Chocolate chips are a beloved baking staple used in cookies, cakes, muffins, and more. But how much do chocolate chips actually cost? The answer depends on the type, brand, and size of chocolate chips you buy. This article will provide a thorough breakdown of chocolate chip sizes, common brands and prices, and tips for getting the best deal on chocolate chips. Whether you’re baking chocolate chip cookies for a bake sale or need chocolate chips for a special recipe, read on to find out exactly how much a cup of chocolate chips costs.
Standard Chocolate Chip Sizes
Chocolate chips come in a variety of sizes, which affects how much a measuring cup holds. Here are the standard sizes for chocolate chips:
- Mini chocolate chips – These bite-sized chips are about 0.25 inches wide. A cup contains about 5 ounces of mini chips.
- Small chocolate chips – Slightly larger than mini chips, small chips are around 0.5 inches wide. A cup contains about 4 ounces of small chips.
- Standard or regular chocolate chips – The most common size, standard chips are about 0.75 inches wide. A cup contains 3 ounces of standard chips.
- Large or jumbo chocolate chips – These extra large chips are around 1 inch wide. A cup contains about 2 ounces of large chips.
As you can see, the smaller the chocolate chips, the more will fit in a measuring cup. Mini chips take up the most volume per cup, while large chips take up the least.
Popular Brands and Prices
Prices for chocolate chips can range from about $2-$5 per bag depending on the brand, size, and where you shop. Here are some popular national brands and average prices for a 12 ounce bag:
| Brand | Average 12oz Bag Price |
|---|---|
| Hershey’s | $2.50 |
| Nestle Tollhouse | $3.50 |
| Ghirardelli | $4.50 |
As you can see, Hershey’s chocolate chips tend to be the most affordable, while Ghirardelli are premium-priced. Nestle Tollhouse chips fall somewhere in the middle.
For baking, many home cooks prefer Nestle Tollhouse or Ghirardelli brands because they tend to hold their shape well during baking. Hershey’s chips sometimes soften and bleed color more. But for mixing into cookie dough or ice cream, Hershey’s affordable chips get the job done nicely.
How Many Ounces in a Cup of Chocolate Chips?
Now that we know typical chocolate chip sizes and prices, how many ounces are actually in a measuring cup? Here is a breakdown:
| Chocolate Chip Size | Ounces per Cup |
|---|---|
| Mini | 5 oz |
| Small | 4 oz |
| Standard/Regular | 3 oz |
| Large/Jumbo | 2 oz |
As you can see, mini chips contain the most ounces per cup at 5 ounces. Large chips contain the least at just 2 ounces per cup.
Knowing this information allows you to compare prices and determine the best value when shopping for chocolate chips. Typically mini and small chips provide more ounces per dollar than larger chips.
Comparing Prices Per Ounce
To find the best deal on chocolate chips, you’ll want to compare prices per ounce. Here is a price comparison of standard/regular sized chocolate chips from common brands:
| Brand | Price | Ounces | Price Per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hershey’s | $2.50 | 12 oz | $0.21 |
| Nestle Tollhouse | $3.50 | 12 oz | $0.29 |
| Ghirardelli | $4.50 | 12 oz | $0.38 |
Here we can see that Hershey’s chips offer the best price per ounce at $0.21. Ghirardelli is the most expensive per ounce at $0.38.
This comparison shows that buying Hershey’s brand will stretch your dollar furthest when buying chocolate chips. However, as noted above, Ghirardelli or Nestle chips may be preferable for baking purposes due to texture and shape.
Bulk Versus Regular Packages
Another way to potentially save money on chocolate chips is buying in bulk. Warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club often sell large bags at discounted unit prices.
For example, a 42 ounce bag of Nestle chocolate chips at Costco currently costs $9.99. Doing the math, this equals around $0.24 per ounce – cheaper than a regular grocery store.
However, bulk sizes may not be practical for small households or if you only need chips occasionally. Make sure to compare per ounce prices and factor in storage considerations before choosing bulk.
Generic Brand Savings
Opting for a generic or store brand version of chocolate chips is another way to save. Generic chips are typically 20-30% cheaper than name brands.
For example, a 12 ounce bag of Market Pantry (Target’s brand) chocolate chips costs $2.29. Compared to $3.50 for 12 ounces of Nestle Tollhouse at Target, that’s a 35% savings.
The downside is that generic chips may not provide the same baking performance, texture, or quality as name brands. But if you need chocolate chips for mixing into batters or as a topping, generic is perfectly fine.
Coupons, Sales, and Store Loyalty Programs
To maximize your savings on chocolate chips, take advantage of coupons, sales, and store loyalty programs.
Here are some tips:
- Check newspaper inserts and grocery flyers for chocolate chip coupons
- Look for promo codes and printable coupons online
- Buy chips when they are on sale or promotion – prices may be discounted 10-25% off regular price
- Join loyalty programs at stores like Safeway and Kroger to earn fuel points or discounts
- Buy chips at warehouse stores during special promos – Costco often runs rebates and coupons on certain items each month
Combining a coupon with a store sale is one of the best ways to save big. You can easily get 40% or more off the original price.
Planning your chocolate chip purchases around sales and promos throughout the year helps keep your baking budget on track. Being loyal to 1-2 grocery chains also optimizes savings over time.
Make Your Own Chocolate Chips
An economical option is to make your own homemade chocolate chips. All you need is chocolate bars, a knife, and wax paper.
Here is a simple homemade chocolate chip recipe:
- Ingredients: 12 ounces chocolate bar (milk, dark or semisweet), wax paper
- Finely chop the chocolate bar into small pieces, about the size of a chip
- Lay wax paper on a baking sheet and spread out the chopped chocolate in a single layer
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the chips harden
- Store cooled chocolate chips in an airtight container for up to 6 months
A 12 ounce bag of store-bought chips costs $2.50 to $4.50 depending on the brand. But a 12 ounce bar of quality chocolate costs around $4. This brings the price of homemade chips to around $0.33 per ounce – cheaper than store-bought!
The only downside to homemade chips is that they don’t hold their shape as well during baking. But for mixing into doughs and batters, homemade chips are an economical choice.
Buy Only What You Need
To avoid wasting money and having chocolate chips go stale, only buy what you need for a recipe. Buying large bags when you only need a small amount is not cost effective.
For example, if a cookie recipe calls for 1 cup of chocolate chips, measure out how many ounces that is based on your chip size:
- Mini chips – 5 ounces
- Small chips – 4 ounces
- Standard chips – 3 ounces
- Large chips – 2 ounces
Then buy a bag closest to that amount. Some brands sell chocolate chips in 6, 9, or 10 ounce bags which are perfect for small batches.
Storing chocolate chips in the freezer extends their shelf life so extras last longer. But buying more than you need often leads to waste.
Conclusion
So how much does a cup of chocolate chips cost? The answer ranges from $0.50 per cup for mini chips up to $2.25 per cup for jumbo chips, depending on the brand. Hershey’s and generic brands provide the most affordable cost per ounce. Buying in bulk, using coupons and promotions, and making your own chips can also lower the price. Stick to buying just what you need for recipes to avoid waste. Knowing typical chocolate chip sizes and doing price comparisons helps ensure you get the best deal on this beloved baking staple.