Every baker is well acquainted with the different types of baking chocolates available in the market.
However, baking chocolate or choco bake is the main ingredient in recipes like cakes, brownies, and frostings.
The interesting fact is that the purest version of choco bake has zero sugar; however, many leading chocolate brands offer various sweetened versions that you can choose from.
It might get confusing to pick the perfect choco bake in the present day and age as there are several variations available.
Unless a recipe asks for a certain type, it’s best to stick with the unsweetened version.
If by any chance you wonder, what can I use in place of Choco Bake?
There are quite a few amazing Choco bake substitutes.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s get into the details.
What Is Choco Bake?
Choco bake or baking chocolate is also commonly referred to as bitter chocolate or unsweetened chocolate.
According to U.S standards, there should be 50 – 58 % cocoa butter in unsweetened chocolate.
However, when vanilla, lecithin, and sugar are added, we get sweet, semi-sweet, or bittersweet chocolate, depending upon the sugar content.
It comes in the form of a bar, and if you happen to take a bite of it, you will see how bitter it tastes owing to no sugar being added.
However, various types such as semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or bitter versions are available in the market.
Check out our top picks of pan with removable bottom that every bakers need.
Using Choco Bake
As it isn’t really a hot treat on its own, its main purpose is to be used in recipes when making cakes, fudge icing, and brownies.
Keep in mind that these recipes will incorporate sugar that will enhance the chocolate’s flavor. Incorporating unsweetened chocolate facilitates the chemical reactions taking place by controlling the sweetener’s amount.
If you plan on using semi-sweet morsels in place of unsweetened choco bake, you will increase the amount of sugar in your recipe, causing the cake to sink or your cookies to burn. Always remember to keep your sugar ratio in check.
Choco Bake Substitute
Many of us’ home bakers don’t always have a choc bake bar at hand when the need arises.
So, what do we do when we think of what can I use in place of Choco Bake?
However, there are quite a few Choco bake substitutes that you can use in place of the desired choco bake.
So, let’s look at them in detail:
General recipes
To substitute a packet of unsweetened choco bake, take three tablespoons of baking cocoa along with a tablespoon of vegetable shortening.
You can also melt and then cool one ounce of unsweetened chocolate squares.
Choco bake Substitute For Fudgy brownies
If you need a choco bake substitute when making fudgy brownies, you will need all-purpose flour around one ⅓ cups and a ¼ teaspoon each of salt and baking soda.
Take a separate bowl and mix granulated sugar around ⅔ cups, half a cup of melted butter along with an equivalent of 4 packets of choco bake substitute (you can use the one mentioned in the first point), along with two eggs.
Carefully whisk in ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of water, and then add the dry ingredients.
Your batter is ready to hit the oven.
Cocoa powder
Another easy way to conjure up a choco bake substitute is by mixing three tablespoons of cocoa powder with a tablespoon of shortening or oil.
So how do you go about this?
Start by melting the shortening or butter in a microwave or on the stove.
Then start stirring the cocoa powder in till it gets dissolved.
Viola! Your choco bake substitute is ready.
You can use around one batch for every 1 oz of unsweetened choco bake required in your recipe.
If you are looking for excellent quality cocoa powder, consider buying HERSHEY’S Natural Unsweetened 100% Cocoa.
This natural and unsweetened cocoa powder delivers a rich taste and makes any chocolate dessert too good to be true.
Another must-have cocoa powder is Ghirardelli Unsweetened Dutch Process Cocoa Pouch, which is 100% pure cocoa and is unsweetened.
Semi-sweet Choco bake substitute
If you are looking for a substitute for a semi-sweet choco bake, you can make one yourself, or you can choose from several other options.
You can take bittersweet baking chocolate in an equal amount instead of semi-sweet choco bake, and you will barely feel any difference in the overall taste.
All you have to do is add a little more sugar to adjust the sweetness, and there won’t be any need to add extra oil or butter.
If you happen to have unsweetened baking chocolate lying around in your pantry, mix it up with some sugar.
Add a tablespoon of sugar for every single ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate.
You can use this to substitute it ounce wise for the semi-sweet Choco bake required in the recipe.
By using this method, you won’t need to add any extra oil or butter.
You can try Callebaut 7030 70.4% Dark Bittersweet Chocolate to make your yummy sweet treats in no time.
You can also use Ghirardelli Premium Baking Bar 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate in place of your semi-sweet choco bake and bake your heart out.
Either of these chocolates will be the perfect replacement for any sweet recipe.
Final Words
Who said finding the perfect choco bake substitute can be an impossible task?
With so many options available, you are bound to land with the perfect pick.
It all comes down to the type of choco bake required in the recipe, and you can easily conjure up the ideal substitute.
However, there are a few final tips that you should always keep in mind, for starters never use unsweetened choco bake in recipes that don’t add sugar.
The next is to be aware of the type of choco bake required in the recipe, such as sweetened, bitter, unsweetened, etc.
Once you have all of this sorted, finding a choco bake substitute will be a piece of cake.
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