The Only Chocolate Chips Worth Buying, According to 7 Pro Bakers

Every chocolate chip cookie recipe is a bit different. Some are crispy chocolate chip cookies, while others are soft and chewy. Some include browned butter and others, oats. But the one thing these cookie recipes have in common? Chocolate chips—they are the star of the show.

These little morsels of chocolate are used for everything from cookies and double-chocolate brownies to scones and banana bread. Chocolate chips can also be melted for dipping or drizzling and for making ganache. They add pops of sweetness and flavor to desserts, and the type you reach for makes all the difference.

So, what’s the best option to bring little pockets of chocolate flavor into whatever you’re baking? I asked seven pro bakers for their top pick, and they all same the same brand.

The Expert Bakers I Asked

• Cheryl Day: Baker and recipe developer, New York Times bestselling cookbook author, and two-time James Beard Award nominee
• Yossy Arefi: Baker and photographer behind Apt. 2B Baking Co. and cookbook author of Snacking Bakes and Snacking Cakes
• Jennifer Pallian, BSc RD: Recipe developer and food blogger behind Foodess
• Laurel Randolph: Senior Recipe Editor for Simply Recipes and award-winning baker
• Tyler Schmidt: Recipe developer, baker, and food stylist behind Schmidty Bakes
• Kierin Baldwin: Chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education
• Meg Van der Kruik: Recipe developer and food blogger at This Mess Is Ours

The Best Chocolate Chips for Baking According to Pro Bakers

The chocolate chips bakers are reaching for with every batch? Guittard Chocolate Chips.

Cheryl says she uses Guittard chocolate chips because they have that nostalgic flavor of her childhood. “The Super Cookie Semisweet is my favorite,” she adds. “I use the chips for cookies and snack cakes, as well as scones.”

Kierin says, “I usually get Guittard chips, which are the best quality available in grocery stores in my area. They have a short list of ingredients that doesn’t include things like added milk fat or ‘natural’ flavors. The fact that they are using cocoa butter and not substituting milk fat or palm kernel oil for it tells me that it’s a higher quality product and the number on the bag is a sign of that.”

Meg calls out the brand’s commitment over 155 years. “I love Guittard for a myriad of reasons like the exceptional quality of their products and the complex flavor that their chocolate brings to my recipes. But I also love this company's origin story and the Guittard family's passion for their products and their customers. Guittard’s commitment to using the finest ingredients and sustainable practices has made Guittard a go-to.”

Yossy, who uses Guittard chocolate chips in cookies, brownies, and snacking cakes says, “I love the complexity of flavor of their Extra Dark Chips. They have a deep chocolatey flavor and aren't as sweet as most other chocolate chips.”

Laurel says, “While they're a bit pricier than some brands at the grocery store, they're worth every penny. I learned that many pastry chefs use Guittard in their baked goods, and it's for good reason—their chocolate has everything you're looking for in terms of flavor and melt-ability. I always use Guittard when making chocolate chip cookies (either their semisweet or dark chocolate), but their chocolate is also excellent for making chocolate ganache and rich, fudgy brownies.”

Tyler notes his go-to favorite cookie recipe is a brown butter chocolate chip cookie. “I can’t even count the number of times I’ve made these with Guittard chocolate chips. I’m a huge semisweet fan and their semisweet chocolate chips are so good. I think they’re the best chocolate chips because of their rich, smooth flavor packed in the tiny chip. Their consistent texture and balanced sweetness make them perfect for baking, ensuring they melt beautifully in my cookie recipes.”

Jennifer shares that she loves the way Guittard chocolate chips melt for use in a variety of recipes. “They really stand out for a smooth and glossy coating that hardens with a professional shine. It's my favorite for dipping treats like frozen peanut butter bites. Not only is the flavor amazing, it gives the most satisfying snap when you bite in.”

Now that you know the best chocolate chips to grab for mixing into cookies and batters or melting, it’s time to prep your next favorite dessert. Try chocolate banana bread, monster cookie bars, or frozen chocolate-covered bananas to get your chocolate fix.