Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chips

Asked by samtheseal. Answered on 26th April 2011

Full question

Nigella uses chocolate buttons/chips in many of her recipes and I wondered which ones she uses? I can chop good quality dark chocolate with my mezzaluna but it gets a bit messy! Thanks, Samtheseal

How do I find chocolate and peanut butter swirled chips? I'm interested to use them in my baking. Nigella used them in one of her ice cream cake recipes. Buffy1981

Our answer

Generally we would suggest buying the best quality chocolate chips you can and if you can use larger chocolate chips (sometimes called morsels) for cookies and smaller or mini chocolate chips for muffins, cakes and cupcakes - the smaller ones tend to sink less during baking.

In the UK the Silver Spoon chocolate chips are widely available (in most major supermarkets) and the Waitrose Cook's Ingredients chocolate chunks are also in most Waitrose branches and on-line at Ocado. The Nestle Toll House morsels are also good but mainly available on-line (see links below).

In the US the Nestle Toll House morsels are widely available and Ghiradelli chocolate chips are in many gourmet stores and on-line. We would suggest avoiding chips marked as "baking chocolate" or "unsweetened chocolate" as they can be very bitter.

The swirled chocolate and peanut butter chips are part of the nestle Toll House range. In the US you are likely to find them in larger supermarkets. In the UK they have been available on-line (see links below) but at time or writing the suppliers are out of stock. There are also mixed chocolate and peanut butter chips which could be used as an alternative.

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/chocolate-chipsmorsels-43-c.asp

http://www.americansoda.co.uk/uk/American-Soda/Home/Baking/Icing-+-Frosting/default.aspx