The best melting chocolates for all your baking and candy-making needs are shared here today. This will help ensure the chocolate you melt comes out smooth, creamy, and decadent. They are the best confections for all your coating, dipping, drizzling, & dunking needs.
I like either milk or semi-sweet as the final layer on my 3-Ingredient Twix Cookie Cups. My easy peanut butter balls are sinful thanks to the semi-sweet chocolate coating. Christmas candies deserve top-quality chocolate!
Besides the differences between dark, semi-sweet, milk, and white chocolate, the amount of cocoa to other ingredients can vary by brand. So find out more & pick the best products for your holiday recipes.
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What Makes These the Best Chocolates
Since opinions can vary from person to person, I wanted to share how I picked these chocolates for all your melting and molding needs. I have been making chocolate candies for 40 years & I am sharing my experience here.
My favorites were determined by the following 5 categories:
- How smooth & creamy the chocolate is once melted.
- How easy it is to work with (dip, drizzle, etc)
- How smooth & pretty it hardens once cool.
- How easy it is to find/purchase & affordability.
- How it tastes! (I mean really this should be the #1 reason!)
Whether you are melting chocolate for molds, decorating cookies, or dipping fruits and cake pops, try one of these kinds and have delicious success.
Best Dark Chocolates for Melting
Dark chocolate contains a high cocoa content. It can be between 50% to almost 100% cocoa. It contains no milk and has less sugar compared to semi-sweet, milk, and white chocolate. This results in a taste having bitter notes and is less sweet than other chocolates. It is rich and decadent.
Callebaut Belgian Dark 54.5% - 5.5-pound bag
This dark chocolate is premium and is used by many chefs. A friend used this when in culinary school and it is still her favorite to use. Callebaut is one of Belgium's best chocolatiers and is made from whole roasted beans.
PROS:
- Tastes gourmet with delicious intense chocolate flavor
- Melts easily
- Hardens glossy, shiny, & beautifully
BEST USED FOR:
- Dipping & drizzling (cookies & fruit)
- Candy making
- Sauces & ganaches
GHIRARDELLI Dark Chocolate Flavored Melting Wafers, 10 OZ Bag
I live near San Francisco so I admit Ghirardelli is a local icon and a personal favorite. But the hype is warranted. Ghirardelli chocolate, whether dark, milk, or white tastes great at a reasonable price.
PROS:
- Brand offers chips or wafer
- High-quality with premium ingredients
- Easy to find in most stores
- Melts smoothly & easy to work with
BEST USED FOR:
- Dipping & coating (cake pops & strawberries)
- Drizzle
- Candy molds
Merckens Melting Dark Chocolate Candy Melts
These melts are not the most rich-tasting chocolate but they melt the easiest in this category. They stay smooth and melted for longer than the other two dark chocolate choices which gives you more time to work with it. If you are coating a lot of fruit, cookies, or cake pops this brand is great.
Ghirardelli Premium 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Bar
If you want unsweetened chocolate, 100% dark cacao, this baking bar by Ghirardelli is the best. This is amazing for fudgy brownies, dark chocolate ganache or cakes, and when making fondues.
Best Semi-Sweet Chocolates for Melting
Semi-sweet chocolate is dark chocolate that more sugar added to it. It typically consists of cocoa solids, sugar, and some vanilla. Like dark chocolate, it does not have any dairy added to it. It is less bitter and sweeter than dark chocolate. It is my preferred chocolate for candy-making and what I use on my homemade classic almond toffee.
Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
A household name for a reason. This is a top choice for any recipe that calls for melting semi-sweet chocolate.
PROS:
- Melts easily both in the microwave of a double boiler
- A best-selling product for decades with classic flavor
- Easy to find in grocery stores
- Budget-friendly price
BEST USED FOR:
- Coating & topping (fudge & toffee)
- Drizzling & dipping
- Sauces
I use the mini chocolate chips on my toffee. I just sprinkle them on and the heat from the toffee melts them so all I do is spread it. So EASY!
Guittard Baking Chips, Semi Sweet Chocolate, 12 oz
Guittard is a premium chocolate that makes some outstanding chocolate chips. Deep chocolate flavor for a great price that doesn't break the bank.
PROS:
- Made in a peanut-free & gluten-free factory
- Melts smooth & easily
- Hardens glossy & pretty looking
- Found in most grocery stores
BEST USED FOR:
- Ganaches and frostings
- Dipping & drizzling
- Candy making
GHIRARDELLI Premium Baking Bar Semi-Sweet Chocolate - 4 oz.
Whether you want a baking bar or chocolate chips, Ghirardelli makes a great one. For a semi-sweet touch to your recipe, this product is wonderful. Like the dark chocolate reviews, it melts well and tastes great.
Best Milk Chocolates for Melting
Milk chocolate contains cocoa solids, milk powder, and sugar. Compared to dark chocolate, milk chocolate is typically sweeter, lighter in color, and creamier. These kinds of milk chocolate all melt easily and beautifully.
Merckens Milk Chocolate 2 Pounds
It is developed specifically for candy making. It does not have a deep rich chocolate flavor which makes it great to not overpower other flavors.
PROS:
- Deep rich chocolate flavor
- Melts thin for easy coating
- Sets quickly and beautifully smooth & shiny
- Inexpensive bulk buying
BEST USED FOR:
- Coating & covering (nuts, dried fruits, etc)
- Drizzle & dipping (cake pops)
- Candy making & molds
Valrhona Premium French Baking Creamy Milk Chocolate Discs
These are amazing for melting and having a decadent dessert with rich milk chocolate. Lovely tasting notes of vanilla. When I want to make something special this is my go-to milk chocolate - OMG, sooo good!!
