What can be made from regular cocoa?

Main varieties

The quality of raw materials depends on several factors:

• method of processing and cleaning beans;
• areas where trees have grown;
• method of extraction of raw materials: industrial or manual.

The quality of raw materials depends on the processing method.
Depending on this, the product comes in two types: cocoa powder, which must be prepared by hand, and cocoa drink, which is simply diluted with milk or water.

The pure powder is so bitter that it is impossible to drink it without sugar.

Cocoa powder for home cooking - 7 delicious and aromatic recipes

Cocoa powder is the dry cake that remains after cocoa butter is obtained; its quality depends on the raw materials and production technology. You can find out what are the benefits of cocoa and whether there is a danger from consuming it before reading the recipes for delicious chocolate desserts presented in this article.

Cocoa powder: health benefits and harms

The benefits of cocoa have been known for a long time; the history of its use by the indigenous population of South America goes back several centuries.
The product came to Europe with the conquistadors, who brought the riches of the open lands to their homeland on ships. It is difficult to imagine the modern world without cocoa; chocolate is a delicacy known in all countries. The beneficial properties of the product have long been studied and recognized by nutritionists. Cocoa contains many valuable vitamins and microelements necessary for the health of men and women. The alkaloids included in its composition increase performance, stimulate thinking and memory.

Positive emotions from eating chocolate have a rational explanation. Cocoa contains a natural antidepressant that brings a feeling of joy and cheerfulness.

It is not recommended to consume chocolate and cocoa drinks at night, as they have a stimulating effect and can disturb sleep. It is undesirable to drink cocoa for those who suffer from liver cirrhosis, atherosclerosis and gout.

Popular brands of cocoa powder

There is a large selection of cocoa powder on store shelves. It differs in price and quality, and can be instant or brewed.

The information on the package specified by the manufacturer will help you make the right choice.

The product must be fresh and natural. But sometimes the contents of the purchased package still do not meet expectations, so it is advisable to read reviews about the product before purchasing.

Popular brands of cocoa powder include:

• “Golden Label” is a natural product with a high content of cocoa butter, produced at the “Red October” factory in Moscow; • “Russian”, “Russia is a generous soul” - natural cocoa powder with reduced fat content, characteristic chocolate taste and aroma, produced in Samara; • Royal Forest is a natural product with a high degree of grinding, easily dissolves in hot liquid during the preparation of a drink, manufactured in Moscow; • Devi Marco is an instant cocoa drink produced at Agroimport CJSC (Russia), the composition, in addition to cocoa, includes sugar, salt, vanillin; • Mix-Fix is ​​a delicious instant drink, which contains cocoa powder, sugar, emulsifier, vitamins and vanillin, produced by Kruger-Grand JSC.

Some popular cocoa brands have been blacklisted by consumers due to low quality, these include:

• “Red price” - the product is made from carob, does not contain cocoa in significant quantities, is counterfeit, manufactured in St. Petersburg; • “Golden Anchor” is a mixture of cocoa powder and carob, of low quality, produced in the Moscow region at the Bogorodskaya Confectionery Factory LLC. It is better to avoid making drinks, chocolate creams, glazes and baked goods with low-quality cocoa powder. This will bring nothing but disappointment.

How to make cocoa powder from milk

It is advisable to boil cocoa immediately before drinking to preserve the amazing aroma of the drink.

Products:

• milk – 225 g; • sugar – to your taste; • cocoa – 12 g.

Process description:

1. Grind cocoa powder and sugar with some hot milk. 2. Add boiling milk to the remaining milk, stir and turn off. Pour the finished cocoa into glasses and decorate with whipped cream.

Composition and calorie content

The product is rich in vitamins and beneficial microelements. There are more of them here than in butter and, accordingly, chocolate:

• vitamins B, A, E and PP;
• copper;
• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium, etc.

Presence of caffeine

The product is rich not only in caffeine, but also in theobromine. Both substances have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. Theobromine is used in medicine - it is used to fight respiratory diseases and prevent caries.

