Make Your Own Dark Chocolate From Scratch!
Makes approximately 200 grams of chocolate
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100g/3.5ozs. cocoa butter (also called cacao butter)
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6 tablespoons cocoa powder
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1-2 tablespoons icing or powdered sugar
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1/4 cup almonds, chopped or 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
Buyer's tip: you can buy cacao or cocoa butter at most health food stores. I bought it at Alfalfa House in Enmore.
Step 1 - Line a small tin about 15x15cms with baking parchment. In a double boiler, that is a bowl fitted over a pan of gently simmering water, melt the cocoa butter. I find it easiest if they're all in similar sizes pieces and make sure to heat it on very gently simmering water-cocoa butter melts very quickly and if the heat is too high (I simmered the water on a low setting 3 out of 10), the chocolate blooms (get a pale white coat).
Step 2 - In the meantime, sift the cocoa powder and icing sugar in a separate bowl. When the cocoa butter has melted, carefully remove from the saucepan with oven mitts and stir in the cocoa powder and sugar mixture until smooth. Add the almonds and or chia seeds if you are using them and spread out the chocolate into the prepared pan. Allow to set, I find it sets better in the fridge and once set, you can snap it into pieces or leave it whole and keep it at room temperature.