Healthy Gluten-Free Chocolate Bars I Trust

I have been waiting to do a post on all the healthy, gluten-free + dairy-free chocolate bars I love and trust for the longest time!  It's so important to me that you all enjoy and eat safely every day and on the holidays.  

Let's get one thing straight now.  This isn't your typical run-of-the-mill gluten-free candy list.  Snooze fest, there are hundreds of those online, being sent out in newsletters across the world. This is more of a specific list of the chocolates I'll call Luxury.  I have included a few classics too, but these chocolates either use organic ingredients, better-for-you ingredients, low glycemic sugars, or medicinal superfoods.  These chocolates are the brands I trust that are celiac-safe.

First, before we get into it, I NEED to point out that not all chocolate is gluten-free.  I cannot stress this point enough!  Like everything else, you MUST read your labels.

Secondly, not all gluten-free chocolate is created equal.  And what I mean by this is that gluten-free chocolate can be tested at different ranges in different countries.  The U.S. standard is 20ppm, but many brands test lower at 10 and 5ppm.  In my opinion, the lower the better, because over time it can add up.  Anything over 20ppm is out of range and not suitable for anyone following a gluten-free diet that has Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity, or other related disorders/diseases.

Also note that chocolate that is gluten-free here in the U.S. may not be gluten-free in Canada, and Gluten-Free Chocolate in the U.K. may not be gluten-free here in the U.S.  Each country has different standards, different methods of testing, and different sanitation methods.  

What I like to do besides read labels is actually call the manufacturer (or contact them via social media and/or email).  As annoying as it is to have to worry about everything that touches your lips, including someone else's gluten lips (seriously, that's a thing!) I like to call and speak to someone directly and get my questions answered so I can feel safe about what goes into my body.

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU CALL THE BRAND

1. Is the chocolate Certified Gluten-Free?
2. Tested at what PPM? 20ppm, 10ppm, 5ppm?
3. Is the Chocolate manufactured on the same product lines as Gluten?
4. If so, are the lines cleaned in between?  Are Good Manufacturing Practices used? Are there inspections?
5. Are there gluten ingredients used at all in the manufacturing plant?
6. Is it a dedicated gluten-free facility?
7. If not, are the gluten-free chocolate products made in a separate room? separate line? Different floor?
8. In some cases, there will be gluten-free brands that are not certified gluten-free, but are produced or made and packaged in a facility that doesn't have any gluten on the premises. In this case, you will want to ask about their GMP - Good Manufacturing Practices and use your judgment on whether you feel this product is ok for you.
9. If you are traveling out of the country, make sure you research those brands as well, even if they are the same brands as here in the States.

Below is a list of my favorite gluten-free chocolate bars, chocolate candy, and chocolate brands I swear by.  

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GLUTEN-FREE TRUSTED CHOCOLATE BRANDS

Rayluca Chocolatier - Chocolate candies, chocolate bark, hot chocolate

• 100% gluten-free and vegan
• Made in a facility where gluten is not present
• Have nut-free options that are made on a different day 
• Lines are deeply cleaned to avoid cross-contamination with nuts
• A luxury chocolatier
• Sweetened with coconut sugar and maple syrup only (refined sugar-free)
• 100% dairy-free, soy-free
• 15% off with code Julie15

Hu Kitchen - Paleo and gluten-free chocolate

• Certified gluten-free
• Certified paleo
• Sweetened with coconut sugar
• Minimal ingredients

Free to Be Foods - Gluten-free and top 8 allergy-friendly, safe for school chocolate

• Top 9 free & certified gluten-free
• Nut-free
• Corn-free
• Allergy-friendly
• Vegan

See's Candy Shop - Candies, Chocolates, and Lolly Pops

• 100 percent Celiac safe and gluten-free facility
• No high fructose corn syrup
• Candies that use eggs are made with eggs that use humane practices on farms, pass a humane audit, and are recognized as United Egg Producers Certified or Animal Care Certified Suppliers
• Has dairy-free and nut-free options - See Allergen list HERE.
• Many products are kosher certified, including: Lolly Pop, Little Pops, and Chanukah candies
• There are also many sugar-free options

Lily's Chocolate 

• Sweetened with Stevia, Erythritol, and vanilla.
• The 55 percent chocolate bars, chips, and pops are made with Milk fat that is rBST-free.
• The 70 percent bars, chips, and pops are Vegan, and that means dairy-free.
• Certified Fair Trade, Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, and Hexane-Free.
• This product is manufactured on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and tree nuts.
• This chocolate does contain Organic Non-GMO Soy Lecithin.  This brand is Vegetarian with Vegan options.

UNREAL Chocolates - Old classics with way less sugar

• Nothing artificial
• Certified gluten-free
• No soy or sugar alcohols
• Fair trade ingredients
• Many candies are dairy-free!

