Chocolate chip

Chocolate chips, often referred to as chocolate morsels, are those delightful little pieces of sweetened chocolate we love to add to desserts, trail mix, and even breakfast dishes like pancakes. They usually come in teardrop or rectangular shapes and are typically less than 10 millimeters in diameter.

The history of chocolate chips begins with the invention of chocolate chip cookies in 1937 by Ruth Graves Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth had the ingenious idea to add chopped pieces of a semi-sweet Nestlé chocolate bar to her cookie dough, and the rest is history. Recognizing the potential, Nestlé partnered with Ruth and began selling chocolate chips in 1941.

Originally, chocolate chips were made from semi-sweet chocolate, but now they come in a variety of flavors. You can find bittersweet, peanut butter, butterscotch, mint chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and more. These versatile morsels are perfect for baking cookies, cakes, muffins, and pies. They also make a great addition to granola bars, ice cream, and trail mix.

If you need to melt chocolate chips for a recipe or sauce, aim for a temperature between 104 and 113 °F. Be cautious with different types of chocolate, as they can burn if overheated.

Chocolate chips are a staple in American kitchens and are popular worldwide. Major brands like Nestlé and Hershey produce them. While they are extremely convenient, keep in mind that melted chocolate chips might not always be an ideal substitute for baking chocolate due to differences in cocoa butter content.