Cocoa: composition and properties

Today it is not difficult to go to the store and choose cocoa powder for every taste. But this plant has come a long way before it hits the shelves. Everyone knows that the fruits of the chocolate tree grow mainly in Africa, Colombia, Malaysia, the Dominican Republic and Brazil. The harvesting of ripened beans in developing countries is primarily done by children. The work is not easy and the pay is meager.

The shelled beans are dried and sent to importing countries, where they undergo further processing. This process is long and labor-intensive. First of all, the most valuable product is squeezed out of the crushed fruits - cocoa butter, which is used mainly in the cosmetic and medical industries. But the remaining cake is later turned into cocoa powder. It cannot be classified as an expensive product, but it has useful properties. Cocoa powder contains much more microelements than cocoa butter or chocolate. It contains magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, etc.

It must be admitted that cocoa does not have a large supply of vitamins. Fat-soluble A and E, as well as B and PP are present here in small quantities. But cocoa, even after careful squeezing, remains high in fat, protein and carbohydrates. Therefore, the energy value of this product is considered high. But on the other hand, no one is going to eat cocoa powder in its pure form.

It is prepared as a drink using liquid or added to other foods. But still, a cocoa drink can lift your spirits, improve your vitality, and give you strength and energy. This is due to the fact that cocoa contains phenylethylamine, which has properties to suppress depression. Among other things, the content of the joy hormone endorphin in cocoa can lift your mood.

But such advantages in a special situation can turn into disadvantages. For example, it is not recommended to consume cocoa for people with unstable mental health and for children under three years of age.

But during the recovery period after an illness or surgery, the use of this product is highly recommended. In addition to nutrients, cocoa has mechanisms that can improve digestion and stimulate appetite. That’s probably why it’s so hard to stop when you’re eating aromatic chocolate. But it should be noted that despite all the advantages of this product, you should not abuse it. Since it can only be absorbed in small quantities. In large dosages, cocoa can negatively affect the proper metabolism in the body, and this is fraught with allergies and weight gain. This applies to a natural product. But the modern industrial industry has learned to produce synthesized additives, which, under the guise of cocoa powder, filled the shelves of our stores. These include all kinds of sweets in the form of chocolates, cocoa-based drinks, and confectionery. To avoid harming your body, learn how to make cocoa desserts yourself.

Production Features

The production process consists of 3 simple steps:

1. Crushing and cooling the cake remaining after oil extraction.
2. Sieving necessary to remove the finest particles. These are what the finished product consists of.
3. Packaging and packing.

The cocoa production process consists of simple steps.

Beneficial features

This drink is not only sweet and rich in vitamins. It contains flavonoids, epicatechin and anandamide, which have a beneficial effect on the human body, and it also stimulates the production of endorphin, the hormone of happiness.

Soluble powder, which contains substances other than cocoa, has almost no useful microelements. Anyone who drinks the drink for medicinal or prophylactic purposes must remember the minimum percentage of pure powder in it - 70.

For men

The use of zinc is necessary to prevent the development of diseases of the genital area, and it also helps to increase male strength. This helps maintain blood clotting, which is beneficial for young people who are prone to bleeding.

For men, zinc consumption prevents the development of genital diseases.

For women

Fatty acids will help keep your face fresh by increasing skin elasticity. You can enhance the effect with external means - masks.

The drink helps normalize the menstrual cycle, improves the condition of nails and hair.

For children

Cocoa will strengthen the immune system and cognitive functions, which is especially useful for schoolchildren. Magnesium has a positive effect on bone tissue and teeth.

For the elderly

Although the drink contains caffeine, which is not considered beneficial for older people, epicatechin has the opposite effect, lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation and memory. This makes it healthier than red wine or green tea. Chromium and flavonoids will help maintain blood sugar at an acceptable level.

The drink is good for older people.

For athletes

Nutrients help muscles tone after hard physical labor. This makes consumption beneficial for those who experience intense stress.

During pregnancy

The drink contains iron. This substance helps cope with anemia, which occurs in almost all pregnant women.

When breastfeeding

Caffeine is a substance whose effects on a fragile body can be controversial. Therefore, you should be careful when introducing cocoa into your mother’s diet, especially since it is an allergen. In small quantities, however, it helps increase lactation and recover after childbirth.

