10 Top Dairy-free Chocolate Alternatives in Australia

A dairy-free diet has become more popular in recent years and is no longer only followed by those with dairy intolerances and allergies. As the diet becomes more popularised, dairy-free alternatives have begun popping up in major supermarkets across the country, including dairy-free milk options, dairy-free ready meals, and dairy-free chocolate.

If you are a chocolate lover who prefers not to eat dairy, you'll be pleased to know that there are now hundreds of brands that you can shop from that offer dairy-free chocolate alternatives that are delicious while being devoid of dairy.

We've done some research and rounded up a list of the best dairy-free chocolate alternatives available in the country. To find out more, check out the rest of this blog post.

What is dairy-free chocolate?

Before we take a look at the best dairy-free chocolate options in the country though, let's take a look at what dairy-free chocolate actually is.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate, pure chocolate that is, is actually naturally dairy-free. Dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate is generally made with cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, meaning its completely dairy-free.

While some people may find the taste of dark chocolate a little bitter, it isn't the only option for dairy-free eaters. In fact, there are lots of other kinds of dairy-free chocolate.

Some dairy-free chocolate alternatives use rice milk, oat milk, and other dairy-free milk alternatives, to add creaminess and to sweeten the flavour of dark chocolate. In addition, dairy-free chocolate can come flavoured with fillings and toppings to ensure that the dark chocolate flavour is balanced well.

Main ingredients: cocoa butter, sugar, fats

There are lots of different ingredients used to make dairy-free chocolate alternatives, but some remain mostly the same throughout.

The ingredients you will find in most dairy-free chocolate alternatives are:

• Cocoa solids, made from cocoa beans and totally dairy-free
• Sugar
• Cocoa butter, though not always depending on the kind of chocolate. Though it has butter in the name, cocoa butter is actually dairy-free
• A stabiliser, like soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin or vanilla. Soy-free chocolate alternatives will use soy-free stabilisers.

Variation occurs depending on the variety and brand, for example, dairy-free white chocolate may include rice flour too.

The best dairy-free chocolate alternatives available in Australia

Now we know what dairy-free chocolate is, let's take a look at some of the best dairy-free chocolate alternatives there are available across Australia.

We've gathered our favourites below and rounded up a few key pieces of information about them. Check them out now.

Alter Eco Organic Deep Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt

Brand: Alter Eco

Price: $6.00

Size: 80g

Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: This Swiss-crafted dairy-free chocolate is made with organic and Fair Trade ingredients, including fleur de sel de Guérande, the world's most coveted salt. Other ingredients include cacao beans, raw cane sugar, and organic cocoa butter. This simple dairy-free chocolate bar is smooth and velvety and the perfect treat for any dairy-free chocolate lover.

Pros: Made with organic, Fair Trade ingredients. Lightly salted for a powerful taste. Few ingredients.

Cons: Dark chocolate may be too bitter for some tastes.

BSKT Vegan Chocolate Slab in Salted Caramel

Brand: BSKT

Price: $68.40

Size: 12 x 80g

Suitable for: Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: This set of twelve chocolate slabs is perfect to stock up on a sweet and melt in the mouth chocolate treat. Made with plant-based ingredients, including cocoa mass, organic coconut sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, salt, natural vanilla flavour, and natural flavours, these bars are great for snacking!

Pros: Large pack to stock up on. Sweet, salted caramel flavour. Totally plant-based.

Cons: Large pack might be too tempting!!

Loving Earth Almond Crunch

Brand: Loving Earth

Price: $87.00

Size: 11 x 80g

Suitable for: Vegan-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: Filled to the brim with crunchy, roasted almonds, this chocolate uses smooth cashew mylk for added creaminess. Certified organic, the ingredients list is short on this delicious treat, including only cacao, roasted cashews, evaporated coconut nectar, roasted almonds, and hazelnut.

Pros: Tasty and creamy. Big pack to stock up on this delicious treat. Packed with energising ingredients.

Cons: Unsuitable for nut allergy sufferers or those on a nut-free diet. A little bit pricier than other bulk options.

Vego Whole Hazelnut Organic Chocolate Bar

Brand: Vego

Price: $149.99

Size: 30 x 65g

Suitable for: Vegan-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: These little bars are the perfect treat to stock up on if you're following a dairy-free diet. Filled with crunchy roasted hazelnuts, these bars are delicious and flavourful. Ingredients include cane sugar, whole hazelnuts, cocoa mass, hazelnut paste, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla. One of the most well-known dairy-free chocolate products, there is a reason people love these bars so much, grab some now and find out why too.

