Tag Archive: cocoa powder

raw chocolate

What Is Raw Chocolate And Why You Should Try It

Have you heard about dark chocolate being a better option than milk chocolates when it comes to health benefits? But did you know that raw chocolate is an even better choice? What is raw chocolate and why should you choose it over your favorite famous sugar-processed chocolate bar? Here’s why.

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how to store chocolate

How To Store Chocolate And Keep It Fresh

Holiday season means chocolate gift giving! And because a lot of people love giving chocolates as gifts, we tend to end up with a box full of it. With all the leftover food from all the celebrations, where are we going to keep our precious chocolate bars to make sure they remain fresh and yummy? Here are 5 tips on how to store chocolate.

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cacao nibs

All About Cacao Nibs – Nature’s Chocolate Chips

By now you’ve probably already heard about cacao nibs or there’s a big possibility you’ve seen them at your local stores. And now you’re wondering… Are they chocolate? Can I eat them raw? What are they for? Well, today, my friends, we will talk all about cacao nibs.

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cacao and cocoa

Cacao and Cocoa – What’s the Difference?

Are you confused about the difference between cacao and cocoa? Well, you are not alone. There is actually a lot of misunderstandings about these two, but they pretty much have a lot in common (Hint: Chocolate). Let’s get to know more about them, shall we?

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cacao butter

What Is Cacao Butter (Or Cocoa Butter)

You’ve probably heard about cacao butter and you’re wondering what it is and what is so special about it. In fact, a lot of people haven’t heard about it before. That is why today, we are all going to learn about it.

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Swiss Town Covered in Cocoa Snow

Let's take a moment to imagine snow during the summer. Gross, right? How dare I even bring it up! Snow in August isn't fun to think about (at least not in the northern hemisphere!), but what if that snow was... chocolate?

In the Swiss town of Olten on a warm Friday in August, this dream become a strange reality.

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Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle

During a snack break on a recent bike ride, a friend of mine offered me a taste of her Brownie Brittle. How could I refuse with a name like Brownie Brittle?

Brownie Brittle is bite-sized, very thin, cracker-like brownie pieces. It’s supposed to remind you of eating the well done edges of a brownie.

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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

Chia seed is neutral in flavor but provides the thickening and creates a unique texture in this pudding.

This is the recipe for the pudding I used in my review of Penzeys Natural High Fat Cocoa.

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Penzeys Natural High Fat Cocoa Review

Sometimes I get asked, “Why does cocoa powder come in different shades of brown depending on the brand I buy?” This is a very good observation as cocoa powder comes in a range of colors from light brown to deep brown, from red to black, and many shades in between. 

The general cocoa powder making process consists of squeezing out the cocoa butter after the cocoa beans are crushed into liquid form. This liquid, also known as chocolate liquor or unsweetened baking chocolate, is poured into a hydraulic press.

When the chocolate liquor is pressed, the cocoa butter is separated from the cocoa solids. The cocoa solids become hard cakes of cocoa which are then dried, broken apart, and pulverized into a powder.

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Chocolate Vanilla Chip Biscotti Recipe CUO

Chocolate Vanilla Chip Biscotti Recipe

Autumn has lovely weather for enjoying some espresso and biscotti. Like peanut butter and jam, some things simply pair well together.

Chocolate Recipe CUO

You can curl up with a fall-festive plaid blanket and delight in this tasty biscotti recipe.

Backwards from the tradition of added chocolate chips, this recipe melds a cocoa base with vanilla chips for a unique and comforting taste.

Perfect with your favorite cup o' Joe!

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