This Vegan Chocolate Bar Tastes Just Like A Mounds Bar

As far as I'm concerned, chocolate is a daily essential. It’s perfect as a snack, for dessert, or as an easy mix-in for overnight oats. And, luckily, thanks to all the vegan-friendly chocolate brands popping up lately, finding a bar sans dairy (or other animal-based ingredients, like whey) is easier than ever.

Your standard vegan chocolate bar is made from simple ingredients like cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar, and vanilla, says nutritionist Marisa Moore, RDN. While omitting animal-based ingredients isn't necessarily better for you, it makes conquering cravings possible for those with dairy allergies (or lactose intolerance) or who avoid animal products. Plus, many of these bars ~do~ get a slight nutritional boost from fun toppings and fillings like nuts, coconut, fruit, and spices like chili pepper or cinnamon.

If you really want your bar to be a health superhero in addition to a delicious treat, look for the highest available cocoa percentage, Moore says. (You'll find it called out on the front of most bars. Yep, that's what that 72% number means.) While anything greater than 70% cocoa is high enough in the good stuff to be considered dark chocolate, know that the higher that percentage is, the more bitter your chocolate bar will be, explains Moore. So, just how high you go really depends on your taste buds.

“Though it depends a lot on how the cocoa is processed, generally speaking, the higher cacao percentage, the higher the flavonoid [antioxidant] content,” she says. “And those flavonoids might benefit your heart.” (Research suggests they do so by promoting nitric oxide production, which supports healthy blood pressure and circulation.)

Whether you're looking to add some more antioxidants to your day or just craving something sweet, these highly-rated vegan chocolate bars are sure to satisfy.