27 Years of Award Winning Baking & Dessert Video Recipes

breakfast & brunch bars & squares cupcakes shortbreads breads youtube channel
about us
recipe index
substitutions
ingredients
glossary
conversions
weight vs volume
apple recipes
pumpkin recipes
cranberry recipes
chocolate recipes
healthy baking
eggless recipes
comfort foods
blueberry recipes
biscotti recipes
pudding recipes
english tea party
trifle recipes
ice cream recipes
strawberry recipes
lemon recipes
thanksgiving baking
candy recipes
halloween baking
valentine's baking
christmas cookies
christmas baking
christmas candy
easter baking
baking history
bibliography

 
Subscribe Now
 

Semi-Sweet and Bittersweet Chocolate

Dark chocolate is another name used to describe any sweetened chocolate that does not contain milk solids i.e.. extra-bittersweet, bittersweet, and semi-sweet.  In general, European dark chocolate refers to bittersweet, while American dark chocolate refers to semi-sweet. The two chocolates are used interchangeably.   However, flavor, texture, and appearance of the finished product may be changed depending on the type and quality of chocolate used.

Semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolates contain cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, and sometimes lecithin (acts as an emulsifier).  The quality and blends of cocoa beans, amount and quality of the added ingredients, and the processing determines the quality of the chocolate.  Each brand has their own special formula and method of processing. 

Bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolates contain at least 35% chocolate liquor in North America and 43% in Britain.  The best chocolates can contain 65-70% chocolate liquor.  The higher the content of chocolate liquor, the more rich and flavorful the chocolate.  Bittersweet chocolate generally has a stronger chocolate flavor.  Semi-sweet chocolate generally contains more sugar than bittersweet.  However, because the amount of sugar this type of chocolate contains is not regulated, what one manufacturer calls bittersweet may be called semi-sweet by another manufacturer.

Semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate, if well wrapped and stored in a cool dry place with good air circulation, will keep several years.

Dark chocolate is widely used in all types pastries, confections, and desserts and is also eaten out of hand. 

 

Printer Friendly Page

Semisweet and Bittersweet Chocolate

3 ounces = 85 grams

"Chocolate contains more than 500 flavors, which makes it more complex than any other food.  No wonder it's capable of satisfying practically everyone's sensory taste."

- Debra Waterhouse, Why Woman Need Chocolate, 1995.

For Information On:

Choosing and Storing Chocolate

There are many good brands of chocolate on the market today, both domestic and foreign.  (The brands I use most are Lindt, Scharffen Berger Semi-Sweet and Guittard.)

Some popular brands are:

Baker's, Callebaut, Cocao Barry, El Rey, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Hersheys, Lindt, Nestle, Perugina, Scharffen Berger, and Valrhona.

Subscribe Now
 
     
 

 

 

New Videos

   
   

 
 

Contact Us   Privacy Policy

Use of materials on all pages on the domains Joyofbaking.com, the Joyofbaking.com Facebook Page, the Joyofbaking1 YouTube Channel and any emails sent from @joyofbaking.com are entirely at the risk of the user and their owner, iFood Media LLC will not be responsible for any damages directly or indirectly resulting from the use.

References cited may include a link to purchase the referenced book or item on Amazon.com. Joyofbaking.com receives a commission on any purchases resulting from these links.

This website and the contents are not endorsed or sponsored by the owner of the "Joy of Cooking" series of books or its publisher Simon & Schuster, Inc. and is not related to the  "Joy the Baker" books and website. Video icons by Asher.

Content in any form may not be copied or used without written permission of Stephanie Jaworski, Joyofbaking.com.  Students and non profit educators may use content without permission with proper credit. 

A baking resource on the Internet since 1997

Copyright  1997 to 2024 iFood Media LLC