When I began working on my Keto Chocolate Chip cookie recipe, my biggest challenge was the chocolate chips! As I write this post, there aren't very many keto chocolate chip options available.
And...the products that are available carry a hefty price tag. So, for those of us who are more frugal minded... I decided to figure out how to make my own keto chocolate chips.
Before we dive into that...here's a few keto chocolate chip options if you wish to purchase them:
The Perfect Base
My first experiment was using coconut oil as the base. These tasted delicious but did not hold up to baking. I'll elaborate on this later and show you some pictures.
I really didn't want to use a fiber base... so after quite a lot of research, I decided to try cacao butter. I ordered cacao butter off Amazon and waited impatiently for it to arrive so I could experiment. Sometimes two days is a long time to wait!
When the cacao butter was delivered, I tore into the package and inhaled the fresh scent of chocolate. I had a good feeling about using this ingredient! An ingredient that is a solid, healthy fat.
After some experimenting, I got the balance right and ended up with a delicious recipe for keto chocolate chips that hold up during baking. I skipped the molding process and just cut these up into good sized chunks.
Making Keto Chocolate Chips
To make Keto Chocolate Chunks, you can either use a double boiler or a mini-crockpot to melt the cacao butter.
Both methods work well.
If you'd like to use the microwave, heat the cacao butter on a low heat setting. Stir every 20 to 30 seconds and use the minimum amount of heat takes to melt the cocoa butter. Then, proceed with the rest of the recipe instructions.
Substitutions For Keto Chocolate Chips
Here, I'll outline a few substitutions you can make with this recipe. If you have further questions, please comment below.
Cacao Butter
I use Cacao butter in this recipe because other bases did not hold up when baked into a cookie, muffin or bar. Cacao butter was the clear winner.
If you are making these as a sweet chocolate fix and are not going to use them to bake with, you can substitute a high quality coconut oil for the Cacao Butter and get amazing results.
However, if you are going to bake with these, using coconut oil will result in a chip that spreads out like this.
Cacao Powder vs Cocoa Powder
Cacao Powder is recommended for making your own keto chocolate chips because it's a superfood and it does not have a bitter aftertaste like regular cocoa powder tends to impart.
If you decide to use cocoa powder instead, note that you will want to use dutch processed cocoa powder. This is cocoa powder that has been alkalized to remove the bitter taste.
If you ended up with a bitter result, take a look at the type of cocoa powder you used. Consider switching it over to cacao powder instead.
Ingredients for Keto Chocolate Chips
Here's a ingredients you'll need to make your own keto chocolate chips:
- Cacao Butter
- Cacao Powder
- Sweetleaf Liquid Stevia Drops
- Madagascar Pure Bourbon Vanilla by Nielsen-Massey
Homemade Keto Chocolate Chips
Making your own low carb chocolate chips (chunks) is easy and incredibly rewarding. If you want the chocolate chip shape, simply find some molds. I find that to be a lot of work and stick with this method 🙂
Note that nutrition information is for a full batch.
- 4 Ounces Cacao Butter
- 2 Ounces Heavy Whipping Cream
- ⅔ Cup Cacao Powder
- 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- ½ Tsp Salt
- 3-5 Drops Liquid Stevia
- Prepare a cookie sheet by lining with parchment paper.
Melt the cacao butter in a double boiler or a mini crockpot. Remove from heat.
- Add remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. (Using a blender with whisk attachment or immersion blender works great for super smooth results but hand whisking works well too)
- Pour chocolate mixture onto parchment paper and smooth out with spatula, making it fairly thin.
- Place in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or until firm.
- Remove from refrigerator and cut into chunks.
Other Keto Chocolate Recipes
Judy says
Amazon says they don't know if that cacao butter will be back in stock.
This is 3+ months later, and no answer if I can use Wild Cocoa butter.
I wish you were answering questions. I'm hesitant to try your other recipes because of this. You don't get back if there's a question or problem.
Judy M says
How can I make these dairy free? Without the cream? Coconut cream?
Thank you very much. All I need to get is the cacao powder
Judy M says
I bought wild cocoa butter to make chocolate chips, and then I became extremely sensitive to erythritol. So I have wild cocoa butter on hand. Can I substitute that for the cacao butter?
Jerry says
Hey very interesting blog!
Natalie says
I made them (with Cacao butter and followed the recipe exactly) and do not keep their shape. It basically makes a ganache you have to keep refridgerated or frozen. I'm apprehensive to even bake with them and probably should have just saved my money and used coconut oil instead of the very pricey cacao butter. Very dissapointed. It still tastes good but not sure what to do with it now. Can I re-melt this so I can use it as a frosting at least? Thanks
Tara Wright, CHC, MBA says
Natalie,
Did you use raw cacao butter that is in very hard chunks? I'm mystified why they wouldn't have set up. Did you make any other ingredient substitutions?
The other question I have is -- what temperature is your kitchen? If you live in a very hot climate this may be an issue. But in a 70 degree or lower kitchen you shouldn't have any issues.
The problem with only using coconut oil is that it's got a melting temperature of 78 degrees F. When you bake with it, it will spread (a lot).
Vivian says
Any tips on the best way to chop them into chips
Tara Wright, CHC, MBA says
I used a sharp knife and chopped them to the size I wanted. They cut very easily.
Martine says
For the storage, at room temperature or in the refrigerator?
Thank you!
Tara Wright, CHC, MBA says
Either one should work unless you keep your house very warm 🙂
Martine says
For the storage, at room temperature or in the refrigerator?
Thank you for the great recipe! ??