Pros: Crunchy, delicious and the perfect size for a snack. Bulk pack.

Cons: Not suitable for those on a nut-free diet.

Bennetto Organic Exceptionally Dark 82% Cocoa

Brand: Bennetto

Price: $7.50

Size: 100g

Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: This one is for true dark chocolate lovers. Made with 82% dark chocolate, this bar is rich and flavourful. Ingredients include Madagascan cocoa beans, raw cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, Madagascan vanilla.

Pros: Deeply flavourful. Certified organic ingredients. Larger size than other options.

Cons: Not a great choice for those who don't like dark chocolate.

Well Naturally No Added Sugar Raspberry Crush Block Dark Chocolate

Brand: Well Naturally

Price: $5.70

Size: 90g

Suitable for: Dairy-free, gluten-free, sulphate-free, vegan and vegetarian-friendly

Description: Made with all-natural ingredients, this dairy-free chocolate is the perfect choice for those looking for a slightly healthier alternative to chocolate. Ingredients include cocoa solids, dietary fibre, erythritol, raspberry pieces, soy lecithin, natural flavour, stevia. This bar is full of antioxidants and is free from anything artificial.

Pros: Completely natural ingredient list. Fruity flavour for those with a sweet tooth. Larger size and fair price.

Cons: Not as creamy as other dairy-free chocolates.

Vego White Chocolate Almond Bliss Bar

Brand: Vego

Price: $89.10

Size: 18 x 50g

Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, dairy-free

Description: If you liked Vego's hazelnut bar, you're going to love this almond bar. Made with dairy-free white chocolate, these little bars are simply bliss, just as the name suggests. Ingredients include sugar, cocoa butter, almonds, inulin, sea salt, and ground vanilla. Try these out today and find out why everyone is raving.

Pros: Dairy-free white chocolate (who knew!!). Bulk pack for stocking up.

Cons: Not suitable for those with an allergy to nuts.

Well Naturally No Added Sugar Coconut Rough Block Dark Chocolate

Brand: Well Naturally

Price: $5.70

Size: 90g

Suitable for: Dairy-free, gluten-free, sulphate-free, vegans, and vegetarians

Description: Sweetened naturally with stevia, this bar is another example of Well Naturally's mastery of all-natural tasty chocolate treats. For the lovers of deep and rich dark chocolate and cool coconut, this chocolate treat is an all-rounder. Ingredients include cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soluble dietary fibre, erythritol, coconut, soy lecithin, natural flavour, and natural sweetener.

Pros: All-natural. A healthy take on dairy-free chocolate. Big bar with good price.

Cons: Dark chocolate isn't for everyone!

Bennetto Organic Dark Chocolate Orange with Chilli

Brand: Bennetto

Price: $7.50

Size: 100g

Suitable for: Vegan, dairy-free

Description: This quirky combination is not for the faint-hearted but if you like your citrus with a bit of heat and you want something new in your chocolate, try this fantastic product from Bennetto. Made with organic ingredients, this bar is a treat for the tastebuds. Ingredients for this bar include cocoa beans, raw cane sugar, candied orange peel, cocoa butter, orange oil, natural chilli flavour, and Madagascan vanilla beans.

Pros: A unique twist on a classic chocolate flavour, perfect for trying something new. 100g bar is perfect for sharing.

Cons: Not suitable for those who are gluten-free. Might be a little too hot for some!

Alter Eco Chocolate Assorted Organic Medley Truffles

Brand: Alter Eco

Price: $60.00

Size: 60 x 12g

Suitable for: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian

Description: With four fantastic flavours, including sea salt, salted caramel, classic dark, and silk velvet, this box is a great treat if you just can't pick a flavour for your dairy-free chocolate! Each chocolate comes individually wrapped making them absolutely perfect for sharing. Check them out now, they make the perfect gift for all your chocolate-loving friends.

Pros: The perfect assortment of sweet treats for all chocolate lovers. Dairy-free and vegan. Great if you can't make a decision!

Cons: Not suitable for those who are gluten or nut-free.

Other alternatives: gluten-free, nut-free

While many of the products we have offered here are gluten-free and nut-free, some are not. It is common in vegan and dairy-free chocolates to find nut pastes and so below we've added a few great options for dairy-free chocolates that are both nut-free and gluten-free.

Check them out below.

