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Main Section » Kitchen Tips » White Chocolate

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White Chocolate

Dec 16, 2008

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I have been reading and really enjoying the books “What Einstein Told His Cook”. I am reading part one and two. These books are by Robert Wolke. He is a college science professor who now is a food writer, so he gets the science behind food.

I love the science behind food and cooking. I really enjoy knowing why some things work and some things don’t. I think it makes cooking more fun. It keeps it from getting boring for me. I also think it helps you know what recipe may or may not work or taste good. I think I will occasionally post about some of the things I am learning from these books. I thought some of you may enjoy the facts as much as I do. And if you like the science behind cooking, see if your library has these books. I highly recommend them.

Today’s fact is about white chocolate or as the author of the book says “the un-chocolate chocolate”

I will start out by saying I do not like or use Almond Bark. If a recipe calls for almond bark I usually use “white chocolate”. If I don’t think white chocolate will work I don’t make the recipe. I know almond bark is cheaper. It is what my mom always used for candy making because the other was too expensive, but I still don’t like it. I don’t like the taste and I think it makes the candy taste and look waxy. Sorry to all of you who love almond bark for candy making, please just try “white chocolate”, so you can see the difference.

I discovered though from reading this book, that although I am not using almond bark, I probably do not usually use real white chocolate. I need to start reading labels better. The white chocolate that we think is white chocolate is not, and here is why.

This is what Robert Wolke has to say. White chocolate is the fat form the cocoa butter mixed with milk solids and sugar. It contains none of those wonderful cocoa bean solids that give chocolate its unique character and rich flavor. If you choose a white-chocolate topped dessert to avoid chocolate’s caffeine, bear in mind that cocoa butter is a highly saturated fat. You can’t win ‘em all. He says.

He goes on, too add insult to perjury, some so called white chocolate confections aren’t even made with cocoa fat; they’re made with hydrogenated vegetable oils. Be sure to read the ingredient lists on the label.

So here I am avoiding almond bark because it is not “real” but neither is the stuff I have been using. It is full of hydrogenated vegetable oils and none of the cocoa butter fat. I guess I should have read the labels better. I think the real “white chocolate” is probably more than I care to pay for my candy making. (I will have to try it for just eating though).

I would still recommend that you use something labeled white chocolate for candy making even if it is not real white chocolate. It is better than almond bark.

So did you know there was a difference in white chocolate? Do you use almond bark or “white chocolate” for candy making and baking?

For more recipes and tips see Tammy’s Recipes.

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Filed Under: Kitchen Tips

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. A Garden Girl

    December 16, 2008 at 11:16 am

    I did know there was a difference in white chocolate versus “real” chocolate, but I haven’t tried it. We just use almond bark. And like it. Sorry 🙂 Is there as really big taste difference?

    Reply
  2. A Garden Girl

    December 16, 2008 at 11:31 am

    I mean I did know there is a difference between white chocolate and almond bark. Duh! What was I thinking?

    Reply
  3. Sandy

    December 16, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    I also love to read the science behind cooking. I have learned that there really is a reason behind the instructions! A cake that comes out perfect for me every time failed for my friend. We talked about it and she had just dumped everything in the bowl. Follow instructions!

    Reply
  4. The Happy Housewife

    December 16, 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Very interesting, I would have never thought there could be “fake” white chocolate.
    Thanks for the post!
    Toni

    Reply
  5. Sonshine

    December 16, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    Thanks for this post. I knew there was a difference however, I just find “white chocolate” easier to use when making candy. 🙂

    Reply
  6. BarbaraLee

    December 16, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    I always knew that cooking, science & math go hand in hand.

    Reply
  7. Lisa

    January 9, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    As a child I loved white chocolate Easter bunnies as an adult I figured out that not all “chocolate” is the same. Quality usually goes hand in hand with price unfortunately so when I feel like making something I wait until I have aquired the good stuff. Guiradelli

    Reply
  8. mary

    October 14, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    I enjoyed reading your ideas on “Almond Bark”I do not like the taste or looks of this I have avoided making certin candies because I was’nt sure if I
    could use white choc.or not
    Thank you

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Blush Roses Cake + White Chocolate Buttercream Recipe says:
    August 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    […] Is almond bark the same thing as white chocolate?  No.   But it tastes great to me (I’m not the food police) and I’ve never had any complaints, so that’s what works for me.    If you’re interested in learning a few things about “real” white chocolate and how most of us probably aren’t using it even when we think we are – check out this post. […]

    Reply

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Lynn's Kitchen AdventuresI love to cook and bake, and my family loves to eat. Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures is all about sharing my love of cooking, recipes, tips, and ideas of how I combine this cooking passion with a busy life. [Read More]

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