkin seeds are a good source of several essential nutrients, including manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper (10, 11).

Just be sure to keep an eye on portion size, as each serving contains 10 g of added sugar, which is about 40% of the American Heart Association’s daily added sugar recommendation for women and 28% of the recommended amount for men (12).

One serving (1.1 oz. or 31 g) provides 160 calories, 12 g of fat, 6 g of saturated fat, 14 g of carbs, 10 g of sugar (including 10 g of added sugars), and 4 g of protein (13).

Best for white chocolate lovers

Honey Mama’s Birthday Cake Blonde Truffle Bar

• Price: $$$
• Calories per serving: 129
• Pros: made with nutritious ingredients, paleo-friendly
• Cons: expensive and requires refrigeration

If you’re a fan of white chocolate but want a healthier option made with nutritious ingredients, give Honey Mama’s Birthday Cake Blonde Truffle Bar a try.

Made with healthy ingredients like organic cashews and coconut, these soft, truffle-like bars are bursting with birthday cake flavor. They’re even topped with naturally-colored sprinkles, which gives them a fun look and texture similar to a real birthday cake.

One serving (24 g) provides 129 calories, 10 g of fat (6.5 g of saturated fat), 10 g of carbs, 1.5 g of fiber, 7 g of sugar (including 7 g of added sugars), and 1.5 g of protein (14).

For those who prefer regular chocolate, Honey Mama’s Truffle Bars come in a variety of flavors, including Chocolate Cake and Spicy Dark.

Best vegan chocolate

For those following vegan diets, common ingredients found in chocolate products like dairy and honey are off-limits. Fortunately, there are plenty of vegan-friendly chocolate products to choose from.

Enjoy Life Sunseed Butter Enjoy Bites

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 170
• Pros: high in protein and low in added sugar, certified gluten-free, low in FODMAPs
• Cons: can be hard to find in stores

Enjoy Life is a food company dedicated to producing products that are free of gluten and major allergens. They also offer a wide variety of vegan-friendly snacks and treats.

Made with vegan semisweet chocolate, sunflower protein, sunflower butter, and pumpkin and sunflower seeds, these chocolate protein bites aren’t only vegan but also peanut- and tree-nut-free.

These snacks were previously certified as low in FODMAPs — fermentable carbs that have been linked to causing or worsening symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the company ceased its participation in this certification program in 2021, and its products are no longer recommended as low FODMAP options (16).

Each 3-piece (36 g) serving provides 170 calories, 11 g of fat, 6 g of saturated fat, 17 g of carbs, 3 g of fiber, 10 g of sugar (5 g of added sugar), and 6 g of protein (15).

Best chocolate bar

Some chocolate bars are very high in added sugar and contain ingredients like artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, which some people prefer to leave out of their diet.

If you’re looking for a healthier chocolate bar, here’s a delicious option.

Hu Chocolate Bars

• Price: $$$
• Calories per serving: varies depending on the flavor
• Pros: certified organic and fair trade, low in added sugar
• Cons: expensive

If you’re in the mood for a chocolate bar, HU is one of the best options with a variety of flavors, such as Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate and Almond Butter Puffed Quinoa Dark Chocolate.

In addition to being paleo, vegan, certified USDA organic, and soy-free, all of their bars are free of additives, including emulsifiers, soy lecithin, refined sugar, and sugar alcohols.

For example, the Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate bar contains just six ingredients, including organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic and fair trade cocoa butter, organic puffed quinoa, organic vanilla bean, and sea salt.

What’s more, they taste delicious. While a serving size is half a bar (about 1 oz. or 28 g), these bars have a deep, rich flavor that can satisfy any sweet craving with just one or two squares.

One serving (1 oz. or 28 g) of the Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate Bar provides 190 calories, 13 g of fat, 8 g of saturated fat, 15 g of carbs, 3 g of fiber, 7 g of sugar (6 g of added sugar), and 3 g of protein (17).

Keep in mind that the nutrition content varies by flavor.

Best peanut butter cup

Peanut butter and chocolate are one of the best flavor combinations.

For peanut butter cup lovers looking for a tasty option made with nutritious ingredients, the following product is an excellent choice.