Well Naturally No Added Sugar Rich Dark Block Dark Chocolate

Brand: Well Naturally

Price: $5.70

Size: 90g

Suitable for: Dairy-free, gluten-free, sulphate-free, nut-free, vegan, and vegetarian

Description: Sweetened naturally with stevia and with an entirely natural ingredient list, this is a great option if you're trying to stay healthy. Rich and flavourful, we love this dark chocolate bar. Ingredients for this dairy-free bar include cocoa solid, soluble dietary fibre, erythritol, soy lecithin, natural flavour, stevia.

Pros: Perfect for those with gluten, dairy, or nut allergies. Deep and rich flavour.

Cons: Dark chocolate isn't to everyone's taste.

Alter Eco Organic Dark Crisp Mint Chocolate

Brand: Alter Eco

Price: $6.00

Size: 75g

Suitable for: Gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, vegetarians

Description: Crispy mint and dark chocolate make for a tantalising treat in this dairy-free chocolate bar. With the coolness of the mint balancing the bitterness of the dark chocolate, this bar is a great treat for your favourite dairy-free chocolate lover. Ingredients in this product include cacao beans, cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, peppermint crunch, vanilla beans.

Pros: Organic ingredients. Great flavour.

Cons: Dark chocolate isn't always favoured.

Dr Superfoods Goji Berries with Dark Chocolate

Brand: Dr Superfoods

Price: $11.00

Size: 125g

Suitable for: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly, nut-free

Description: Want a healthy snack with the added treat of dairy-free chocolate? Look no further than these dark chocolate-coated goji berries. Goji berries are a fantastic source of antioxidants, making this a healthy snack too! Ingredients include dark chocolate and whole goji berries.

Pros: Healthy snack option! Loaded with antioxidants. Big bag for sharing.

Cons: Fruit and chocolate may not be everyone's cup of tea!

Is dairy-free chocolate healthy?

When people hear 'vegan' and 'dairy-free,' they sometimes assume that this means the product is going to be healthier. For dairy-free and vegan chocolate, this may be slightly true. Slightly, because while dark chocolate is more nutritious than milk chocolate, dairy-free chocolates sometimes overuse ingredients like coconut oil which can be incredibly fattening.

Vegan and dairy-free chocolate are generally healthy because of the high content of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is high in lots of essential vitamins and minerals, like iron, copper, magnesium and manganese, and contains dietary fibre too. In addition, dark chocolate is very high in antioxidants.

Antioxidants work to protect the cells in the body from oxidative stress which has been linked to lots of chronic illnesses, including cancer. Antioxidants also protect the body from free radicals.

While chocolate may not be the healthiest option you could choose when reaching for a snack, there is something to be said for the relative health of dairy-free chocolate.

Conclusion

Dairy-free chocolate is increasing in its presence on supermarket shelves. With many people around the world choosing more plant-based diets, dairy-free chocolate is seeing its heyday.

Choosing a dairy-free chocolate option has never been more difficult with many flavours and even more choices for those with allergies. We've rounded up our favourites here, but make sure to check out our entire range of dairy-free chocolate products too!

Frequently Asked Questions

What chocolate has no dairy in it?

Dark chocolate is the go-to option for most people who cannot eat dairy. Though not a guarantee, most dark chocolate does not have dairy in it. Chocolate is naturally dairy-free, meaning in its purest form it is unlikely to have dairy in. Alternatively, there are many dairy-free options for chocolate-lovers that use alternative milk, like soy milk, oat milk, and rice milk, to add creaminess.

Can you have chocolate if you're dairy-free?

Yes. There are lots and lots of options for chocolate that does not contain dairy. Dark chocolate does not contain any dairy and there are options where alternative milk is used to make dairy-free milk chocolate. With chocolate that doesn't contain dairy becoming more mainstream, those who suffer from dairy allergies have more choice than ever when it comes to chocolate.

What chocolate is best for lactose intolerance?

If you are lactose-intolerant, you need to avoid products that contain dairy. This means looking out for chocolate products that are free from dairy, or lactose-free. Dark chocolate generally doesn't contain dairy and there are many other options too. Look out for chocolate that uses alternative milk to get that creamy taste and flavoured dark chocolate for a sweet treat.

What do vegans use instead of chocolate?

There are many options for vegans when it comes to chocolate. With a societal shift towards more plant-based eating, brands have been offering up lots of different and new products that are suitable for vegans, including chocolate products. Vegan chocolate does not contain dairy and can either be pure dark chocolate or could use alternative milk to mimic the creaminess of milk chocolate.