You might think that chocolate is pretty self-explanatory, but when it comes to baking, there are several things you should know.
Keep reading to learn more about how chocolate is made, the many flavors to choose from, and how to bake a perfectly flavored dessert every time.
How Chocolate Is Made
The best way to know which chocolate to buy for your next creation is to understand how it’s made. Chocolate begins as a small bean and everything that happens after that affects how it will be used. First, cocoa beans are harvested from their pods and then dried and roasted to enhance their flavor. Next, the shells are removed leaving the nibs, which are ground coarsely and melted into chocolate liquor. Finally, the chocolate liquor is mixed with cocoa butter to make many varieties of chocolate.
Flavors
Chocolate is made by combining cocoa solids with cocoa butter. Each flavor has a different percentage of cocoa butter and solids that reside within the chocolate.
- Milk Chocolate - (10-30%) This is the sweetest of all chocolate products.
- Semisweet Chocolate - (30-60%) The flavors of semisweet chocolate straddle between sweet milk chocolate and bitter dark chocolate.
- Bittersweet Chocolate - (30-60%) This is often referred to as “dark chocolate” and is quite bitter on the flavor scale.
- Unsweetened Chocolate - (99%) Unsweetened chocolate is extremely bitter and contains no added sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids, or other ingredients.
Using Your Chocolate
Now that you’ve selected your flavor preference, it’s time to understand how to get the most use out of your chocolate.
- Melting - There are many ways to melt chocolate from the simplicity of a microwave to a double-broiler on the stove. No matter the method you choose, the key is to not overheat! Adding a small amount of water and whisking consistently will help with this issue.
- Molding - Using a chocolate mold can elevate your baking to a level that’s sure to impress your friends. Transfer your melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle and then slowly pour it into each mold. Be sure to slightly overfill each section. When you’re finished, tap it a couple of times to remove any air bubbles and then refrigerate the mold for 1-2 hours.
- Baking - The key to baking with chocolate is to always use the best quality option you have in the house. For flavor that will enhance and enrich your recipe, we recommend using couverture chocolate.
- Storing - Always store chocolate in a cool, dry place and never refrigerate it. Seal it in an air-tight container in a dark place for best results.
Elevate Your Baking With Spoons ‘n Spice
Now that you’re well-versed on all things chocolate, stop by Spoons ‘n Spice to pick up everything you need to create the perfect chocolatey recipe. With over 17,000 items in stock, we’re confident that we have what you’re looking for.
We currently offer online shopping, in-store pickup, and curbside pickup. Just give us a call when you arrive and we’ll bring the item you purchased right to your car.
We’re located in the Sugarhouse Shopping Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact us at [email protected] or call 801-263-1898 with any questions you might have today!