Perfect Snacks Refrigerated Peanut Butter Cups, Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 210
• Pros: made with nutritious ingredients, certified organic, high in protein
• Cons: high in added sugar, requires refrigeration

Peanut butter and chocolate is a classic flavor combination. Still, many peanut butter cup options contain heavily processed oils and artificial ingredients.

Perfect Snacks Refrigerated Peanut Butter Cups are one of the healthiest options, as they’re made with high quality, organic ingredients, including peanut butter and fair trade dark chocolate.

As with their snack bars, Perfect Snack’s peanut butter cups contain their signature dried whole foods powder, which consists of kale, flax seed, apple, rosehip, orange, lemon, papaya, tomato, carrot, spinach, celery, alfalfa, kelp, and dulse.

In addition to being free of artificial additives and preservatives, these peanut butter cups are lower in added sugars than many other similar peanut butter cups on the market (18, 19, 20).

Plus, due to containing rice protein, nonfat dry milk, and dried whole egg powder, they’re a good source of protein to help keep you full for longer.

One serving (2 cups or 40 g) provides 210 calories, 14 g of fat, 4.5 g of saturated fat, 16 g of carbs, 3 g of fiber, 11 g of sugar (9 g added sugar), and 7 g of protein (18).

Best chocolate-covered nuts

Combining chocolate with nuts like almonds or peanuts creates a sweet and crunchy snack that’s hard to resist. The following chocolate-covered nut product is a healthier option that’s lower in calories and sugar than many similar products on the market.

SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 140
• Pros: lower in added sugar than many similar products, a source of plant-based protein
• Cons: pricier than other chocolate-covered almond products

Made with just five ingredients, SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds are as close to homemade as you can get without making this crunchy snack yourself.

Gluten-free and non-GMO verified, these chocolate-dipped almonds are free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Instead, they simply contain almonds, dark chocolate, maple sugar, sea salt, and cocoa powder.

Almonds are incredibly nutritious tree nuts that are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, including vitamin E and manganese. They have also been shown to help reduce hunger, as they’re a good source of protein and fiber (21, 22).

To help with portion control, you can buy these healthier chocolate-covered almonds in 1 1/2-oz. (43-g) single-serving bags.

Each 1-oz. (28-g) serving provides 140 calories, 10 g of fat, 3 g of saturated fat, 11 g of carbs, 6 g of sugar (6 g of added sugar), and 5 g of protein (23).

Best chocolate-covered fruit

Many people love the taste of chocolate paired with fruit like berries.

Unfortunately, many chocolate-covered fruit products are loaded with added sugar. Here’s a better option for chocolate-covered fruit lovers.

Nib Mor Blueberry Organic Dark Chocolate

• Price: $$$
• Calories per serving: 130
• Pros: low in added sugar, certified organic
• Cons: expensive

As tasty as chocolate-covered raisins or blueberries can be, many chocolate-covered blueberry products are high in added sugar.

Nib Mor Blueberry Organic Dark Chocolate packs in all the chocolate and blueberry flavor you crave but is lower in added sugar than other chocolate-covered fruit products.

These fruity bites get good reviews for being smooth, creamy, and sweet while providing only 7 g of added sugar per serving.

They’re also made with just a handful of organic ingredients, including chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, cane sugar, blueberries, organic soy lecithin, and vanilla.

In addition to being certified USDA organic, the Nib Mor Wild Maine Blueberry Snacking Bites are gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO verified.

One serving (26 g) provides 130 calories, 10 g of fat, 6 g of saturated fat, 12 g of carbs, 3 g of fiber, 8 g of sugar (7 g of added sugar), and 2 g of protein (24).

Best chocolate protein bar

Protein bars are a popular grab-and-go snack option. However, as many are high in added sugar and low in protein and fiber, not all prepackaged snack bars are a healthy choice.

Fortunately, there are filling and nutritious bars on the market that can satisfy your chocolate craving.

RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt

• Price: $
• Calories per serving: 210
• Pros: high in protein, no added sugar
• Cons: not appropriate for vegans

RXBARs are among the healthiest protein bars, as they’re high in fiber and protein, free of added sugars, and made with just a handful of whole ingredients — many of which you likely already have in your kitchen.

