How to Make Chocolate from Scratch

Learning how to make chocolate from scratch is an art unto itself. Gather your basic supplies and learn how to make chocolate from scratch with these simple, step by step instructions. You can also use melting chocolate wafers and make chocolate candies at home. While this isn't exactly from scratch, it does give you the opportunity to mix into the chocolate all your favorites such as raisins, nuts, coconut and crushed candies to create decadent, unique treats. Whether you decide to make truffles or chocolate molded candies, candy making is a fun past time.

Whether it's a chocolate bar or a fancy filled chocolate, the base of chocolate candy is made from cocoa powder or cocoa beans, cocoa butter, butter or margarine, and sugar. Some recipes also recommend using blocks of unsweetened baking chocolate.

The basic gourmet recipe to make chocolate from scratch requires some unusual ingredients. You may not be able to find these at the local supermarket, but most online and gourmet retail shops carry them. Chocolate Alchemy sells cocoa beans, roasting equipment and other equipment needed to make pure chocolate from scratch. In general, if you made chocolate from the raw beans, you would need to select the beans, roast them, grind them, cook them with sugar and butter, then process them for many hours before pouring, molding and melting them again to temper the chocolate. This process can take several days.

Since most people don't have several days to devote to chocolate making, the following basic gourmet recipe shaves off several days by starting with cocoa powder. Cocoa powder substitutes for roasting, grinding and processing raw cocoa beans.

When purchasing ingredients for this recipe, make sure you buy the very best cocoa powder you can afford. The better quality cocoa powder will yield a richer, more satisfying chocolate taste.

To make a simple batch of chocolate, you will need:

Ingredients

• 3 cups of sugar
• 3 cups of whole milk (don't try to substitute 2% or skim – the fat content makes chocolate taste smooth and creamy)
• 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Equipment

• Heavy saucepan
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Candy thermometer
• Pyrex or metal pan
• Washed paper

Place the first three ingredients into the saucepan and cook on medium to low heat until it comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture boils, place the candy thermometer in it and keep boiling it until it reaches what candy makers call the "soft boil" stage, or 240 degrees Fahrenheit. When the mixtures reaches that temperature, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla and butter until melted and mixed.

Place the waxed paper into the metal or Pyrex pan. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan. Allow it to cool at room temperature first until the pan feels warm to the touch, then place it in the refrigerator to thoroughly cool and solidify. When it's solid, cut into blocks and serve. If you don't have waxed paper, simply butter the pan's sides, bottom and corners. This will keep the chocolate from sticking to the pan.

You can mix into the chocolate mixture raisins, peanuts, almonds, cashews, coconut and bits of crushed peppermint candies just before pouring it into the pan to customize the chocolate.

By far the easiest way to make chocolate is to purchase chocolate wafers especially created for candy making. You can find chocolate wafers at hobby and craft stores and many supermarkets, especially around the holidays. Choose from milk, dark or white chocolate. Plastic molds can shape the chocolate into any desired shape. You can add lollipop sticks to make chocolate pops, decorate with icing, and lots more fun things to make your own chocolate.

Whether you aspire to be the next Willy Wonka or simply want to make some home made candy to give as gifts, candy making and learning how to make chocolate from scratch is a fun pastime. On the next rainy day, gather your supplies, head for the kitchen, and have fun making chocolate.

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