Cocoa powder is produced similarly to cacao except cocoa undergoes a higher temperature of heat during processing. Surprisingly, it still retains a large amount of antioxidants in the process and is still excellent for your heart, skin, blood pressure, and even your stress levels
And what about Dutch-processed?
Dutch-processed cocoa powder (dark cocoa) is cocoa powder that has been processed with an alkalized solution, making it less acidic and much richer in taste. Regular cocoa powder retains a more acidic nature and bitter taste, and is used in baking recipes with baking soda where Dutch-processed cocoa powder is not since it has already been alkalized. Generally speaking your should add a bit of baking powder to recipes that use dutch-processed. Like wise if you are using Dutch-processed to replace a recipe using regular cocoa powder, you will need to add some acid in the form of baking soda, if the recipe doesn’t already call for it.
- Guittard Dutch-processed is fabulous in all of my cake recipes. I love the dark chocolate flavor.
- Scharffen Berger cocoa – Be still my heart! Have you every made a Scharffen Berger Brownie? Over. The. Top.
- Valhrona cocoa – Just take a look at the color. Notice how dark and rich in color it is? Fabulous in brownies, cakes, cookies, ice cream (oh ya), Have you ever tried a Valhrona Chocolate Bouchon? Heaven…absolute heaven.
Chocolate Cakes with Hazelnut Buttercream
Chocolate Beetroot Cake with Cardamom Rose Buttercream
Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Buttercream
You will find more chocolate recipes in my recipe index. I think it’s pretty obvious I prefer chocolate cakes.
Have I mentioned chocolate is my favorite food group?
All cocoa powders were purchased from Amazon.
Hello!!! I read your post and is amazing I’m from Mexico and i recently started in this dessert world so it becomes difficult for me understand some things SO could I use my cocoa natural powder to make a drink???
Hi Tawnya, Yes! You can use your natural cocoa powder in a drink. Natural cocoa powder is not sweetened, so you can add a sweetener if you’d like. Happy baking!