Dark Chocolate Nutrition Facts, Calories And Health Benefits
Updated · Jan 05, 2026
WHAT WE HAVE ON THIS PAGE
Introduction
Dark Chocolate Nutrition Facts: Who doesn’t love chocolate? Research states that on average, an American eats 3 bars of chocolate in a week, out of which 34% prefer dark chocolate. Irrespective of how many calories dark chocolate has, it is said to be the healthiest form of chocolate around the world.
As of 2023, the global chocolate confectionery market is valued at $238.50 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.81% between 2023 to 2028. In addition, the average volume per person is projected to amount to 2.30kg in 2023. As the data shows, the highest number of chocolate confectionery lovers is in the United States, generating most of the expected revenue of $53,580.
What is Chocolate?
Chocolate is made from ground cacao beans, which are available in forms such as solid, paste, or liquid. The cacao beans have an extremely bitter taste, and a fermented process must be followed to develop a flavour. There are many types of chocolates around the world, which can be used in cakes, desserts, brownies, cookies, bars, or pudding. Chocolate is a tradition, and it is given in various forms on occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Hanukkah, or Christmas.
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
The health benefits of dark chocolate are considered for everyday but limited consumption.
- Dark chocolate can improve brain function
- Some studies show that dark chocolate can protect the skin against the sun
- Reduces the future risk of heart disease
- Enhances blood flow and manages blood pressure
- Dark chocolate is packed with nutrients such as manganese, copper, iron, fiber, and magnesium.
- It is full of antioxidants
- Elevates your mood
- It could help you fall asleep
Types of Chocolate Around the World
#1. Bittersweet chocolate
(Source: thespruceeats.com)
Bittersweet chocolate is a type of dark chocolate that has 50 to 80% cacao content. The flavour is more bitter than semi-sweet chocolate. Chocolate cake, or chocolate truffles, are compatible dishes with this type of chocolate.
#2. Baking Chocolate
(Source: epicurious.com)
As it is used for baking purposes, this chocolate has 100% cacao, and it is a pure form of chocolate. It has no added sugar to improve the taste of cacao. It is a great choice to make chocolate-based treats or brownies.
#3. Couverture Chocolate
(Source: hindustantimes.com)
Compared to other types of chocolate, couverture has higher cacao content, mostly ranging from 80% to 90%. Moreover, it also has chocolate liquor content. Couverture chocolate is a great choice for coating purposes.
#4. White chocolate
(Source: thespruceeats.com)
White chocolate is made from cocoa butter. This chocolate has a rich and vanilla-like flavour. It can be used in melted form for drizzling purposes on desserts.
#5. Cocoa Powder
(Source: indiamart.com)
Cocoa powder is a pure form of cacao. It has a bitter taste and has no added sugar. Cocoa powder is useful for a variety of recipes.
#6. Cacao Nibs
(Source: healthline.com)
These are the rawest form of chocolate in 100% crushed cacao beans. Cacao nibs are useful for making granola bars.
#7. German’s sweet chocolate
(Source: recipegirl.com)
German baking chocolate is a dark baking chocolate named after Samuel German. It is commonly used for German chocolate cakes
#8. Ruby Chocolate
(Source: foodnetwork.com)
Ruby chocolate has a berry-like flavour but is actually a type of white chocolate. These are made from cacao beans and used in many confections and desserts.
#9. Candy Coating Chocolate
(Source: thepioneerwoman.com)
These chocolate coins are made using palm and vegetable oil. These do not contain any chocolate liquor and are useful for dipping and coating purposes.
#10. Semisweet Chocolate
(Source: nutstop.com)
Semi-sweet chocolates have 30% of cacao and are considered an American chocolate made for the purpose of baking.
#11. Dark Chocolate
(Source: healthline.com)
Dark chocolate has around 30 to 80% cacao. These chocolates do not have any milk solids. It can be used for making ganaches.
#12. Milk Chocolate
(Source: indiamart.com)
Milk chocolate can taste super sweet and contain only 10% of cacao. These are used in making pancakes, brownies, and cookies.
