DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR BAKING OR COOKING WITH CHOCOLATE?
- When baking with chocolate, always consider its quality. The quality of your ingredients is of utmost importance.
- To maintain the quality of chocolate, storing conditions are extremely important. Chocolate should always be well wrapped and stored in a dry cool place (ideally, 60 - 65°F). Never store in the refrigerator or freezer, doing so may cause condensation, which may result in sugar bloom. Store away from direct sunlight.
- When melting chocolate, it is best to chop into small pieces for fast and even melting. A serrated knife is recommended to chop chocolate.
- Boost the flavor of chocolate by adding some espresso powder to your formula. A small amount espresso enhances the flavor of chocolate without adding coffee flavor to your recipe.
- When baking cakes, consider adding cocoa powder to the greased pan instead of flour to prevent the cake from sticking. This will provide an additional layer of flavor and better color to your cake.
- Never substitute chocolate in a formula for chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are designed to maintain its shape and have additives that may interfere with your formulation.
- Use clean and dry tools. Water is the enemy of chocolate, one drop can ruin a whole batch of melted chocolate.
- Natural and alkalized cocoa powders are not interchangeable in a formula. The “dutching” treatment of cocoa, results in a cocoa powder with milder flavor and darker color. Natural cocoa has a strong taste and pronounced bitterness; it is also acidic, which will influence the pH of your formula.
WE ARE STILL WORKING TOWARD A RETURN TO NORMALCY. WHAT ASPECTS OF CHOCOLATE MAKE IT A GOOD INGREDIENT FOR THIS ENVIRONMENT?
Chocolate is comforting and indulgent. We are living through very stressful and unpredictable times. Consumers are seeking comfort and small indulgences to cope with everyday life. Consumers are looking for that sweet pleasurable moment to boost their mood.
Dark chocolate is perceived as healthy due to its antioxidants; consider offerings emphasizing health and wellness. Design offerings for dietary needs like plant based or gluten-free. This strategy makes business sense since these dietary needs continue growing year after year.
Consumers are also inclined to nostalgic flavors like birthday cake or s’mores. Consider adding these offerings to your menu.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT CHOCOLATE CAN BE LEVERAGED ON AN OPERATOR'S MENU BEYOND DESSERTS?
Consumers love chocolate. Chocolate desserts are certainly a best seller on a menu. But why not bring it to the front of the page? Consumers are looking for experiences; moments that they can share with family and friends on social media. Provide them with that opportunity offering chocolate dishes throughout the menu.
Here are some ideas:
Brunch: Chocolate pancakes or waffles paired with crispy bacon or pork belly can attract customers.
Barbecue: Chocolate can be considered in rubs, marinades, and sauces due to its complex and versatile flavors.
Beverages: Consider adding to your menu interesting offerings like Mexican Hot Chocolate in which you add a little spice to your drink. Unexpected flavor combinations are always exciting.
Throughout: From acid to bitter, or roasted, spicy and sweet, chocolate is an ingredient that can provide exceptionally rich flavors to your dishes; Mexican mole is a great example.
WHAT ARE SOME UNIQUE FLAVORS, SPICES, FRUIT/FLORALS, ETC. THAT ARE EMERGING?
Unexpected flavor combinations are always exciting, and chocolate is always a great vessel to experiment. Chocolatiers are combining chocolate with ingredients like bacon, smoked salt, matcha, and ginger. These flavors can be transferred to baking applications for an interesting new flavor in your menu. Consider fresh baked chocolate chip cookies with crispy bacon or a smooth and creamy chocolate mousse with sugared ginger.
Consumers are also very interested in sustainable and ethical business practices. If the chocolate you are sourcing is single origin and adheres to the practices mentioned before, make sure you communicate this information to your customers.