In particular, their Chocolate Sea Salt bar is popular among chocolate lovers, as it has a deep, rich chocolate flavor with a hint of salt. It also contains an impressive 12 g of protein per bar (52 g), making it a filling snack or post-workout option (25).

As for its ingredients, this bar is made with just eight high quality foods, including dates, egg whites, cashews, almonds, chocolate, cocoa, natural flavors, and sea salt.

One bar (52 g) provides 210 calories, 9 g of fat, 2 g of saturated fat, 23 g of carbs, 5 g of fiber, 13 g of sugar (0 g of added sugar), and 12 g of protein (25).

Best chocolate granola

Chocolate for breakfast?! If you’re a chocolate fan, you’ll be happy to know that some chocolate-flavored breakfast foods can be a healthy choice.

Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic Granola

• Price: $
• Calories per serving: 130
• Pros: gluten-free, vegan-friendly
• Cons: low in protein

If you’re in the mood for a chocolatey breakfast, the Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic Granola is a good option.

Sweetened with organic coconut sugar, this sweet and salty granola is made with just a handful of quality ingredients, including fair trade dark chocolate chunks, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, gluten-free oats, chia seeds, raw coconut oil, and cinnamon.

It also contains a strain of probiotic cultures that can survive the baking process. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that have been shown to support overall health, including your immune system, digestive system, and heart health (26).

One serving (30 g) provides 130 calories, 6 g of fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat, 19 g of carbs, 2 g of fiber, 7 g of sugar (7 g of added sugar), and 3 g of protein (27).

This chocolate granola is also vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. Since it only provides 3 g of protein per serving, try pairing this granola with a protein-rich food like hemp seeds or Greek yogurt to make it more filling.

Best no-added-sugar option

Sugar and chocolate sometimes seem to go hand-in-hand, which can make it difficult to find chocolatey treats that you can enjoy without taking in added sugars that you’d prefer to avoid. We found great option for those looking to satisfy their chocolate craving without introducing added sugars to their diet.

HighKey Mini Cookies, Chocolate Mint

• Price: $$$
• Calories per serving: 130
• Pros: no added sugar, low in carbs, paleo-friendly
• Cons: not appropriate for people who are sensitive to erythritol

If you have type 2 diabetes or are following the ketogenic, or keto diet, HighKey Mini Cookies are one of the best healthy chocolate snacks, as they’re low in carbs and free of added sugars.

HighKey is a food company that produces keto-friendly snacks, breakfast cereals, and baking mixes — including these crunchy chocolate mint cookies.

In addition to being low in carbs, HighKey Mini Cookies are gluten- and grain-free.

The cookies are made from a base of almond flour, coconut oil, and natural sweeteners, such as erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia. They’re also free of preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.

One serving (7 mini cookies or 28 g) provides 130 calories, 130 calories, 12 g of fat, 5 g of saturated fat, 12 g of carbs, 2 g of fiber, <1 g of sugar, 8 g of erythritol, 3 g of protein (28).

Best frozen chocolate treat

Sometimes nothing hits the spot like a cold chocolate ice cream bar. However, it can be difficult to find options that don’t have high quantities of sugar, or other ingredients you may wish to avoid. We selected one of our favorites that will scratch the chocolate itch at a relatively low calorie count.

Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars, Chocolate Fudge

• Price: $$
• Calories per serving: 80
• Pros: low in calories, contains a good amount of protein, gluten-free
• Cons: not appropriate for people who can’t tolerate dairy

Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars are the best choice when you’re craving something cold and chocolaty.

Made with just a handful of ingredients, including nonfat Greek yogurt, these chocolate fudge bars are lower in calories and higher in protein than many similar products on the market.

Plus, unlike a pint of ice cream, these frozen Greek yogurt bars are preportioned, making it easier to keep your chocolate indulgence within your nutrition goals for the day.

Despite being a lower-calorie treat, these bars are still satisfying thanks to their creamy, smooth texture and chocolate flavor.