When breastfeeding, cocoa is administered carefully.

Cocoa powder in medicine: folk and traditional

Due to its qualities and beneficial substances, the product is used in medicine. This is not just a folk remedy - traditional medicines are also made on its basis.

For bronchitis

In folk medicine, such a cough remedy is known: cocoa powder, ground with butter and melted fat. This mixture has a beneficial effect on the throat mucosa irritated by coughing. On an industrial scale, theobromine is isolated from the powder, which alleviates coughing attacks.

In folk medicine, the remedy is used for bronchitis.

From worms

Cocoa, along with other aromatic plants, is used to get rid of worms. It is drunk to kill parasites as part of a special diet, but therapy must be supplemented with other foods and medications.

For diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism that occurs due to failure of insulin production. The drink stimulates metabolism and accelerates wound healing.

For stomach ulcers

With ulcerative lesions, the consumption of sweets, especially chocolate, is limited. Such a drink will not only satisfy the need for sweets, but will also help the body cope with inflammation, accelerating the healing of the mucous membranes.

If you have a stomach ulcer, limit your consumption of chocolate.

For anemia

Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that is needed to saturate tissues with oxygen. When this indicator decreases due to excessive physical activity or dietary habits, anemia occurs. Iron-rich cocoa powder helps raise hemoglobin levels.

To strengthen the immune system

This drink can quickly replenish the body's defenses.

It has the highest flavonoid content of any food, which confirms its ability to stimulate human immunity.

For healthy heart and blood vessels

Substances from the flavonoid group normalize platelet functions, reducing blood viscosity. This prevents the formation of blood clots in the vessels of the heart and brain, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Cocoa powder normalizes the functions of the heart and platelets.

What can be made from cocoa

There are many products that are made from cocoa powder or butter. Recipes on various culinary sites will tell you what can be made from cocoa. The raw materials are used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Cocoa butter can treat many diseases; it is included in medicines as a healing ingredient. Humanity has been able to use these gifts for many years.

From cocoa powder

There are several ways to use cocoa powder. Traditionally, these raw materials are used to prepare the drink. The basis for cocoa is milk. It allows you to give the drink a delicate creamy taste. To prepare one serving of the drink, you need to take two tablespoons of powder, pour it into a ladle, pour a glass of milk and stir well. Better with a whisk or mixer. Cocoa should be cooked over low heat, otherwise the drink will turn out raw, bitter, and you may not get pleasure from drinking it.

The cocoa drink is recommended for both children and adults. Children are allowed to drink cocoa from the age of three, if there is no allergic reaction. The product is excellent for those who engage in mental work and physical exercise, since the calorie content covers the cost of the actions involved. In order not to gain weight, you do not need to consume cocoa more than the daily norm, refuse to add sugar, and then you will not be overweight.

A popular powder product is chocolate. Today, tiles are bought anywhere - from a store to a small kiosk. Many years ago, such luxury was not available. Chocolate was made in single copies and was akin to a work of art, an expensive gift. You can make handmade chocolate with your own hands so that it is unique, taking into account your own preferences.

To prepare you will need:

• cocoa powder;
• milk;
• flour;
• sugar;
• nuts;
• vanilla sugar;
• butter.

You can also make a chocolate bar at home

Any housewife who made such chocolate will remain its faithful fan forever and will delight her family with a unique product. Making homemade chocolate is easy. You will need to mix five tablespoons of powder and six tablespoons of sugar, then add a tablespoon of milk to dilute the mixture until smooth. Then pour in the remaining milk - another 4 tablespoons - and put on the fire, bringing to a boil. To prevent the product from burning, you need to stir it constantly.

When the cocoa boils, add oil, reduce heat and bring to a boil again. Then pour the flour through a sieve directly into the boiling mass, mixing thoroughly. After boiling, remove the product from the stove, adding vanilla sugar at the tip of a knife. For nut lovers, you can add chopped walnut or hazelnut pieces to the chocolate. Place the chocolate in molds to harden.

From beans

Cocoa in the form of beans is not only a food product, but also a decorative element. Designers once again prove that beans have many more facets than their culinary uses. They help create designer items and home decorations that make wonderful gifts. First of all, beans are added to room scenting products.

