It’s time to stop overthinking gifts this holiday season: Everybody. Loves. Chocolate. Research suggests that the average American munches on chocolate three times a week, and in 2023, the market was valued at more than $119 billion. But, while chocolate brings many of us joy, it does come with a downside.
Most of it is made with cow’s milk, which is a product of the dairy industry. The latter is associated with industrialized factory farming practices that harm animals and the environment. However, there is a way to enjoy chocolate without cow’s milk—nowadays, there are plenty of vegan options on the market that are every bit as creamy and delicious as dairy options. Plus, research shows that chocolate even comes with health benefits.
Is chocolate healthy?
According to research, dark chocolate has a number of health benefits. This tasty treat is rich in flavanols, explains Cleveland Clinic. Flavanols are antioxidants that help to reduce cell damage and help fight inflammation.
Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, which “may help lower some forms of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol,” writes Kris Gunnars, BSc, for Healthline. Despite its health benefits, it’s important to consume dark chocolate in moderation, as several varieties are often loaded with sugar.
Beyond its health benefits, dark chocolate—and chocolate in general—is a delicious treat and makes for a tasty gift come the holidays.
Artisanal chocolates to gift this holiday season
VegNews editors looked far and wide in search of the gotta-have-it, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate treats and novelties that will make your gift-giving extra sweet this year. So don’t stress (and remember, you deserve a chocolatey gift, too!), because here are our top picks.
Oso Cacao
1 Sweet Potato and Candied Amaranth Chocolate Bars by Oso Cacao
Roasted, candied, glazed, and even mashed—sweet potatoes make for a standout Thanksgiving side. But why should the star tuber be limited to the dinner table? Oso Cacao’s world-class chocolatiers combine organic sweet potato, vanilla bean, and crunchy, popped amaranth seeds for a brightly hued, sweet-and-nutty vegan white chocolate bar that you can enjoy long after the leftovers are gone.
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Happi Chocolate
2 Hot Chocolate Spoons by Happi Chocolate
Hot chocolate as a stocking stuffer? Pass on the messy powders and gift oat milk hot chocolate spoons instead. Choose between Plain Milk and Salted Caramel, dip the biodegradable wooden spoon into steaming plant milk, stir until dissolved, and presto—instant cozy! Pair with a bag of mini vegan marshmallows and a festive mug, and watch the smiles roll in.
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Melissa Coppel
3 Vegan Bonbons by Melissa Coppel
These stunning bonbons are indeed works of art … but they’re meant to be eaten. World-renowned Colombian-born chocolatier Melissa Coppel—who honed her craft at pastry school and Michelin-starred restaurants—makes bonbons fresh daily, focusing on complementing rich vanilla beans with globally inspired flavors. True works of art, these impossibly glossy, hand-painted treats are sure to turn anyone into a chocoholic.
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Mission Chocolate
4 Two Rivers Bar by Mission Chocolate
Stop your search—we’ve found the perfect gift for your globe-trotting loved one. Inspired by Brazil’s Rio Negro and Rio Solimões—two starkly hued rivers that meet and flow parallel to each other before finally merging into the Amazon River—this graphic, two-toned bar combines Catongo and Amazon cacao for a confection that’s citrusy, velvety, and evocative of brownies. Talk about the best of both worlds.
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Compartés
5 Vegan Dark Chocolate Assortment Gift Box by Compartés
Relieve your loved ones from the cold weather with California sunsets, swaying palm trees, and warm summer breezes … all in a box of chocolates. Handcrafted in Los Angeles, Compartés’ luxurious gift box is filled to the brim with plump, chocolate-dipped cherries that look like vibrant jewels.
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Sanders Candy
6
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels by Sanders Candy
Throughout its 148 years in operation, Sanders Candy has perfected all things chocolate—including its first foray into vegan delights. Gift a pouch to a friend, keep one for yourself, and know that you’ll both be luxuriating in the same vanilla- and coconut cream-imbued caramels—buttery and soft, not overly chewy or tacky—enveloped by 70-percent dark chocolate and finished off with crunchy, flaky sea salt.
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Bixby Chocolate
7 Matcha White Chocolate Bars by Bixby Chocolate
#TeamMatcha, stand up! Tap into the centuries-old Japanese tea tradition by way of this creamy, dairy-free white chocolate. Made from organic ceremonial grade matcha, this intricately embossed bar boasts myriad health benefits: one bite, and you’re sure to unleash health-boosting properties like glowing skin and improved heart health. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving.
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8 Organic Vegan Truffles by Cocoa Parlor
For premium, organic dairy-free chocolates in California, Laguna Niguel’s Cocoa Parlor is well worth a sample. Everything is organic, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, but still, of course, delicious. For a special occasion, order the brand’s organic vegan truffle box for a creamy, indulgent, nutty evening treat that comes filled with unique flavors like Almond Quinoa Crunch, Chocolate Mousse, and Strawberry Milkshake.
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Dallman Fine Chocolates
9 Gourmet Chocolate Box by Dallmann Fine Chocolates
For beautifully presented, quality vegan chocolate, perfectly suited for special occasions, try California’s Dallmann Fine Chocolates. The brand is known for its build-your-own vegan gift boxes, which you can fill with unique flavors like chickpea, mango, coconut and sesame; peanut butter; and the bright blue almond butter, cocoa nibs, and maple syrup.*
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Pascha
10 Vegan White Chocolate by Pascha
According to Pascha, the key to its brand is doing “the opposite of almost everything the mainstream candy industry does.” So that means no slave labor, no allergens, no dairy, and the use of only certified organic cocoa beans. And the result is still delicious-tasting chocolate. If you like things really, really bitter, try its 100% Cacao option. But if you’re more of a creamy chocolate person, the Vegan White Bar is hard to beat.
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LOVO
11 Vegan Milk Chocolate Bars by Lovo
From the founders of Pascha comes another delicious vegan chocolate brand, Lovo. Launched in early 2023, the company specializes in plant-based creamy vegan milk chocolate, from oat to hazelnut, and is the result of six years worth of experimentation to find the perfect recipe. It was certainly worth the wait: it’s creamy, indulgent, delicious, and addictive. You won’t miss the dairy, that’s for sure.
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12 Dark Chocolate Mint Crème Bites by Chocolove
If you were a fan of Peppermint Patties, you’ll love these bites from Colorado manufacturer Chocolove. The insides are filled with a thick, creamy fondant, while the outside is a hard casing of deliciously rich chocolate. Each bite is filled with decadent minty goodness. What’s not to love?
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13 Dark Chocolate Gems by Hu Kitchen
These chocolate gems were designed by New York-based brand Hu Kitchen for baking, but they’re so addictive, you’ll won’t be able to stop snacking on them either. They’re rich, velvety, indulgent, and free of palm oil, refined sugar, and natural flavorings.
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This post was originally published on VegNews.com.