Nutritional Profile and Calories in Dark Chocolate by Brand
| Lindt (4 blocks or squares per serving) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
|
Dark Chocolate Chili |
13.00 | 20.00 | 2.00 | 200 |
| Dark Chocolate Intense Orange | 13.00 | 2000 | 3.00 |
210 |
|
Dark Chocolate Intense mint |
13.00 | 24.00 | 2.00 | 190 |
| Dark Chocolate Intense 85% of Cocoa | 18.00 | 8.00 | 4.00 |
210 |
|
Dark Chocolate Intense 70% Cocoa |
17.00 | 13.00 | 3.00 |
220 |
| Dove | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
| 5 dark chocolate squares | 13.00 | 24.00 | 2.00 | 210 |
| 5 pieces of rich dark chocolate | 13.00 | 24.00 | 2.00 | 210 |
| 1 rich dark chocolate bar | 12.00 | 22.00 | 2.00 | 190 |
| 5 dark chocolate hearts | 13.00 | 24.00 | 2.00 | 210 |
| Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
| 1 Bar | 12.00 | 25.00 | 2.00 | 180 |
| 9 kisses | 12.00 | 25.00 | 2.00 | 180 |
| 1 tbsp Chips | 4.50 | 9.00 | 0.50 | 70 |
| 1 stick | 3.50 | 7.00 | – | 60 |
| 3 blocks | 13.00 | 26.00 | 2.00 | 230 |
| 1 serving Hershey’s Bar | 5.00 | 12.00 | 1.00 | 100 |
| 1 Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate stick | 4.00 | 6.00 | 1.00 | 60 |
| 1 serving Hershey’s kisses | 13.00 | 24.00 | 3.00 | 230 |
| Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar, 1 package | 13.00 | 25.00 | 3.00 | 230 |
| Hershey’s Bar, 1 100 calories | 5.00 | 12.00 | 1.00 | 100 |
| Ghirardelli (3 blocks or squares per serving) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
| Dark Chocolate 86% | 24.00 | 16.00 | 3.00 | 250 |
| Dark Chocolate 72% | 17.00 | 17.00 | 2.00 | 200 |
| Dark Chocolate 60% | 14.00 | 21.00 | 2.00 | 190 |
| Other Chocolate brands | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
| 1 Milky Way Bar | 10.00 | 41.10 | 2.00 | 260 |
| 1 mini snickers bar | 14.00 | 36.00 | 4.00 | 280 |
| 1 Kitkat Extra Crispy bar | 12.00 | 29.00 | 3.00 | 230 |
| 1 package Reese’s Pieces | 10.00 | 26.00 | 5.00 | 210 |
| 1 100 Calorie Snickers bar | 5.00 | 13.00 | 2.00 | 100 |
| M & M’s, 1 package | 10.00 | 34.00 | 2.00 | 240 |
| Other Chocolate servings | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Calories |
| Dark Chocolate 88%, 4 pieces serving | 17.00 | 11.00 | 4.00 | 210 |
| Dark Chocolate 73%, 4 pieces serving | 12.00 | 15.00 | 2.00 | 180 |
| 1 oz | 9.19 | 16.84 | 1.57 | 151 |
| 1 small bar | 5.51 | 10.10 | 0.94 | 90 |
| 1 block | 4.54 | 8.32 | 0.78 | 74 |
| 1 medium bar (1.45 oz) | 13.28 | 24.36 | 2.27 | 218 |
| 1 large bar (2.6 oz) | 23.65 | 43.37 | 4.04 | 388 |
| Milk Chocolate, 1 miniature bar | 2.08 | 4.16 | 0.54 | 37 |
| Milk Chocolate, 1 oz | 8.41 | 16.84 | 2.17 | 152 |
| Milk Chocolate, 1 bar (1.55 oz) | 13.05 | 26.14 | 3.37 | 235 |
| Milk Chocolate with Almond, 1 bar serving | 14.10 | 21.81 | 3.69 | 216 |
| Milk Chocolate with fruits and nuts,1 bar serving | 8.05 | 19.73 | 2.50 | 150 |
| Milk Chocolate with rice cereal, 1 bar serving | 10.60 | 25.36 | 2.52 | 198 |
| ½ cup white chocolate chips | 27.28 | 50.35 | 4.99 | 458 |
| 1 baking chocolate square | 15.17 | 8.65 | 3.74 | 145 |
| Chocolate Chips, 1 piece | 0.15 | 0.32 | 0.02 | 2 |
| Chocolate Chips, ¼ cup large chips | 11.25 | 23.66 | 1.58 | 180 |
| Chocolate Chips, ¼ cup mini chips | 12.98 | 27.29 | 1.82 | 207 |
| Chocolate Chips, ¼ cup regular chips | 12.60 | 26.50 | 1.76 | 201 |
| Sweet Chocolate, 1 oz | 9.70 | 16.90 | 1.11 | 143 |
| Sweet Chocolate, 1 bar (1.45 oz) | 14.02 | 24.44 | 1.60 | 207 |
| Other Chocolate variants | ||||
