The standard chocolate chip for a chocolate chip cookie is semisweet chocolate, but over the past few years chocolate chip cookie-lovers have been looking for ways to improve on their favorite by chopping up other types of chocolate and adding them to their cookies. You can grab just about any kind of chocolate bar you like, with any cacao percentage, chop it up and add it to a batch of cookies to customize them to your personal tastes. I think that there is still something to be said for having that classic chocolate chip shape in my chocolate chip cookies, though, so I am always willing to try a new chocolate chip flavor if I spot one. Lately, I’ve been seeing new Nestle Tollhouse Dark Chocolate Morsels on store shelves and picked up a bag to try.
This dark chocolate version of the classic Tollhouse chip boasts a 53% cacao content and that it is a natural source of antioxidants on the front of the package, and it is a little bit more affordable than some of the premium dark chocolate chip brands out there. The chocolate chips do have a distinct dark chocolate flavor, with a distinct cocoa flavor and some fruity notes to back it up. Unlike a bar of dark chocolate, where you want the chocolate to have a sharp snap to it, these have a very smooth texture and melt easily in your mouth. This makes for a great melt in a still-warm chocolate chip cookie and actually produces a much more satisfying result than many other dark chocolates would. I’ll keep darker chocolate bars for snacking, but these dark chocolate chips are definitely a great choice for getting some dark chocolate into your baking.
michelle
April 29, 2011I used these chips for the first time a few weeks ago to bake some triple chocolate muffins for my dad. I was happily surprised at how smooth they are. I am not a fan of dark chocolate (I prefer white as noted in my blog http://www.dreamingofwhitechocolate.com); However, my 19 month old daughter couldn’t get enough of them. She ate chip after chip out of the bag until I had to hide them from her.
Mrsblocko
April 29, 2011This is timely info for me. I got a store coupon for these dark chips at check out yesterday. I will pick up a bag next trip to the store. Thanks!
Molly @ Toffee Bits and Chocolate Chips
May 5, 2011hmm- good to know! Just saw these on the grocery store shelves yesterday!
Jean Nelson
October 24, 2011I have had Nestle’s semi-sweet morsels on my pantry shelf for several months and they have turned white. I have heard that it is still safe to use them as this is just the oil coming through. True? I have found it impossible to get on your Nestle’s Contact Us site and phone no.on pkg doesn’t answer so am trying this. Thank you.
Nicole
October 24, 2011Jean – Yes, they are still safe to use. The white you see is cocoa butter separating from the rest of the chocolate. This is very common when chocolate is stored in a warm place and then cooled off again. For instance, a chocolate dipped strawberry might take on the same white sheen if it is dipped and cooled. The white will disappear back into the chocolate during baking, so the chocolate chips will still look good in your cookies, etc.
Billie Berry
December 14, 2011I am baking a recipe that calls for semi-sweet morsels. I have a bag of dark chocolate morsels on hand. Can I substitute dark for semi-sweet and how will it likely change the flavor of my cookies? Thanks for your advice.
Nicole
January 24, 2012Billie – Different types of chocolate chips are interchangeable in chocolate chip cookie recipes. You will get a very slightly more assertive chocolate flavor from the dark chocolate chips.
colleen Hoburg
October 2, 2012How do I temper semi-sweet chocolate chips in the micro-wave with shortening or cocoa butter?
I use it to dip strawberries.
Kathy
July 22, 2014I’m sorry but I found the Nestle Dark Chocolate morsels tasteless. Yes, they have the smooth soft feel I love about their semi-sweet chips, but they lacked a deep chocolate flavor and I won’t be buying them again.