Defining Chocolate and Understanding Its History
Overall, if you’re looking to satisfy a sweet craving, you’ll get the most benefits from dark chocolate, not milk or white chocolate varieties. As a rule of thumb, the more bitter the taste, the higher the cocoa content. Moreover, to reap the health benefits of chocolate without adding too many calories to your plate, dietitians usually recommend limiting your dark chocolate intake to 1 oz per day.
Cocoa powder is perfect for adding to smoothies, puddings, and even coffee. Baker’s chocolate is used just as the name suggests — for baking. It comes in unsweetened, sweetened, and semisweet varieties. Unsweetened versions are likely to have the most cocoa content. You can check the ingredient labels to be sure there aren’t any additives, like milk, sugar, or butter. Check out the following recipes for additional inspiration:
Coconut chocolate bars that can easily be made keto- or paleo-friendlyFreezer-friendly chocolate peanut butter cups that get extra flavor from maple syrup, vanilla, and sea saltAn indulgent chocolate coconut almond tart that’s naturally gluten-free and veganA twist on a classic recipe for dark chocolate chip cookies that are kept moist by applesauceA chocolate banana smoothie that is hiding a secret, good-for-you green ingredient: spinach!
Lindt Excellence 70 Percent Cocoa BarGhirardelli Twilight Delight Intense Dark 72 Percent Cacao BarGreen and Black’s Organic 85 Percent Cacao BarImlak’esh Organics Cacao NibsLindt Excellence 85 Percent Cocoa Bar
Additional reporting by Laura McArdle.
