Recipes for making chocolate from cocoa and cocoa butter at home

Homemade chocolate is especially popular among those with a sweet tooth, true connoisseurs of such delicacies. Not everyone has the opportunity to treat themselves to expensive, high-quality desserts sold in stores, so they have to buy inexpensive sweets that contain additives, flavors and preservatives.

It’s easy to solve this problem; you can make chocolate yourself using natural ingredients and step-by-step recipes, which can be found in abundance on the Internet. Despite the fact that the taste of a homemade dessert differs from that of a store-bought one, the result is in no way inferior, and sometimes even superior.

Principles, features of the technological process

Homemade chocolate, made from cocoa butter and cocoa mass, turns out tender, soft, tasty, and refined. Cooking at home requires following clear rules, otherwise you will not be able to achieve the desired result.

How to make real chocolate at home in a short period of time. It is prohibited to use low-quality ingredients. The basic ingredients for chocolate are:

• honey;
• cocoa butter and powder;
• milk;
• butter;
• sugar;
• nuts, dried fruits.

If you use fewer ingredients, homemade chocolate will not be as tasty, enjoyable, or of high quality.

1. To properly prepare a delicacy at home, it is important to adhere to strict temperature treatment. According to the rules, it cannot be more than thirty-two degrees. This is determined by hands: you need to touch the mass, it should not burn the skin.
2. According to experts, you should not put the chocolate mixture on fire; you should use a steam bath.
3. Try making a small portion. It is important that you are satisfied with the taste and aroma of the dessert.
4. If a filler is needed for cooking, it is added alternately with chocolate, or rather, in layers.

By following these rules, you can prepare a tasty, healthy treat without any problems. As for the filling, use:

• peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts;
• wafer crumbs;
• dried apricots, prunes;
• fresh citrus fruit zest.

It is crushed, then put into hot chocolate mass, stirred thoroughly, then poured into special molds.

Use in cosmetologists

In the cosmetic field, cocoa butter in powder and solid form is used for the following purposes:

• anti-cellulite massage – fat burning occurs due to caffeine;
• moisturizing dry skin;
• protection from dust, dirt, wind, low temperatures and ultraviolet rays;
• improvement of the condition of hands and nails;
• heel care, softening the skin of the feet;
• lip care for chapping, excessive dryness, cracks in the corners of the lips;
• to strengthen eyebrows and eyelashes;
• care for the skin around the eyes, removing swelling and dark circles;
• to strengthen hair, accelerate its growth, prevent excessive hair loss;
• prevention and elimination of postpartum stretch marks.

The classic way to make chocolate

For natural chocolate made from cocoa and cocoa butter, the recipe suggests using only natural ingredients. The secret to this store-bought treat is simple. To make an original copy, you will definitely need cocoa butter, otherwise you won’t get a tasty treat. This component is designed to maintain the desired shape. Please note that chocolate without cocoa butter is no less tasty. Don't despair if you can't get your hands on this ingredient. You can't replace cocoa butter, but it's worth trying to cook without it.

Ingredients:

• grated cocoa – 210 grams;
• butter – 25 grams;
• powdered sugar – 110 grams;
• cocoa butter – 55 grams.

Cooking technology:

1. Prepare all the necessary ingredients; this combination of grated and cocoa butter will help you achieve the perfect result.
2. Place both types of oil in a steam bath.
3. The specified proportion of grated cocoa and powdered sugar are added to the resulting mixture. Stir the composition until smooth.
4. Cool the finished mixture and place it in the refrigerator until completely solidified.

Serve the finished dessert with tea or coffee.

Benefits for women

The benefits of cocoa butter for women are primarily for cosmetic purposes. The product moisturizes the skin, increases its tone and elasticity, and smoothes wrinkles.

Polyphenols and tryptophan present in the composition affect the production of the hormone endorphin, which has a positive effect on the emotional state, having a calming effect. This property of cocoa butter is especially relevant during PMS. And thanks to its relaxing effect on blood vessels, it will help reduce pain in the lower abdomen.

Benefits for men

Cocoa butter, thanks to the neurotransmitter dopamine, stimulates libido. In case of erectile dysfunction, dopamine significantly increases libido and helps restore potency. Regular consumption of cocoa butter will prolong sexual intercourse, preventing premature ejaculation.

Dark chocolate also contains zinc, which stimulates the production of testosterone, which is responsible for “male” health.

Benefits for children

Cocoa butter should appear in a child’s diet only after 3 years. The product can cause an allergic reaction, so you should start using it with a small piece. It contains potassium and phosphorus, which are involved in the formation and development of the child’s nervous system. High-quality cocoa butter has a positive effect on intestinal motility. In addition, after eating a portion, the child’s mood and energy charge improves.

How to make vanilla chocolate with dried fruits and nuts

Homemade treats are very popular, so you need to know some recipes. If you don’t have extra time, then a simple cocoa chocolate recipe will do.

Products you will need:

• fresh milk – 110 ml;
• vanillin – 0.5 tsp;
• cocoa – 5 large spoons;
• butter – 130 g;
• powdered sugar – 200 g;
• nuts, dried fruits, raisins - to taste.

Cooking technology:

1. Pour the milk into a small container and place on the stove to heat up.
2. Add powder, vanillin, stir.
3. Prepare a steam bath, where you need to melt the butter and pour it into the milk mixture.
4. Add cocoa, keep on low heat for twenty-five minutes.
5. Before pouring the mixture into special molds, add the selected filling.
6. Place in the refrigerator until completely frozen.

The proposed recipe is simple, quite refined, and even a novice pastry chef can handle it.

Rules for selection and storage

When choosing cocoa butter, you should pay attention to the integrity of the packaging; documents confirming compliance with GOST requirements; no unpleasant odor; compliance with expiration dates. After opening the package, there should be a yellowish or beige mass inside with a characteristic chocolate aroma.

