Kit Kats are most famously known for its supreme slogan, “Have a Break. Have a Kit Kat.” With profound advertising and marketing efforts, this chocolate covered wafer cookie candy bar has become an international trademark and can found all over the world, from corner stores to major supermarkets alike. But is this famous chocolate wafer bar gluten-free?
Kit Kats are not gluten-free. Kit Kats contain gluten as the wafer in the chocolate bar is made with wheat flour. There are some other great gluten-free alternatives on the market for this famous crispy chocolate bar! The best alternatives to Kit Kat is Schar Gluten Free Twin Bar, Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bars, and Glutino’s Gluten-Free Wafers.
In this article, we will discuss the nutritional information of various Hershey’s and Nestle Kit Kat flavors, offer gluten-free alternatives, and provide a simple gluten-free Peanut Butter Kit Kat recipe. Let’s dig in!
Contents
- Kit Kat Background
- What is the biggest difference between Nestle and Hershey’s Kit Kat bar?
- Kit Kat Nutrition Information by Product
- Hershey’s Kit Kat Milk Chocolate
- Hershey’s White Creme Candy Bar
- Hershey’s Kit Kat Dark Chocolate
- Hershey’s Kit Kat DUOS Mint and Dark Chocolate Mix
- Hershey’s Kit Kat DUOS Mocha and Dark Chocolate
- Hershey’s Kit Kat Fruit Cereal Bar
- Hershey’s Kit Kat Spiced Gingerbread Cookie Miniatures
- Nestle Kit Kat Milk Chocolate
- Nestle Kit Kat White Chocolate
- Nestle Kit Kat Dark Chocolate
- Gluten-free Kit Kat Alternatives
- Simple Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Kit Kat Recipe
- Related Questions
Kit Kat Background
The Kit Kat was invented in 1935 by the English candy company Rowntree’s of York. The Kit Kat derived its name from a famous political and literary club in London, called the Kit Kat club. Kit Kat was later acquired by the Hershey Company in 1970 for US production rights following with the Nestle Company in 1988 for the production rights in the rest of the world. This may be why some say they can spot the difference between a US Kit Kat and one from the UK. This is true as Nestle and Hershey use varying ingredients which will be later examined.
What is the biggest difference between Nestle and Hershey’s Kit Kat bar?
The biggest difference between Nestle and Hershey’s Kit Kat processing is the amount of chocolate used and sugar contents. In the United States, for a product to be chocolate it must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor as compared to the UK where it must contain at least 25% cocoa solid.
There are many different flavors of Kit Kat depending on what country you are in, however none of these are gluten-free. However if you are feeling adventurous head over to Japan where there are over 200 different variations of Kit Kat flavors like soy sauce, green bean, miso, cherry, and green tea. Some popular gluten-free alternatives to Kit Kats are Schar Twin Bars, Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bars, and Glutino’s Gluten-free Wafers. Another option is making simple homemade gluten-free and dairy free Kit Kats.
