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What is Cocoa powder substitute?

Cacao is a delicious food and drink. It is very beneficial to human health. However, some people are allergic to Cacao or sensitive to its caffeine content. So, how do they often enjoy this delicious dish? We will give you some suggestions about the substitute of Cocoa powder

What is Cocoa powder substitute?

There are three best recipes for substitutes of Cocoa.

  • Dutch processed cocoa powder
  • Unsweetened baking chocolate
  • Carob powder and chocolate chips

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Cocoa substitute 

1. Dutch processed cocoa powder.

Throughout your many baking adventures, you may have noticed some chocolate recipes. For example, there is a recipe called “Dutch process cocoa.” It seems unnecessary to have two types of cocoa powder in your pantry. But you need to remember that you can use dutch processed cocoa as a substitute for cocoa powder.

Anyway, natural cocoa powder is Dutch-style sea-brewed cocoa powder still different. Not only do they taste different, but they react differently on a chemical level.

For baking purposes, it can substitute natural cocoa and Dutch processed cocoa in small amounts. But if you replace it entirely, your cake will fail.

Just keep in mind that Dutch-processed cocoa has a milder flavor and darker color than natural cocoa.

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The difference between natural chocolate and dutch process cocoa 

2. Unsweetened baking chocolate

This is the first substitute for cocoa powder. The recipe for unsweetened chocolate is straightforward.

Preparation

  • Unsweetened baking chocolate
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder

Recipe

You melt that bar of unsweetened baking chocolate until it becomes melted chocolate. So let’s use every 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder for 1 ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate.

You can be more creative by adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil. 1 tablespoon of butter oil or shortening is also good. 

This substitution doesn’t make your dish more sugary. It just adds fat content to your dish.

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Unsweetened baking chocolate 

3. Carob powder and chocolate chips 

People use carob powder as a cocoa substitute. So do chocolate chips. If you are allergic to chocolate or caffeine, you can use carob powder and carob chips as substitutes for cocoa.

View more: Corn Flour Substitute

What is “unsweetened cocoa powder”?

As we all know, cocoa combined with a bit of sugar seems to create a delicious flavor and a little bit of fat. Natural cocoa powder is perfect for the health of small children and the elderly. However, sugar is not suitable for the body. So we can use unsweetened cocoa powder instead. But have you ever tried to drink cocoa without sugar?

Unsweetened cocoa powder is currently popular with many people. It is both a delicious drink and very healthy. Thus, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder as a substitute for cocoa.

The delicious cocoa powder you can easily find in the market. However, you do not have to buy enough ingredients to make a delicious cup of cocoa. You need to know how to combine more with notes. We will show how to make unsweetened cocoa in the next section. 

How to make delicious standard sugar-free cocoa powder?

1. What water do you mix unsweetened cocoa powder with?

This is also a common question of many people when they want to drink cocoa. There is a way to dissolve the unsweetened cocoa in water. You should put the powder in hot water at about 70 – 80 degrees Celsius. Then the cocoa will quickly dissolve. It will have a fatter flavor than mixing with warm or cold water.

2. Mix the right amount of cocoa powder

Not every amount of cocoa powder, when drinking, will have a more pungent flavor. The fact that we use a lot of unsweetened cocoa powder just makes it insoluble. This is both a waste of cocoa and not a good flavor.

You should only mix about 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder with 200 ml of hot water. If the water increases, add the corresponding amount of cocoa powder.

3. How to stir cocoa properly?

You need to put all the ingredients in a glass. The stirring stage will significantly determine the quality of that cup of cocoa. You can take a whisk to beat the cocoa as much as possible. Or you can stir until frothy.

How to make chocolate from cocoa powder?

1. Preparation

  • 2 cups (220 g) cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) unsalted cocoa butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar (recommended powdered sugar)
  • 2/3 cup (150 ml) milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
  • 1 cup (235 ml) of water

2. Recipe

  • Mix cocoa powder and butter.

Place softened butter and cocoa powder in a bowl. Then mix and stir until they become a smooth paste.

Put the mixture in the bowl.

  • Water bath

Pour water (1 cup) into about 1/4 of the pot. Place the bowl containing the chocolate mixture into the saucepan of water. Turn down the heat to low and bring the water to a boil.

Bring the water to a boil, often stirring, until the mixture is hot. Using a plastic spatula, scrape the dark chocolate on the sides of the pot regularly to avoid burning. When the combination is now hot chocolate (but not boiling), put it back in the bowl or blender. Mix or blend until the paste becomes smooth.

  • Mix in sugar and milk.

While stirring, add sugar and milk to the mixture. Mix well until the dough becomes thick and smooth. After that, season with more sugar and salt (if needed).

  • Shaping chocolate

Pour mixture into molds or ice cube trays. Place the chocolate mixture in the fridge. Wait for solidified chocolate.

  • Finished product

Take out the chocolate and sprinkle on some powdered sugar. Now you can enjoy your chocolate!

Frequently Asked Questions 

cocoa powder substitute

Chocolate substitute – substitute cocoa  

1. How to make unsweetened cocoa with condensed milk?

Many people, when making cocoa, do not usually make it with sugar. However, the advice for you is to replace the sugar with condensed milk. Because of this, the flavor of cocoa will be sweeter and help to dissolve more quickly. It does not leave sugar residue when drinking.

The ratio of unsweetened cocoa powder to regular condensed milk is 1: 1. It is suitable for those who love the bitter taste of cocoa powder. You can mix it in a 1:2 ratio for those who like the sweet and fatty taste of milk.

In addition, you can also use fresh milk and honey to make unsweetened cocoa powder. They all bring a fatty taste and highly delicious flavor.

Related: Chili bean paste substitute

2. Should I drink a lot of unsweetened cocoa powder?

Unsweetened cocoa has a delicious, attractive taste. However, it would help if you did not overdo it.

Every day you should only drink about 2 glasses, equivalent to about 500ml of water. Thus, it has provided all the necessary nutrients in the body.

At the same time, cocoa powder is hot. So it would be best if you only drank about 2-3 times a week. You should not consume them continuously for many days. If you use a lot of cocoa powder, it can cause some side effects that affect the user’s health.

Conclusion

This article has provided a lot of knowledge about Cocoa substitutes for you. We hope you can find some interesting ideas with it. Feel free to join us if you encounter any difficulties.

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