| Regular hot cocoa mix, 1 envelope serving | 1.11 | 24.24 | 1.30 | 112 |
| Hot Cocoa Mix with Marshmallows, 1 envelope serving | 1.02 | 24.25 | 1.35 | 112 |
| No sugar added hot cocoa mix, 1 envelope serving | 0.43 | 8.43 | 4.30 | 55 |
| Hot chocolate with whole milk, 1 cup | 7.97 | 29.03 | 8.25 | 218 |
| Hot chocolate with low-fat milk, 1 cup | 2.75 | 30.10 | 8.60 | 178 |
| Hot chocolate with nonfat milk, 1 cup | 0.70 | 29.97 | 8.60 | 158 |
| Regular hot chocolate | 5.82 | 26.58 | 8.80 | 192 |
| Hot chocolate with reduced-fat milk, 1 cup | 5.03 | 29.40 | 8.45 | 195 |
| Cocoa Powder, 1 tsp | 0.25 | 0.98 | 0.35 | 4 |
| Cocoa Powder, 1 oz | 3.88 | 15.39 | 5.56 | 65 |
| Cocoa Powder, 1 tbsp | 0.74 | 2.93 | 1.06 | 12 |
| Cocoa Powder, ½ tbsp | 0.37 | 1.47 | 0.53 | 6 |
| Cocoa Powder, ¼ cup | 2.95 | 11.67 | 4.21 | 49 |
| Hot Cocoa milk, 1 cup | 5.82 | 26.58 | 8.80 | 192 |
| Cocoa and Sugar with nonfat milk, 1 cup | 0.70 | 29.97 | 8.60 | 158 |
| Cocoa and Sugar with low-fat milk, 1 cup | 2.75 | 30.10 | 8.60 | 178 |
| Cocoa and Sugar with reduced-fat milk | 5.03 | 29.40 | 8.45 | 195 |
| Cocoa and Sugar with whole milk, 1 cup | 7.97 | 29.03 | 8.25 | 218 |
| Hot Chocolate cocoa with whole milk, 1 cup | 5.47 | 29.90 | 8.80 | 190 |
| Low-fat chocolate milk, 1 cup | 2.50 | 26.10 | 8.10 | 158 |
| Whole milk chocolate milk, 1 cup | 8.48 | 25.85 | 7.92 | 208 |
| Reduced-fat chocolate milk, 1 cup | 4.75 | 30.32 | 7.48 | 190 |
| Chocolate milkshake with skim milk, 1 cup | 1.05 | 28.45 | 5.21 | 132 |
| Reduced-fat chocolate milk with added calcium,1 cup | 4.75 | 30.32 | 7.48 | 195 |
| Skim chocolate milk,1 cup | 0.70 | 27.22 | 8.55 | 140 |
| Thick chocolate milkshake, 1 cup | 6.13 | 48.05 | 6.93 | 270 |
| Fat-free frozen chocolate milk dessert | 1.37 | 51.65 | 5.89 | 229 |
Tasty Chocolate Recipes
#1. Red Velvet Cake Roll
(Source: bhg.com)
Ingredients: ½ tsp vanilla, powdered sugar, 1 tbsp red food colouring, 1 cup frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 4 eggs, 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ tsp vanilla, and ½ cup light sour cream.
Instructions
Separate egg white and yolk and set them aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grease a 15 x 10x 1 1-inch baking pan, using parchment paper to line the bottom of the pan, grease it, and set aside. Take a small bowl and mix baking powder, cocoa powder, and flour, and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take a small bowl and beat yolks, add ½ tsp vanilla using an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes until it turns lemon colour. Then slowly add granulated sugar, beat again until well mixed, then add food colouring and repeat the process.
Wash beaters and take another bowl, and beat egg white on medium speed until soft, then gradually add ½ cup granulated sugar and beat again. Transfer the egg yolk mixture and the flour mixture into the egg white mixture and mix well. Pour the mixture into a greased pan.
Bake the entire mixture until the toothpick comes out clean. Loosen the edges of the cake from the pan immediately and turn the cake onto a clean kitchen towel that is sprinkled with powdered sugar. Remove waxed paper and roll the towel and cake into a spiral form, beginning from the short side of the cake. Let it cool.
(For filling)
Take a medium bowl and mix sour cream, ½ tsp vanilla, and dessert topping. Unroll the cake and remove the towel. Spread filling on the cake within 1 inch of the edges. Then roll up the cake, trim ends. Cover it and chill for 6 hours.