Kit Kat Nutrition Information by Product
Hershey’s Kit Kat Milk Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Wheat Flour
- Skim Milk
- Cocoa Butter
- Chocolate
- Vegetable Oil (palm oil, palm kernel oil)
- Lactose (milk)
- Milk fat
- Contains 2% of less of:
- Lecithin (soy)
- Pgpr
- Vanillin
- Salt
- Yeast
- Baking soda
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 3 pieces)
- Calories: 220
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 30mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 22g
- Protein: 3g
- Calcium: 60.6mg
- Potassium: 120mg
- Vitamin D: 0.4mcg
- Iron:1.1mg
Hershey’s White Creme Candy Bar
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil (palm oil, palm kernel oil)
- Wheat Flour
- Skim Milk
- Corn Syrup Solids
- Lactose
- Contains 2% of less of:
- Chocolate
- Lecithin (soy)
- Pgpr
- Vanillin
- Salt
- Yeast
- Baking soda
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 3 bars):
- Calories: 220
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 19g
- Protein: 2g
- Vitamin D: .4mcg
- Calcium: 70.7mg
- Iron: .3mg
- Potassium: 110.1mg
Hershey’s Kit Kat Dark Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Chocolate
- Wheat Flour
- Cocoa Butter
- Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil)
- Cocoa Processed With Alkali
- Milk Fat
- Contains 2% or Less of:
- Lactose
- Lecithin
- PGPR
- Salt
- Yeast
- Vanillin
- Baking Soda
- Milk
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 42g):
- Calories: 200
- Total Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 5g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Total Sugars: 19g
- Protein: 2g
Hershey’s Kit Kat DUOS Mint and Dark Chocolate Mix
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil (Pam Oil, Shea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Palm Kernel Oil)
- Wheat Flour
- Chocolate
- Skim Milk
- Corn Syrup Solids
- Cacao Butter
- Lactose
- Contains 2% or Less of:
- Milk Fat
- Lecithin
- Oil of Peppermint
- PGPR
- Salt
- Artificial Color (Yellow)
- Vanillin
- Baking Soda
- Milk
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 42g):
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 19g
- Protein: 2g
- Calcium: 40mg
- Iron: 1.5mg
- Potassium: 110mg
Hershey’s Kit Kat DUOS Mocha and Dark Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil (Pam Oil, Shea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Palm Kernel Oil)
- Wheat Flour
- Chocolate
- Skim Milk
- Corn Syrup Solids
- Cacao Butter
- Lactose
- Contains 2% or Less of:
- Milk Fat
- Coffee
- Lecithin
- PGPR
- Salt
- Artificial Color (Yell
- Vanillin
- Baking Soda
- Milk
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 42g):
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 19g
- Protein: 2g
- Calcium: 40mg
- Iron: 1.6mg
- Potassium: 110mg
Hershey’s Kit Kat Fruit Cereal Bar
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Vegetable Oil (Pam Oil, Shea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Palm Kernel Oil)
- Wheat Flour
- Skim Milk
- Corn Syrup Solids
- Lactose
- Contains 2% or Less of:
- Chocolate
- Lecithin
- Natural & Artificial Flavor
- PGPR
- Salt
- Yeast
- Carnauba Wax
- Confectioners Glaze
- Baking Soda
- Artificial Color (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1)
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 42g):
- Calories: 220
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 5g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 20g
- Protein: 2g
Hershey’s Kit Kat Spiced Gingerbread Cookie Miniatures
Ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, modified milk ingredients, soy lecithin, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, natural flavor)
- Wafer (wheat flour, sugar, palm oil, cocoa powder, baking soda, soy lecithin, yeast, protease, xylanase)
- Gingerbread cookie (wheat flour, palm oil, molasses, brown sugar, sugar, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, salt, natural flavor, nutmeg)
- Snowflake sprinkles (sugar, rice flour, palm and palm kernel oils, corn starch, cellulose gum, carrageenan).
Nutritional Information (4 pieces/ 34g):
- Calories: 170
- Total Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 30mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 16g
- Protein: 2g
Nestle Kit Kat Milk Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, milk ingredients, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whey powder, lactose, soya lecithin, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, natural flavor)
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Modified palm oil
- Cocoa
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Soya lecithin
- Yeast
- Natural flavor
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 45g):
- Calories: 230
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 5g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Total Sugars: 22g
- Protein: 3g
Nestle Kit Kat White Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Modified milk ingredients
- Cocoa butter
- Wheat flour
- Palm
- Palm kernel
- Coconut and vegetable oils
- Cocoa mass
- Soy and sunflower lecithins
- Yeast
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Calcium sulphate
- Salt
- Protease
- Xylanase
- Natural flavors
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 45g):
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 5g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 26g
- Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 21g
- Protein: 3g
Nestle Kit Kat Dark Chocolate
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Cocoa Mass
- Wheat Flour
- Cocoa Butter
- Vegetable Fat [Emulsifier ( Soy Lecithin)]
- Choc Paste ( Milk , Wheat , Soy )
- Milk Solids
- Soy Lecithin
- Cocoa
- Salt
- Flavor
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Yeast
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 45g):
- Calories: 240
- Total Fat: 13.5
- Saturated Fat: 7.5g
- Cholesterol: 7.5
- Sodium: 22.5 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 28.5g
- Fiber: 3g
- Total Sugars: 21g
- Protein: 3g
Gluten-free Kit Kat Alternatives
When looking for Kit Kat alternatives try to look for gluten-free chocolate covered wafers as it may be hard to find the exact replica of a Kit Kat. Look for products that use real cocoa and minimally processed ingredients. The closest alternative to Kit Kats is Schar’s Twin Bar which is also preservative free and non-GMO. It is also always a good idea to look for products that omit the preservatives and non-genetically modified ingredients for maximum flavor and health.