The crushed beans are called nibs. They are also used for decoration, but in cooking. Sprinkle them on the finished product - sweets, cakes, pastries and other baked goods. Nibs have a crunchy texture and emit a pleasant and strong chocolate aroma, so they quickly spread the smell around them.

From oil

Oil extracted from cocoa fruits is a truly unique product. Due to its high nutritional value, it is used in many areas, especially in cooking. It has also found its application in cosmetology, where the oil is added to various products, creams, and lotions. Cocoa was first discovered on the Theobroma cacao tree, which is how it got its name. Even in ancient times, local residents appreciated the taste of the fruit, but used it limitedly.

The use of oil is determined by its characteristics. The fatty acids found here are of great value:

• arachidonic acid - protects the digestive organs from the settlement of pathogenic bacteria that can change the quality of the microflora for the worse and provoke gastrointestinal disorders;
• stearic – has a softening effect, therefore it is included in many skin products and special dermatological preparations;
• linoleic – used for hair and skin, as it has a powerful nutritional effect;
• oleic – acts as a strong antioxidant and protects cells from the effects of free radicals;
• palmitic and lauric – have healing properties, therefore they are included in preparations for regeneration.

Cocoa butter contains microelements and vitamins necessary for human health. A valuable substance is theobromine, which stimulates cellular activity and is responsible for the functioning of the circulatory system. Vitamins A, E and C help the body in the process of regeneration after illness. People who are watching their weight should not consume cocoa butter due to the high calorie content of the product.

Bakery

Most of the uses of cocoa butter are in baking. Cooking is firmly in love with this product because it allows you to give ready-made dishes a characteristic smell and a pleasant aftertaste. The oil is used both in mass production and for home baking. As a fat base, oil is included in cookies, rolls, muffins and cakes. Creams are successfully created using oil. They have a nice creamy feel, replacing coconut oil.

Chocolate glaze is used to decorate cakes

In addition to desserts, cocoa butter is also used to prepare other dishes. Primarily it is used for:

• glaze;
• seasoning porridge;
• as an additive to drinks;
• as an ingredient for fillings.

Butter mixed with honey results in a viscous honey syrup. It does not lack the tart smell of honey, which is in perfect harmony with notes of cocoa. The combination of two products is extremely successful, which allows you to use the mass for decorating baked goods, creating decorative patterns on cakes, rolls, and pastries. If you combine butter, cocoa powder and avocado, you get chocolate pudding.

Everyone's favorite product is manna. It is also prepared with the addition of cocoa. It gives the dish an interesting taste and aroma, and with a little cocoa, manna becomes much tastier. Anyone can cope with the preparation, and for an experienced housewife, manna is not a problem at all. Here's how to prepare this dish:

• Manna is based on a mixture of flour, sugar, milk and semolina. All ingredients are taken in equal quantities; for starters, you can take the classic proportions - one glass each. Add a tablespoon of cocoa butter to the resulting mixture and mix thoroughly.
• When all the ingredients are a homogeneous mass, add two eggs, after which the mixture is thoroughly beaten.
• The resulting mass is sent to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• After the recommended time, the cold mass is transferred into a mold and baked at a temperature of 160–180 degrees for 45 minutes. It is worth remembering especially about the temperature regime, because if it is exceeded, the oil can become bitter and the dish will be spoiled.

Medicines

Paying attention to the composition of cocoa butter, you are not surprised that it is used as a remedy. Oil is used as one of the ingredients of folk remedies. They are safe only if there is no allergic reaction to the components, including oil.

By combining these ingredients, you can make an excellent cure for bronchitis.

