Yes! You can use regular chocolate or chocolate chips in place of candy melts. However, candy melts are specially designed to be easy to dip, have a very smooth consistency and look good when the chocolate hardens. Regular chocolate can be very thick, even when completely melted, and make it hard to dip. When regular chocolate hardens, it can also be streaky and not looks as smooth. Try adding a few drops of vegetable oil to the melted chocolate (not too much!) to make it smooth and easy for dipping.