It's chocolate time - a time when everything chocolates will be baked , whipped or melted for Valentine's Day treats. Yet many are at a loss about when to use powdered cocoa or chocolate candy. Surprisingly it's easy to remember what to use for what sweet recipe.
Many novice home bakers ask what is cocoa powder.Is it the same as hot cocoa mix? No! It's a powder made from the dry solids of coca beans remaining after the cocoa butter is extracted.Keep in mind that there are two types. One, Dutch is not as bitter tasting thanks to being treated to an alkali to reduce the acidity without it cocoa powder can be bitter and acidic.What should you use? Either one will work in nay cake, cookie and cupcake recipe.Dutch chocolate will give baked goods a more chocolate-y flavor. while untreated coca powder will give a fruitier or slightly bitter flavor to the batter or dough.Baking with Dutch cocoa powder will also give the finished product a deeper richer color. What about frosting and glaze? Yes, Dutch cocoa powder will give the icing a rich fudgey look and taste.Don;t use regular cocoa powder for your frostings (unless it;s the only one your store sells).It won.t give the icing that smoothness necessary for piping and swirls. You can also use Dutch cocoa bars which are like candy bars. This creates a very silky texture.
Candy is a huge part of Valentine's Day, Homemade treats are always beloved. yet a lot of novice candy makers are in a dither as to what kind to use? Milk? Dark? White or pastel? The best chocolate to use is a real chocolate or coverture. This is a chocolate that contains more cocoa butter than the chips used for baking.It gives the finished product a smoother finish and a glossier, shinier look.There's also a snap sound when it's bitten into.Most candy makers swear by GHradelli's melting wafers. You can get fresh strawberries and cherries right now so consider these for a luscious treat. Keep in mind that pretzels are also good dipped .Use the same chocolate - couverture -for dipping.A fun sweet is taking pretzel logs and then first dipping them in caramel and then chocolate. You could also use milk and white chocolate couverture for this too. After the logs are dipped in chocolate roll them in heart shaped sprinkles for added cuteness and appeal. A truly decadent gift are homemade truffles. Many home candy makers are put off by the recipe because they fear it's too hard.Yet they're relatively easy to create. They;re just ganache .You just need cream, butter and chocolate.warm a scant tablespoon of butter with a cup of heavy cream or whipping cream. This is them poured over chopped chocolate and then stirred together. Refrigerate for two hours until the mixture is set. Roll into small balls and then roll in whatever your loved one loves. Try chopped pistachios for color or coconut flakes for more flavor. Have fun with them.
Baking and making rich chocolate treats is easy. Use the right cocoa powder or couverture to create mouth watering sweets. It'sa fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day!
Posts
