Have you ever wondered what's the difference between bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate? Can I use Dutch cocoa in all my recipes calling for cocoa? Understanding the difference in chocolate and how they are used is essential to baking. In this Bakers Guide to Chocolate we will identify the characteristics of those chocolates used in baking.
Let's Start With Cocoa
Let us start with cocoa. Cocoa is the dry chocolate powder derived from chocolate liquor. It comes in two types: natural and Dutch process. Dutch processed cocoa is processed with an alkaline. It is slightly darker, smoother, and more easily dissolved than natural cocoa. In many recipes, natural cocoa and Dutch cocoa are not interchangeable. Natural cocoa is slightly acidic and will therefore chemically react with baking soda to create carbon dioxide bubbles and some leavening power. Dutch cocoa is slightly alkaline, will not react with baking soda, and must rely on baking powder for leavening.
Bitter Baking Chocolate
Bitter (unsweetened) baking chocolate is made from pure chocolate liquor. By specification, it must contain 50 to 58 percent cocoa butter though with inferior products, vegetable oil may he added. Depending on the producer, milk solids, vanilla, or salt may be added. Unsweetened chocolate definitely has a bitter taste and relies on sweeteners in the recipe to make it yummy.
Sweet Baking Chocolate
Sweet baking chocolate, both bittersweet and semisweet chocolate have sugar added. These products must contain 35 to 50% cocoa butter but may have as little as 15% chocolate liquor. Because unsweetened chocolate has twice the chocolate liquor, we prefer to use unsweetened chocolate in most of our baking.
Bittersweet and semisweet chocolate can be used interchangeably in recipes though there is a difference in flavor. Often, bittersweet is a more expensive chocolate and to many, a better, richer-flavored chocolate.
Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is made with ten percent chocolate liquor. It contains a minimum of twelve percent milk solids. Because it has such a low percentage of chocolate liquor, rarely is it melted and added to batter or dough.
White Chocolate
White chocolate contains no chocolate liquor but is made with cocoa butter. Historically, the FDA has not regulated the manufacture of white chocolate so you need to read labels carefully. If the product was made with vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter, it will not perform the same as a product with cocoa butter.
Chocolate Chips
Chocolate chips are made with chocolate liquor with only minimal amounts of cocoa butter. Instead, they are made with vegetable oil and stabilizers to help them hold their shape. Without the cocoa butter, chocolate chips have a different taste and mouth feel. Chocolate chips will have a firmer set in puddings, pie fillings, and sauces than baking chocolate.
A Bakers Guide To Chocolate
And there you have it! The nuts and bolts of chocolate, well at least some basics. If you want to dive into more details about chocolate, take a look at our post on Everything You Need To Know About Chocolate.
You’ve now been introduced to the different types of chocolates and their uses. Whether you are a novice or an expert baker, this guide should help you bake your way through recipes with confidence! And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter so that we can send you new baking ideas as well as recipe updates. We want to make sure that you have all the information needed to be able to succeed in the kitchen!
And just a fun fact for the day: Did you know that a farmer must wait four to five years for a cacao tree to produce its first beans.
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