The following medicines are prepared from cocoa butter:

• to treat bronchitis - half a teaspoon of oil is diluted in 100 ml of milk, which is drunk in small sips while it is still warm. You can also massage the chest with bronchitis using oil to increase blood flow to the lungs and improve expectoration;
• It is difficult to use milk to treat bronchitis in children because it is harmful to young patients. In this case, doctors recommend making a decoy medicine. Add 10 g of cocoa butter, powder and sugar to taste to 100 ml of milk. Boil the milk until it thickens, it becomes like hot chocolate. You can drink it warm, the drink is not as nasty as hot milk with butter;
• for acute respiratory viral infections and as a preventive measure for the disease, it is recommended to lubricate your nose with oil before going outside. This will additionally protect the mucous membrane from infection and deposit all bacteria on the oil layer. After cleaning your nose in the evening, all germs are easily removed and do not cause harm;
• for constipation, just one teaspoon of oil at night will help improve bowel movements and make them regular;
• for hemorrhoids, a small piece of butter must be frozen so that it does not lose its shape, and then inserted into the rectum overnight;
• to overcome atherosclerosis, you need to drink the melted product twice a day a quarter of an hour before meals;
• acalculous cholecystitis is also treated with oil - melt a tablespoon in a water bath, and then drink it and immediately lie down in bed on your right side. They lie like this for about two hours. It is recommended to perform the procedure on a day off, in the morning, before eating;
• for cervical erosion, melt the oil in a water bath and mix with 10 drops of sea buckthorn oil. Tampons soaked in the medicinal mass are placed overnight for two to three weeks.

In addition to these recipes, it is recommended to use cocoa butter to treat burns, trophic ulcers, dry skin and itching, fungal infections, eczema, cracked nipples. Preparing folk remedies with natural ingredients is a safe method of treatment.

The uses of cocoa beans, butter and powder are multifaceted. Raw materials can be used in cooking as design solutions, as well as for the treatment of diseases. Cocoa is a truly universal product that gives the body the necessary energy and strength.

Use in cosmetology

Chocolate masks applied externally also have a beneficial effect. They nourish the skin and replenish vitamin deficiencies. Cocoa is often one of the main ingredients in various store-bought cosmetics, but to save money, you can make these products at home.

For face

With constant use, homemade cosmetics prevent skin aging. These treatments are suitable for any skin type, and the chocolate aroma will make them even more pleasant.

For hair

A universal mask will restore dry and damaged strands. However, you should be careful when using the mask on light hair - it can make it darker.

A hair mask will restore dry and damaged strands.

Product in cooking

Cocoa is the basis for many sweet recipes:

• baked goods: cakes, croissants, brownies, muffins;
• fondue;
• all types of chocolate;
• ice cream, puddings, mousses.

Sometimes it is added to spice mixtures for meat and fish. In Mexico it is as popular a base for sauces as butter or milk in our country.

Although the powder is not the base of each of them, it is added to diversify the texture of the dish and give it a bitter taste.

Much more often, the powder becomes the basis for drinks, of which many have appeared since Europeans discovered chocolate.

Chocolate roll with cottage cheese and banana

A wonderful cottage cheese cake with banana is easy to make without baking. In this case, we lay out the cookies in layers, whole squares. If you crumble it, you get a wonderful roll.

Products for the original roll:

• 450 g cottage cheese;
• 1 ripe banana;
• 125 g butter;
• 200 g of Yubileiny cookies;
• 75 ml milk;
• 95 g sugar;
• 1 packet of vanillin;
• 30 g cocoa powder;
• 30 g coconut flakes.

How to make a cookie roll with banana and cottage cheese.

1. Break the cookies with your hands and add cocoa bean powder with warm milk. Knead with a large spoon and mix. We get a soft chocolate “dough”.

2. While we are working with cookies, the butter lies on the table, defrosts, and becomes plastic.

3. In an enamel bowl, grind the cottage cheese with soft butter and sugar. Some people do it with a spoon, others use a blender. Add coconut shavings here at the end of mixing.

4. We lay out the chocolate “dough” on parchment in the form of a cake 1 cm thick.

5. Coat the surface of the dark layer evenly with curd cream.

6. Peel the banana from the thick peel. Place the whole fruit on the edge of two layers.

7. Using parchment, wrap the roll so that the banana is in the very middle of the dessert.

8. Wrap the dish tightly in paper and put it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Serve the roll cut into portions, sprinkled with coconut flakes, nuts, grated chocolate, if desired.

Rules for choosing cocoa powder

The general rule that you should rely on when choosing is to study the composition. If it is not an instant drink, then it contains only 1 component - cocoa.

Blends can be different; manufacturers often mix different, expensive and cheap, varieties.