Schar Gluten Free Twin Bar
Schar uses gluten-free, preservative free and non-GMO ingredients in their crispy wafer chocolate bar. However this alternative is not dairy-free or vegan as it uses milk chocolate and egg yolk. This bar is lower in fat, calories, and sugar than the average Kit Kat bar.
Ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass soy lecithin , natural vanilla flavor)
- Palm fat
- Sugar
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Teff flour
- Soy flour
- Low fat cocoa powder
- Soy lecithin
- Coconut oil
- Egg yolk
- Salt
- Baking soda
Nutritional Information (1 bar/ 21.5g):
- Calories: 120
- Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 12g
- Fiber:0g
- Total Sugars: 10g
- Protein: 1g
Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Another gluten-free Kit Kat alternative starring a hazelnut cream and gluten-free wafer with German chocolate.
Ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, skimmed milk powder, cocoa mass, dried milk fat, whey powder, soy lecithin, natural flavor: vanilla)
- Sugar
- Vegetable fats (palm, palm kernel)
- Corn flour
- Potato starch
- Hazelnut cream
- Whey powder
- Cocoa powder
- Soy lecithin
- Salt
- Guar gum
- Baking soda
Nutritional Information (1 bar/ 35g):
- Calories: 190
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 22g
- Fiber: <1g
- Total Sugars: 14g
- Protein: 2g
Glutino’s Gluten-Free Wafers
Glutino’s use potato starch instead of wheat flour in their wafer crisp. Potato starch is a great gluten-free alternative that has less processed ingredients than refined wheat flour. The less processed the better. For the vegans looking for a gluten-free vegan Kit Kat option, this alternative unfortunately still contains dairy products.
Ingredients:
- Potato Starch
- Sugar
- Palm Oil
- Cocoa Powder
- Soy Oil
- Canola Lecithin
- Salt
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Vanilla Extract
- Cocoa Butter
- Milk
- Chocolate Liquor
Nutritional Information (1 package/ 4 wafers):
- Calories: 160
- Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20g
- Fiber:0g
- Total Sugars: 13g
- Protein: 1g
Simple Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Kit Kat Recipe
Ingredients:
- ½ Cup Pure maple syrup
- ¼ Cup Coconut Oil
- 1 ½ Cups Dairy-free Chocolate Chips
- 3 Cups Chex Cereal
- 1 Cup Peanut butter
Nutritional Information (1 bar):
- Calories: 170
- Total Fat: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 14g
- Fiber:2g
- Potassium: 90mg
- Vitamin A: 63IU
- Vitamin C: 1mg
- Protein: 4g
Instructions:
- Line deep baking tray or dish with parchment paper (8 x 8)
- Melt all ingredients besides Chex cereal. Once melted, transfer to a bowl and whisk until fully incorporated. You can use the stovetop or microwave to melt ingredients.
- Add Rice Chex to the wet mixture and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Pour into a deep baking tray or dish with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least an hour until firm. Cut into bars and serve! Enjoy!
Related Questions
Are Kit Kats vegan?
Kit Kats are not vegan as they contain lactose, skim milk, and milk fat. Look for dark chocolate candy to satisfy your vegan chocolate craving (but always check the label for milk derived ingredients).
Are Kits Kats kosher?
Hershey Kit Kats are kosher certified. Nestle Kit Kats are not kosher certified.
Are Kit Kats peanut free?
Nestle and Hershey Kit Kats are made in a peanut free facility.