One bar (65 g) provides 80 calories, 0 g of fat, 16 g of carbs, 1 g of fiber, 12 g of sugar (including 8 g of added sugars), and 6 g of protein (29).

Best chocolate beverage

Chocolate milk is a delicious treat that many people love. However, it can be difficult for those who can’t tolerate dairy to find a tasty non-dairy chocolate beverage.

Below is a good choice for those following dairy-free diets who are craving the taste of chocolate milk

Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats

• Price: $
• Calories per serving: 130
• Pros: non-dairy, low in added sugar, shelf-stable
• Cons: can be hard to find in stores

Elmhurst is a plant-based beverage company that’s known for producing products with minimal added ingredients.

The Chocolate Milked Oats are no exception, containing just six simple ingredients, including filtered water, whole grain oats, cane sugar, cocoa, natural flavors, and salt.

In addition to being free of gums or emulsifiers, this oat-based beverage is vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. It also comes in shelf-stable containers, making it an easy option to stock up on ahead of time.

Best of all, the Chocolate Milked Oats contain less added sugar than many other flavored alternative milks on the market. Yet, it still gets great reviews for its rich chocolate flavor, which can be enjoyed straight from the fridge or heated.

Eight oz. (240 milliliter) of this oat-based chocolate milk provides 130 calories, 2.5 g of fat, 0.5 g of saturated fat, 23 g of carbs, 4 g of fiber, 5 g of sugar (including 4 g of added sugars), and 4 g of protein (30).

The best chocolate snack for you depends on your dietary needs and preferences. For example, given that chocolate often contains dairy, vegans or those with a lactose intolerance or dairy allergy will want to look for products that are certified vegan-friendly or dairy-free.

Additionally, some products are richer and meant to be enjoyed in small quantities, while others are lower in calories or saturated fat, so a larger portion may fit within your daily nutrition targets.

Regardless of the type of product you’re hoping to buy, you’ll want to look for a product that’s low in added sugars and made with high quality ingredients.

Ideally, look for a product that’s free of unnecessary additives, or contains small amounts of them, as they may indicate that the product is more highly processed.

Diets high in highly processed foods have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and all-cause mortality (31, 32, 33, 34).

Finally, while some chocolate snacks may be healthier than others, it’s still important to be aware of serving sizes, as calories and sugar can add up quickly.

What should I eat when I crave chocolate?

When you’re craving chocolate, there’s not really much of anything that can substitute. So, instead of reaching for a chocolate candy bar that has lots of added sugar, you may want to opt for a healthier chocolate snack that is a good source of protein, fiber, and fat.

Examples of healthier chocolate snacks include a small handful of dark chocolate chips and roasted almonds or apple slices dipped in natural peanut butter mixed with cocoa powder and a drizzle of honey.

What’s the healthiest chocolate to eat?

The healthiest chocolate snack is one that doesn’t contain much added sugar. Most chocolate snacks contain some added sugar, though you can opt for zero added sugar chocolate products made with alternative sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia.

In general, it’s best to choose chocolate products that provide less than 10 g, or 2.5 teaspoons, of added sugar per serving, like the products on this list.

Can chocolate be a healthy snack?

There are many options for nutritious chocolate-based snacks. In order to make your chocolate snack more satisfying, you’ll want it to be high in protein and fiber.

For a heartier chocolate snack, try this date-sweetened overnight chocolate chia pudding recipe. For a lighter snack, dip a piece of your favorite dark chocolate into natural salted peanut butter, which will create a satisfying sweet and salty combo.

What tastes like chocolate but is healthy?

Cocoa powder can be used to add chocolate flavor to smoothies, baked goods, oatmeal, and more without any added sugar.

If you’re looking for easy ways to experiment with cocoa powder, try this no added sugar cocoa protein shake recipe or this chocolatey overnight oats recipe.

While chocolate is not always thought of as a healthy choice, several products on the market can both satisfy your chocolate cravings and serve as more nutritious and healthy options.

In general, look for snacks that are low in added sugars and contain nutritious ingredients like almonds or puffed quinoa, which provide additional nutrients like protein and fiber.

Most importantly, make sure to choose a snack option with a serving size, flavor, and texture that will fully satisfy your cravings.