PROS:
- Decadent rich flavor for a milk chocolate
- Melts easily
- Tempers beautifully for a glossy shiny finish
BEST USED FOR:
- Special candies (truffles & molds)
- Drizzles & dipping (biscotti, strawberries)
- Ganaches & sauces
- Fancy desserts (lava cakes)
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chocolate Chips, 11.5 OZ Bag (3pack)
Again with the Ghirardelli you say. Well yes because no matter which type of chocolate you want, all are perfect for melting. These chips melt easily and hold up in baked goods too. They can be found on many grocery chains throughout the United States. So if you want a creamy mild chocolate for candy, dipping, or decorating, these chips are great.
Milk chocolate bars are what makes S'mores a summer favorite. I use melted chocolate chips in my recipe for S'Mores Bark.
Best White Chocolates for Melting
White chocolate actually does not have any chocolate or cocoa solids in it. It contains cocoa butter, milk powder, and sugar. It usually has a high sugar content. Many people think it tastes like a buttery vanilla or sweetened cream. It has a nice creamy mouthfeel and is one of my favorites for melting.
Callebaut 28% White Chocolate - 5.5 lbs
Besides their dark chocolate, the white chocolate melting chips made by Callebaut are equally as exceptional. This chocolate is as Belgian as it can get. It is mainly made with milk from cows grazing on Belgian pastures and locally grown sugar. For a rich, creamy, & indulgent white chocolate go with Callebaut every time.
Ghirardelli Classic White Chocolate Premium Baking Chips - 11 oz. (6 pk)
Once again Ghirardelli cannot go wrong. These baking chips have high-quality ingredients. The sugar and milk ratio is spot on for a smooth melt and a luscious mouth-feel. As with all white chocolates they can melt quickly so be careful and warm it slowly so it comes out smooth and creamy. Easy to dip and sets up beautifully.
Baker's, Premium White Chocolate Baking Bar
Baker's brand is easy to find and budget-friendly. The white chocolate baking bars are easy to measure and use. Just break off as many pieces as you need and melt. As with all the others, this white chocolate is great for molds, dipping cake pops, decorating cookies, and coating fruit.
Chocolate Substitutes
If chocolate is not your thing for taste, dietary, or allergy reasons, do not worry. Candy melts are the perfect alternative. These thin wafers are typically vanilla-flavored, melt easily, and are chocolate-free.
I use them in so many recipes including the cutest snowman and reindeer Christmas cookies. These are the brands I have used for years and find easy to work with.
Wilton Vanilla & Chocolate Candy Melts Set
These Wilton candy melts are not chocolate. Once is cocoa-flavored but contains no chocolate. However, they melt easily and are ideal for coating just about anything from strawberries to pretzels to Christmas cookies. I love these & my kids do too.
Ghirardelli Melting Wafers Bundle, Milk, Dark, & White Chocolate
This 3-pack has one of each melting wafer flavor from Ghiradelli. This like the Wilton's are chocolate-flavored but are vanilla melting wafers. There is cocoa in some of the flavors so check it out in case you have an allergy. These is my go-to for white dip desserts.
Special Diet Chocolates
For those on a sugar-free, paleo, keto, dairy-free, or vegan diet, chocolate is also an enjoyable part of the best desserts. If you want chocolate that melts for your dietary needs, here are some great options.
Dark Chocolate Baking Chips by Lily's | Made with Stevia
These rich dark chocolate chips are ideal for anyone on a keto, low-carb, or diabetic diet. They are sugar-free and naturally sweetened with Stevia. The ingredients are as follows: Unsweetened Chocolate, Erythritol, Inulin, Stevia Extract, Organic Soy Lecthin, Vanilla.
I have used these numerous times and they melt easily and are great for dipping my almond flour peanut butter cookies in. More stores are carrying these but they are super easy to find online too.
Enjoy Life Foods Baking Dark Chocolate Morsels
They are nut-free, dairy-free, made without soy, and have no GMOs. They are also certified vegan, gluten-free, and kosher. They only have two ingredients - unsweetened chocolate & cane sugar.
HU KITCHEN Organic Dark Chocolate Gems, 9 OZ
This brand of chocolate for melting and baking is paleo-approved. Made with coconut sugar for a sweet taste without a substitute or refined sugar. Use in your favorite paleo dessert recipes.
FAQ
Working with chocolate is not easy, especially when you want to melt and temper it. To ensure it is smooth, easy to use, and looks pretty, here are some of the most common tips and tricks answered.
Chocolate melts at a lower temperature than you may think. For instance, it is pretty messy and melts in your hand. It doesn't need a lot of heat or cooking.
Chocolate should melt at temperatures between 86-90° F. Different brands and types will vary. For example, it is often considered that white chocolate melts faster and at a lower temperature than other chocolates.
The high cocoa fat content in white chocolate makes it a persnickety one to melt. Make sure to melt it slowly over low heat and stir/watch it the whole time. When the last few pieces are not quite smooth, remove from the heat and stir to melt the last bit (otherwise it will overheat & seize up).
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Recipes Using Melted Chocolate
Here are my favorite recipes where yummy chocolate is melted and then dipped, coated, drizzled, or spread with other ingredients to make the tastiest sweet treats:
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