I Asked 4 Experts To Name the Best Chocolate Chips—They All Said the Same Thing

Chocolate chips are the unsung hero of my baking cupboard. A true utilitarian product, they are there for me when I need a quick, sweet, post-dinner treat. They’ve elevated countless family brunches, they’ve been my kids’ bribe through potty training, and they’ve helped me keep my cookie jar stocked.

As a self-proclaimed Costco girl, I’ve always been partial to Kirkland brand. Costco’s bag of chocolate chips was gigantic (I’m talking 4 1/2 pounds!), I enjoyed the flavor of the semi-sweet variety, and at about $10.99, the price was hard to beat.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and the Kirkland chips have been discontinued. Without naming names, the replacement at my local warehouse leaves a lot to be desired, so I’ve been in the market for a new ‘house’ chocolate chip ever since.

I decided to reach out to a few of my favorite bakers to get their advice on the best chocolate chips for everyday use.

The 4 Baking Experts I Asked:

• Megan Splawn: Food writer, editor, trained baker, recipe developer, and co-host of the podcast Didn’t I Just Feed You

• Jessie Sheehan: Author of four baking books, including the newg Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes

• Laura Kasavan: Creator of the baking blog Tutti Dolci

• Kristie Pryor: Recipe developer, photographer, and creator of Sweet & Simple Kitchen

The Qualities That Make the Best Chocolate Chips

Let’s be honest: It's hard to be too discerning when tucking into a warm CCC. For that reason, the flavor of a chocolate chip straight out of the bag is more important than how it tastes once you’re enjoying it in an ooey-gooey cookie.

An uncooked chocolate chip should have a rich chocolate flavor and a creamy finish. In a lower-quality chip, you don’t get much in terms of deep cocoa notes, and the finish tends to be waxier. Due to the additives used to make them, lesser-quality brands don’t always melt well either. When baked, a chocolate chip should melt into an irresistible puddle without running all over the place.

The Best Chocolate Chips, According to the Pros

For a chip with the top taste, texture, and performance, all four of the bakers I spoke with have a clear favorite: Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Premium Baking Chips. “They just have the best chocolate flavor and texture of any chip I've tried. They seem to melt more smoothly for brownies and cakes, while also keeping a soft, creamy texture in things like chocolate chip cookies,” says Splawn. Though she’s partial to the semi-sweet, she also reaches for the milk and dark chocolate chips for some baking projects.

Sheehan prizes Ghirardelli’s flavor fresh out of the bag and the Instagram-worthy puddles they form when baked. Like Splawn, she loves the semi-sweet best. “Not only are they wonderful in my chocolate chip cookies, but they are extremely snackable, as well. The chips have the purest of chocolate flavors and melt beautifully,” she says

Kasavan loves how well they highlight the other flavors in a cookie. “They're rich with a nice balanced cocoa flavor, not too bitter or too sweet. I especially love them in chocolate chip cookies because they melt into gooey, creamy puddles of chocolate that really enhance all of the other flavors in the cookie: butter, brown sugar, vanilla. I keep a few bags stashed in my pantry at all times!”

“I definitely find that the Ghirardelli chips are less waxy,” says Pryor. She also prizes their high cocoa content. “I prefer a darker chocolate because it cuts back on the sweetness and gives a richer depth of flavor that's more toasty and really chocolatey rather than just sweet.”

“While they are typically a little bit more expensive than other grocery store brands, the quality makes them so worth it,” Splawn concludes. It is true that, though they are not the most expensive I’ve seen, Ghirardelli chips do run slightly higher than the standard store brand. I’ve found the best price for these is at Walmart, and now whenever I see them on sale, I plan on stocking up!

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