Organic Nirvana-72 percent dark chocolate bar only

• Sweetened with Organic Cane Sugar
• Certified Organic, Gluten-Free, but not Certified, Dairy-Free, Fair Trade Certified Cocoa
• Belgium Chocolate - Written up in Bon Appétit Magazine
• This bar is tricky - although it is my favorite.  There are no gluten ingredients, and I spoke with them on the phone at length about their Good Manufacturing Processes.  There is no gluten whatsoever in the facility that makes these bars; however, the only bar I can eat without any issues is the 72% solid dark chocolate. 
• Uses Organic Soy Lecithin
• Does not use Vanilla

**The creamiest, decadent dark chocolate you will ever, ever eat - It's addicting!

Madecasse Chocolate is now Beyond Good Chocolate

• Sweetened with sugar
• Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free but NOT Certified Gluten-Free
• Gluten-Free facility
• I spoke with them directly, and they said that they are not advertised as a gluten-free company, but the manufacturing facility is 100 percent gluten-free.  
• Made with airloom Chocolate, Fair Trade
• Has a fruity flavor, not your average chocolate bar
• Uses Soy Lecithin

Alter Eco chocolate bars and truffles

• Sweetened with raw cane sugar
• Certified USDA Organic, Certified Fair Trade, Certified FSC, Certified Carbon Neutral Product, Gluten-Free Certified at 10ppm, and Non-GMO
• Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, no Emulsifiers, no artificial flavorings, and real ingredients.  Some products use dairy.  Some products are Vegan.
• Bars that contain dairy are: Dark Coconut Toffee, Dark Velvet, Mini Dark Velvet, Dark Brown Butter, Dark Burnt Caramel, and all 4 truffle flavors.
• The equipment used to make these chocolates is also shared with products that have dairy, milk, tree nuts, and soy, but GMPs are taken to clean in between each chocolate run.

**My mom's fav is the Chocolate Quinoa

Endangered Species Chocolate

• Sweetened with Non-GMO verified Cane Sugar
• Certified Fair Trade (Some products), Certified Vegan, Certified Gluten-Free, Verified by the Non-GMO Project, and Kosher.
• Certified and tested Gluten-Free at 20ppm
• Made with ethically traded, shade-grown cacao and natural ingredients
• Soy Lecithin is used in the chocolate
• Produced on equipment that also processes products milk, peanuts, and tree nuts

**One of my favorite bars because it's so creamy!

Enjoy Life 

• Sweetened with cane sugar
• Made in a dedicated nut and gluten-free facility
• Top 8 allergen-free
• Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Verified, Certified Kosher Pareve, Certified Vegan, soy-free, peanut-free, casein-free, potato-free, wheat-free, tree-nut free, fish-free, sesame, dairy, egg, shellfish, sulfite-free.
• Facility also processes dairy and soy; however, the chips and bars are produced on a dedicated dairy and soy-free line.  Ingredients have been additionally tested to ensure strict allergen control standards are met.

**I will always and forever love the Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate chips.  I personally find the semi-sweet to be way too sweet, to the point that they taste artificial, but kids LOVE them.

Chatfield's Carob Chips and Powder

• Both the Carob Powder and the Cocoa Powder is unsweetened
• Carob Chips are sweetened with Beet Sugar
• Not all Carob is gluten-free, which is why I trust this brand.  Chatfield's Carob is made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.
• Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Kosher
• Carob has no caffeine content, is completely natural and made from a natural fruit.  This is used in replace of chocolate for some that cannot have chocolate.
• Made in a facility that processes dairy and soy, but strict sanitation procedures are followed between each allergy run as well as inspections.
• All products are Vegan, including the cocoa powder and date sugar.

Addictive Wellness Chocolate (Medicinal Chocolate)

• Sweetened with Stevia
• Hand crafted and made in small batches in a dedicated gluten-free, egg-free, wheat-free, soy-free, dairy/nuts/sugar-free, Non-GMO, and fish free facility.
• Made raw (not heated above 118 degrees to protect the integrity of the nutrients, enzymes and neurotransmitters which would get destroyed in the heat) with superherbs, and superfoods and made with high quality Heirloom Arria Nacional Cacao
• Certified Organic.  Most products use vegan ingredients, with the exception of pearl powder.
• Do not consume if allergic to mushrooms, pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Suitable for Celiacs, Diabetics and patients with autoimmune diseases, Cancer and many other diseases.
• This chocolate is only sold on the West Coast in Southern California and Oregon, but if you can get your hands on some, it's SO worth it.  You can shop through their website, or contact them on Instagram or Facebook.

Pascha Chocolate Bars and Chips

• Sweetened with organic cane sugar and organic vanilla
• Certified Gluten-Free, Certified Paleo Friendly, Verified Non-GMO, Certified Vegan, Certified USDA Organic, Certified through Celiac Support Association, Certified Organic by CSI, Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade U.S.A.
• Peanut and tree-nut free, wheat and gluten-free, dairy and egg-free, soy-free
• Made in a dedicated allergen-free facility / dairy/nut
• Free of the top 8 allergens plus coconut, sesame, sulfites, sage, and sorghum
• Free from Soy Lecithin or any other emulsifier additive
• Made with fine Aroma Cocoa Beans
• Many bars are made with Superfoods such as Lucuma and Maca
• 99.9 Percent Fair Trade Ingredients

Hershey's Chocolate

• Hershey's tests their products at 20ppm
• And just in case you just want classic ole Hershey's, here's the link!  Hershey's Chocolate Gluten-Free List 

OTHER NOTEWORTHY GLUTEN-FREE CANDY SHOPS FOR CANDY BOXES

• No Whey Chocolates
• Gluten-Free Palace
• Rayluca Chocolatier