Aldi Chocolate Chips (Baker’s Corner) Review
Author’s note: Not a paid review! I have no affiliation with Aldi or Ghirardelli. This is my own sassy opinion.
They will never escape purgatory.
The first time I bought these Aldi Dark Chocolate Morsels, they were $1.49 per bag. This was an absolute steal, so I worried that the quality might be total garbage.
To my surprise, these ended up being superior-quality dark chocolate chips. I was immensely impressed. I even bought a bag for my parents. Because this goodness had to be shared.
(Keep reading for a Cranberry Pecan Brownie Recipe. You’re welcome.)
Unfortunately, when I returned to the store to buy more, the price had already risen to nearly $3 per bag. While this is still a moderate savings over name-brand chocolate chips, it isn’t the eye-popping bargain that it was originally. This is an almost 100% increase in price over the original price. Although I understand cocoa prices have risen worldwide, it was still a bit shocking.
So, I was kinda bummed. But, I bought another bag anyway. Because, what better way to cheer myself up than CHOCOLATE.
I would describe these chocolate chips as deeply, sinfully dark. They will never escape purgatory. They’re not bitter, but they do descend as far as possible to the “semi-sweet” underworld. I love very dark chocolate, so I was thrilled.
What I like about Aldi’s dark chocolate chips is that the chocolate is super crisp and flavorful. Some brands of chocolate chips taste unpleasantly waxy, or soft, or have too much added milkfat, or other fillers.
Not so here! The chocolate is dense and rich with a satisfying tangy undertone. Even at room temperature in Florida, the chocolate maintains a quality snap and crispness.
There is also real vanilla extract, instead of that unholy abomination “vanillin.”
The dark chocolate DOES have significant “bloom” on the surface. But, fortunately, this is cosmetic, and doesn’t impact the taste. It’s probably from the temperature fluctuations here in spicy-hot Florida.
These are BIG chips — bigger than I actually prefer for baking. They’re almost twice as large as regular chocolate chips. This is the perfect size for snacking, however.
I did eat a lot of these right out of the bag, as a guilty afternoon pick-me-up at work. The chocolate was delicious enough to be a reasonable stand-in for a good-quality chocolate bar.
What did I make with my Aldi Chocolate Chips?
Cranberry Pecan Brownies
I used Aldi’s Dark Chocolate Morsels to make a batch of Cranberry Pecan Brownies, using my mom’s simple, no-frills homemade brownie recipe, but adding in sweetened dried cranberries and chopped pecans.
The chips melt beautifully into the batter to create rich, gooey craters of unrepentant chocolatey goodness. The tangy, whole cranberries provide a slap of excitement, while the pecans contribute a structured crunch.
Here’s the recipe:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup Aldi Dark Chocolate Morsels
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries (I used whole Craisins)
Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter. Add cocoa, and stir well. Add sugar and eggs and beat thoroughly. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to first mixture, and stir in. Add vanilla, then nuts and craisins. Spread in a well-greased 8-inch square baking pan (mine was 7.5 x 9.5 inches). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until top has a dull crust.
(I used my Costco Kirkland Pecan Halves to make this recipe. You can read my snarky review here.)
Chocolate Chip Cookies — Recipe from the Bag
I highly recommend NOT using the cookie recipe on the back of the bag. I did, and I was sorry. It’s not a good recipe. At least, for me it wasn’t! My cookies turned out weird, with a strange texture and uneven browning. They were not yummy. Maybe I did it wrong, but I’ve been baking chocolate chip cookies since I was a wee child, and I’ve never had such a bad batch.
I almost wondered if ChatGPT created this recipe, and nobody tested it! Ha. The batter was wonky, and the cookies spread out far, far too much. The bottoms burned while the tops stayed undercooked. But mostly they tasted bad.
This was a semi-disaster. These are some of the most unpleasant cookies I’ve ever eaten. I ended up throwing the majority away. And I’m the “anything-can-be-saved” kind of person who scrapes burnt toast and eats it anyway. Just sayin’.
Sorry, but I won’t be using any more recipes from the backs of Aldi products! Ingredients are too expensive to be wasted this way. Especially chocolate. Ahem.
If you are looking for a better recipe, I recommend the Ghirardeli Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe — it’s been my go-to for excellent cookies for many years. Tons of compliments, and reliable outcome. No, they didn’t pay me to say that. They don’t even know who I am.
Ingredients in Aldi Chocolate Chips
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Chocolate Liquor
- Sugar
- Cocoa Butter
- Butterfat (Milk)
- Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier)
- Vanilla Extract
These are, overall, excellent ingredients. I’m especially pleased to see the real vanilla extract, instead of artificial flavor or “vanillin.” Take my money.
The chocolate and cocoa butter is Rainforest Alliance Certified.
These chocolate chips are also Gluten Free.
Nutrition Facts in Dark Chocolate Morsels from Aldi
A serving is only 1 tablespoon, and contains 70 calories. There are 4 grams of fat and less than 1 gram of protein per serving. You also get 1 gram of fiber and only 6 grams of added sugar. There’s a little sniffle of iron, with 2% of your daily value.
Price and Servings in Aldi Chocolate Chips
A 10 ounce bag cost $2.89 at my last visit. Per ounce, these morsels cost about 29 cents.
Since there are 20 servings per bag, each serving is 14.5 cents. I doubt you will get 20 servings, however. Probably less than half that. I mean. Who only eats one tablespoon of chocolate chips at a time? If so, you are a saint! This is how I ate my brownie, so I know I’m not:
Other Varieties
Aldi sells several other kinds of baking morsels from the same “Bake Shop” brand.
Here are some of the other varieties:
- Mini Morsels
- Milk Chocolate Morsels
- Semi-Sweet Morsels
- Butterscotch Morsels
- White Baking Morsels
If you’re trying to locate these in the store, they are usually in the aisle with the dry baking goods, next to the canned milk.
Dramatic Conclusion
I loved these chocolate chips — the dark chocolate was rich and high quality. The ingredients are flawless. These are tasty enough to eat for snacks, in lieu of a good chocolate bar. I was disappointed to see them rise so quickly in price. I would still buy these again. And again. And again.
The End.
More Reviews of Chocolate Treats You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other reviews of chocolate sweets I’ve written:
