Chocolate Chips
Semi-sweet chocolate pieces for cookies, muffins, and trail mix - your baking essential.
What it is
Chocolate chips are small pieces of sweetened chocolate designed to retain their shape during baking. They're typically made from cocoa, sugar, and cocoa butter, molded into teardrop shapes that distribute evenly in batters and doughs.
Flavor and texture
Sweet and rich with a balanced chocolate flavor that's not too bitter. They have a firm texture that softens when heated but maintains its shape in most baked goods.
Best uses
Perfect for chocolate chip cookies, muffins, pancakes, and quick breads. Also great stirred into trail mix, sprinkled on yogurt or oatmeal, or melted down for chocolate drizzles and ganache.
Storage & freshness
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct light.
| As purchased | 6-12 monthsdepending on exposure time in bulk bin |
| Sealed (pantry) | 1-2 yearsif kept airtight in cool location |
| Refrigerated | 2-3 yearsprevents bloom formation |
| Frozen | 3-5 yearsuse directly from frozen for baking |
Durations are for best quality. Safe to consume longer if no spoilage signs present.
White bloom is cocoa butter separation and is harmless but affects appearance. Heat causes melting and clumping.
Cooking tip
Store in a cool, dry place and add them to cookie dough at the very end of mixing to prevent them from breaking apart and creating streaky batter.
Interesting note
Ruth Wakefield created the first chocolate chip cookie recipe in 1938 at the Toll House Inn by chopping up chocolate bars, which led Nestle to later develop chocolate chips specifically designed to hold their shape during baking.