The product should be stored in a dark place, out of direct sunlight. The temperature should not exceed 25 ⁰ C; in the summer heat, the product should be stored in the refrigerator.

If the above conditions are met, the oil can be stored for 3-5 years.

How to make carob dessert

Chocolate is a favorite treat of many children and adults, which is prepared even at home. Carob is a powder obtained from the pods growing on the carob tree. This ingredient is similar to chocolate. The main difference is in the aroma and taste, which are much more intense, brighter, and there is no usual bitterness.

It is impossible not to mention the valuable medicinal properties of carob, since it contains three times less calories, does not contain theobromine, caffeine, fats, and does not harm the skin.

Carob composition:

• sodium;
• iron;
• protein;
• vitamins A, B;
• phosphorus, potassium.

Considering the composition and benefits, it is allowed even for small children.

A nutritious milk drink is prepared from it, which turns out to be very tasty and nutritious. A kind of hot chocolate made from carob. It will be useful even for people suffering from diabetes, as it does not increase glucose levels and normalizes metabolism.

Recipe Ingredients:

• honey – 1 tablespoon;
• cocoa butter – 120 grams;
• carob – 100 grams;
• almonds and orange zest - to taste.

Cooking algorithm:

1. Place the oil in a steam bath. The ingredient must not boil or overheat.
2. Mix honey with carob. For a delicate taste, only light varieties of this component are used; to obtain dark chocolate, dark ones are used.
3. The finished mixture must be homogeneous, avoid the formation of lumps.
4. The mass is laid out on a silicone mold for candies or a glass container. The surface can be decorated with orange zest and nuts. The finished dessert is eaten without restrictions or harm to health.

Composition and calorie content

Cocoa butter is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, its energy value is 99.9% fat. The product is high-calorie - 899 kcal per 100 grams of product. The composition contains the following fatty acids:

• linoleic;
• oleic;
• stearic;
• lauric;
• traces of arachidic acid.

In addition to fatty acids, the product contains useful substances and vitamins - magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, iodine, caffeine, vitamins A, B, C, E and F. The composition also contains the substance phenylthylamine, which is identical to the chemical substance that appears in a person in love.

Homemade milk chocolate

What is tastier and healthier than desserts made with your own hands? When it comes to sweets, there are no other options. Therefore, it is worthwhile to prepare delicate milk chocolate. The delicacy turns out to be tender, aromatic, delicious, and healthy. Instead of grated cocoa, they even use powder; there’s nothing wrong with that.

It’s quite difficult to find chocolate beans on store shelves, but you can make a milky treat without them. Please note that the result you get at home will be slightly different from the usual store-bought treat. This does not mean that such chocolate is no less healthy and tasty.

For cooking you need the following components:

• cocoa – 400 g;
• milk – 160 milliliters;
• flour – 50 g;
• powdered sugar –100 g;
• butter – 160 g.

Step by step recipe:

1. Never use sugar, it is better to use powder, because it dissolves well, and the texture of the treat is much more tender and soft.
2. Grind the butter thoroughly with cocoa powder, use a deep container to do this. A blender or food processor works great. You should end up with a thick substance.
3. Pour water into a saucepan, boil, then cook the milky treat in a steam bath.
4. Heat the butter and cocoa mixture, stirring thoroughly. Don't forget to skim any drips that form on the sides of the bowl. Otherwise, the taste of the finished chocolate will suffer, and the texture itself will deteriorate.
5. After two minutes, add powdered sugar, flour, and milk. Stir, remove lumps. Pour into molds, cool in the refrigerator (freezer).

Useful tips

To make the dessert very tasty, you should learn a few tips that will come in handy in practice:

1. To diversify the taste of the delicacy, it is recommended to add vanilla or coconut flakes or some spices.
2. To obtain a homogeneous mixture, it is better to use a blender when mixing products.
3. After cooking, the mixture does not need to be cooled in the freezer; this can be done on the top shelf of the refrigerator. If you do this, the delicacy will have a very soft consistency.
4. Sometimes sugar is replaced with honey to make the treat healthier. As you know, honey cannot be heated too much, otherwise it will lose its properties. After the mixture has cooled, you can add honey to it, then mix everything thoroughly.

During the cooking process, adhere to some nuances. As for cocoa powder, use the finest grind possible. If this is not the case, sift through a sieve. Fillings can be: nuts, flavorings, dried fruits, spices. Store the finished dessert only in the refrigerator, take it out before serving. It’s interesting that homemade milk chocolate is a wonderful gift if you wrap it in foil and make an original wrapper. Sugar and powder are replaced with natural substitutes: jam, syrups, malt, honey. Please note that the consistency of the treat will vary depending on the filling.

So there are healthy, foolproof homemade treat recipes to help you get through the preparation.
Despite the fact that the process seems complicated, there is nothing supernatural in cooking. Ready-made sweets turn out better, even tastier than store-bought ones. Experiment, surprise your relatives and friends with unusual homemade delicacies prepared with your own hands. Almost any housewife, even a beginner, can prepare simple recipes. Bon appetit! In contact with

Cocoa butter substitutes

Expensive cocoa butter can, according to GOST, be replaced with fats based on lauric acid and non-lauric acids. Lauric acid substitutes are obtained from palm kernel and coconut oils. They have a very good texture and aroma. Non-lauric substitutes - are made from modified oils (palm, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower) and may contain hydrogenated fats that are hazardous to health

Cocoa butter is a very valuable natural product, the use of which can improve the condition of the body. It is successfully used in cooking, medicine, pharmaceutical and food industries. Its benefits significantly outweigh the possible negative effects.