What do you get? (for every serve)
Calories (144), Carbs (24g), Fat (4g), Protein (3g)
#2. Almond Chocolate Cherry Cookies
(Source: bhg.com)
Ingredients:
(For chocolate almond glaze)
Dash almond extract, 1 tbsp butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 ounce sweet baking, semi, or bittersweet chocolate, 2 tbsp fat-free milk
(For cookies)
1 egg yolk, 1 egg, ¾ cup sugar, ⅓ cup sliced almonds, ½ cup dried cherries, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 recipe chocolate almond glaze, 6 tbsp softened butter, 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 ounce sweet baking, semi or bittersweet melted and slightly cooled chocolate.
Instructions
To make a Chocolate almond glaze
Take a small saucepan and mix the butter and chocolate together. On a low heat, stir the two ingredients until smooth. Then remove from heat and add milk, powdered sugar, and almond extract until smooth.
To make Cookies
Take a medium bowl and beat butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Then add sugar and beat until it becomes creamy. Then add vanilla, egg, and egg yolk, beat until combined, then add melted chocolate and flour and blend well. Then, add dried cherries and almonds. Cover the mixture and chill for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and place a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and keep it aside. Form balls of 1 inch using the dough. Place the balls on the sheets 1 inch away from each other. Bake the cookies until the toothpick comes out clean. Once done, set it aside to cool. Drizzle chocolate almond glaze over the cookies and serve.
What do you get? (for every serve)
Calories (100), Carbs (16g), Fat (4g), Protein (1g)
#3. Fudgy Stout Brownies
(Source: bhg.com)
Ingredients: 1 cup stout beer, 2 eggs, 10 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 6 tbsp butter, 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease the 9-inch square baking pan. Place parchment paper, allowing the paper to extend on two sides. Then take a small bowl and mix cocoa powder, salt, and flour.
Keep aside ¼ cup of chopped chocolate. Take a small saucepan and blend butter and the remaining chocolate. Then cook and stir on the heat until it becomes smooth, then keep aside the cool.
Take a large bowl, and blend egg yolks, eggs, sugar using a mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Then add the chocolate mixture and blend again until smooth, then add the prepared small bowl mixture and mix again until well combined.
Put the mixture in the oven until the toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate. Cut the brownies into the required shapes and serve.
What do you get? (for every serve)
Calories (157), Carbs (23g), Fat (7g), Protein (2g)
Some Worldwide Chocolate Statistics
By the leading chocolate brand in the USA in 2022
(Reference: statista.com)
As of 2022, the top 3 leading chocolate brands in the United States of America by total consumers were Hershey’s (70%), Dove Chocolate (47%), and Crunch (44%). Whereas, some of the least popular brands were The Functional Chocolate Company (18%), Tony’s Chocolonely (16%), and Theo Chocolate (14%).
Conclusion
One of the healthiest types of chocolate is dark chocolate. These chocolates are high in cacao content; therefore, high in bitter taste. Although carbohydrates and calories in dark chocolate are high, these are still considered healthy. Today, chocolate is not just for a bite, but many types of these are used in savoury dishes worldwide. So! Tell us, aren’t you going to eat low-calorie chocolate from today on?
Sources
FAQ.
Although dark chocolate is said to be healthier than any other types of chocolate, it still has a high number of calories, and saturated fats. Eating unlimited amounts of dark chocolate could lead to weight gain. Therefore, if you want to maintain weight and still eat dark chocolate, limit yourself to consuming only 1 ounce (oz) of it.
If the dark chocolate is less sweet or unsweetened, diabetics can eat it without harming any blood sugar levels. Dark chocolate has a low amount of carbohydrates, therefore compared to other chocolate, there are lesser chances to boost sugar levels.
Dark chocolate has lesser amounts of sugar as compared to white and milk chocolate. For example, a dark chocolate with 70 to 85% of cacao has only 7g of sugar.
Avoid refrigerating chocolate and keep it in a cool and dry place. Keep chocolates away from direct sunlight and preferably seal those in an airtight container.
Le Chocolate Box is one of the most expensive chocolate as of 2023, as it is valued at $1.5 million due to the packaging box having jewellery in it.
Barry is a technology enthusiast with a passion for in-depth research on various technological topics. He meticulously gathers comprehensive statistics and facts to assist users. Barry's primary interest lies in understanding the intricacies of software and creating content that highlights its value. When not evaluating applications or programs, Barry enjoys experimenting with new healthy recipes, practicing yoga, meditating, or taking nature walks with his child.
