What Are Carob Chips — And How Do They Differ From Chocolate Chips?

Carob chips are like the more laid-back cousin of chocolate chips. While they aren’t as sweet or indulgent, they bring a unique roasted, nutty flavor that sets them apart. Though similar to chocolate in some ways, carob is a distinct ingredient that deserves a place in your baking essentials.

What Is Carob?

Carob comes from the pods of a tree native to the Mediterranean. After being harvested, the pods are mashed into pulp, dried, roasted, and ground into a powder. This powder can then be used as-is or formed into chips, much like chocolate chips.

Carob vs. Chocolate

Carob has a deep, roasted flavor reminiscent of chocolate, though with its own unique twist. Both carob and chocolate come from tree-grown pods, but unlike chocolate, carob is naturally sweet with no trace of bitterness. This means carob powder and chips typically don’t require added sugar to achieve the right level of sweetness. Its flavor is subtler and nuttier than chocolate, lacking the sharpness that chocolate is known for.

Carob also has no caffeine, unlike chocolate, and it’s much higher in fiber while being lower in fat. Cacao, the base ingredient in chocolate, contains up to 50% fat, but carob contains almost none. This makes carob less creamy and rich than chocolate. Thanks to its lower sugar content and higher fiber, many people choose carob as a healthier alternative to chocolate in recipes, especially for low-sugar or specialized diet baked goods.

Where to Buy Carob Chips

Carob chips can typically be found in natural or organic food stores, as well as large retailers like Whole Foods. Some bigger grocery stores carry them in the baking aisle, near chocolate chips or cocoa powder. Bulk food stores might also have carob chips alongside other baking staples. If you're unable to find them locally, online shopping is a great alternative. Websites like Nuts.com offer both sweetened and unsweetened carob chips, carob powder, and even carob-based treats, such as carob-covered nuts. You can also find them on Amazon and other online specialty retailers.

How to Use Carob Chips

If you're aiming to cut out caffeine from your baked treats or boost the fiber content of your favorite desserts, you can easily swap carob chips or powder in place of chocolate chips or cocoa powder in any recipe. However, keep in mind that carob is much milder than chocolate, especially dark chocolate, so it may not deliver that intense chocolatey flavor typically expected from chocolate desserts.

To explore carob's unique taste, try replacing half the chocolate in a recipe with carob. This way, you still get some of that rich chocolate flavor, but carob and chocolate together create a harmonious balance, enhancing each other’s characteristics. Carob’s nutty, earthy notes pair beautifully with chocolate’s creamy richness. Carob chips are perfect for chocolate chip cookies or brownies, and carob powder can be blended into smoothies and milkshakes for a subtle chocolate flavor when mixed with vanilla ice cream or a frozen banana and milk.

Recipes Using Carob:

• Hot Carob
• Vegan Banana-Nut-Carob Muffins
• Carob Ice Cream
• Camp Trail Mix
• Carob Fudge Brownies