Saint InnocentCocoa powder generally comes about from the process that involves roasting and grounding cocoa beans that must have had their fat (cocoa butter) removed before then, one which is known to be rich in antioxidants and a deep, chocolate flavor.
It mostly comes in different varieties of natural (non-alkalized) and Dutch-processed (alkalized), with each one of these varieties comes with its flavor profile, acidity level, and color.
Cocoa powder is of huge importance when it comes to satisfying your chocolate cravings inside of your Baking cakes, cookies, brownies, or protein pancakes. However, on days when they are unavailable for you to make use of, perhaps due to you forgetting to shop for them or you’re just battling a cocoa allergy somehow, that shouldn’t still stop you from satisfying your chocolate cravings.
Should you be interested in discovering some other ways your chocolate cravings can be satisfied that don’t involve Cocoa powder, below have been highlighted 7 of the best substitutes for cocoa powder you can always try out.
Interesting Substitute For Cocoa Powder
1. Chocolate Chips
Chocolate chips are considered the ideal substitute for cocoa powder in the preparation of cookies and muffins, blessing them with its chocolate presence from every bite, backed up by a hint of Cocoa and sweetness.
Coming in different varieties of milk, dark, and white chocolate chips, the choice is yours to make as to which one of them to stick with as your substitute for cocoa powder.
Generally, since they tend to be sweetened by default, you should be thoughtful enough about how to go about adjusting the sugar content in your recipe since you are already guaranteed its chocolate flavor and fat content.
2. Cacao Nibs
Cacao nibs as a substitute for cocoa powder is a raw un proc, used product complemented by cocoa fats, one which is sourced from the process that involves grinding down roasted cocoa nibs to form a paste, which can only be achieved made by use of a blender or food processor.
Though it is not an ideal substitute when it comes to addressing your baking needs, you can always trust and bank on the cacao nibs to come through for you in almost all other recipes.
To get the right proportion of cacao nibs to substitute for cocoa powder, for every recipe that calls for one tablespoon of cocoa powder, stick with one tablespoon of cacao nibs.
3. Dark Chocolate
Based on the preferred choice, dark chocolate holds the bragging rights of being one of the closest cocoa powder substitutes one can have in their custody, a choice of a substitute that is typically made and sourced from dark chocolate bars.
Those with one health complication or another have little or nothing to worry about choosing to stick with this option of a substitute since it is often lower in sugar and cocoa butter when placed in comparison with milk chocolate bars.
Generally, dark chocolate does its magic as a substitute for cocoa powder, mostly inside Brownies, of which it would be expected of you to substitute two tablespoons of dark chocolate for every three tablespoons of cocoa powder your recipe calls for.
4. Couverture
If you are into producing chocolate on a professional level, then the couverture is that choice of substitute for cocoa powder you should be sticking with, especially if you intend to add a rich and glossy finish to your end product.
Ideally, couverture is a great choice of substitute for cocoa powder when it comes to covering cakes and making truffles. However, it can be also used in cake batter only on the condition that you add less fat to offset the extra cocoa butter in the couverture.
Moving on, to get the right amount of couverture to substitute for your cocoa powder, for every three tablespoons of cocoa powder, you can always have them swapped for every four tablespoons of couverture.
Read also, 11 Best Paraffin Wax Substitute For Baking To Try
5. Carob Powder
Carob powder as a substitute for cocoa powder is one with a different flavor profile in the sense that it is a non-chocolate cocoa powder substitute that is known to replicate the sweet and nutty taste of chocolate.
As a substitute for cocoa powder, Carob powder works well in cakes and other baked goods since it has the antioxidants and dietary fiber elements needed in its preparation.
For those with one health complication or the other, it is nice to know that the carob powder contains no caffeine, making it a great choice of substitute for people with heart conditions and sleep problems.
6. Chocolate Spread
For those that would choose to opt for the chocolate spread as their substitute for cocoa powder, it is advisable you only go for the good quality product of chocolate spread you can find in the grocery stores, as you might not get to enjoy the very best of results from this option of a substitute should you choose to do otherwise.
As regards making the right choice of the good quality product of chocolate spread to opt for, make sure you have your eyes glued to the top of their ingredient list to ensure the cocoa powder features at the very top of the ingredients list, as only then you can be assured of making the right choice.
7. Chocolate Syrup
Civil Syrup, as a substitute for cocoa powder, is a must-have inside Desserts such as sundaes and puddings, which ordinarily calls for a drizzle of liquid chocolate inside of its content. Chocolate syrup as a substitute for cocoa powder is at its best when it comes to sweetening Desserts.
However, it is that very choice of substitute for cocoa powder not recommended for persons monitoring their sugar level and intake since its syrups are known to come with a high sugar content.
To arrive at the right amount of chocolate syrup to swap for the cocoa powder, one tablespoon of cocoa powder is equal to two tablespoons of chocolate syrup.
Conclusion
In conclusion, not finding the cocoa powder inside your cabinet shouldn’t stop or discourage you from satisfying your chocolate cravings, as you can always think creatively and try out any one of the aforementioned substitutes for cocoa powder.
Saint Innocent
Emmanuel