Package

Although different countries have different standards for label design, there are a number of features that you should pay attention to when choosing. Among them:

• Name;
• trademark or name of the manufacturer, location of the factory;
• weight;
• date of manufacture;
• shelf life.

When choosing cocoa, you need to pay attention to the production date and shelf life.

Qualitative characteristics

The color of high-quality powder varies, but natural powder is always brown, both dark and light, depending on the type of plant and the location of the plantation. The smell is always chocolate - notes, for example, of vanilla may indicate impurities. The grind should be fine, without extra grains, leaving marks when rubbed with your fingers.

Popular manufacturers

Raw materials began to be brought to our country a long time ago - in the 18th century. The first mention of a coffee shop where hot chocolate was served dates back to a later period - the first quarter of the 19th century. From this time on, the largest factories began to open, some of which have survived and still produce products from chocolate beans.

"Kommunarka"

The factory is located on the territory of Belarus. Not only powder is produced here, but also other confectionery products. Although the history of the enterprise begins in 1905, the name appeared after the 12th anniversary of the October Revolution.

Kommunarka is located in Belarus.

"Golden Label"

The trademark belongs to one of the most famous factories in Russia - “Red October”. It was converted from another production - Einem, which before the revolution was considered the imperial supplier of chocolate. Nowadays, Red October is part of the United Confectioners group.

"Russian"

This product is produced under the brand name “Russia” (“Generous Soul”), the history of which began at the very end of the 19th century. in Samara. The company is affiliated with the famous legal entity Nestlé.

Royal Forest

The company produces powder from the elite Colombian variety - Criollo. Although Royal Forest products (powder, whole beans) cannot be found in all stores, they can be ordered anywhere in the country using the Internet.

Royal Forest is a brand that produces various varieties of cocoa.

Theobroma "Food of the Gods"

This small production in Moscow brings raw materials from Malaysia. An interesting product from this production, suitable for cooking, is 100% grated cocoa, which will be a suitable base for homemade sweets.

What to make from cocoa (5 delicious desserts)

Cocoa is a very useful product that has the properties to increase vitality, improve mood and even stimulate mental activity. When first thinking about what to make from cocoa , chocolate comes to mind for most of us, of course. In this article you will find the most delicious and at the same time easy to prepare chocolate desserts.

Homemade Nutella

• 6 table. lie cocoa
• 2 stacks milk
• peanuts or any other nuts – 5 table. l.
• 2 stacks granulated sugar
• flour - 4 table. lie
• 4 table. lie butter
• condensed milk – 100 ml.

Preparation:

1. Grind the nuts in a blender. Mix sugar with cocoa powder and flour, pour the mixture into a saucepan and add milk. Stir thoroughly to avoid lumps of cocoa and flour.

2. Place the milk-chocolate mixture over low heat and bring to a boil. Add nuts, butter, condensed milk and cook the pasta, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes. Cool the finished chocolate spread slightly.

Homemade chocolate

Homemade chocolate

• cocoa powder without additives – 6 tables. lie
• 100 gr. cocoa butter (you can use regular butter)
• milk – 2 table. lie
• grape sugar - 2 tables. l.

Cooking process:

1. Melt the cocoa butter, add milk, grape sugar, cocoa powder and mix very thoroughly to obtain a completely homogeneous mass without lumps or streaks.

2. Pour the resulting chocolate mixture into ice molds and place in the refrigerator for several hours to harden.

3. Remove the finished chocolate from the molds and lightly sprinkle with cocoa powder.

Candies "Soft chocolate roasted"

Candies “Soft chocolate roasted”

• cocoa – 2 tbsp.
• 200 gr. Sahara
• 170 gr. honey (it is better to take thick honey)
• peeled walnuts – 300 gr.
• lemon juice - 2 tablespoons. lie
• 200 gr. dark chocolate
• creamy butter - 100 gr.

Preparation:

1. Mix cocoa with sugar and honey. Place the whole mass on low heat and, stirring constantly, heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Then add walnuts. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Don't forget to stir the mixture so it doesn't burn.

2. Remove the pan from the stove and add lemon juice and butter to the still hot mixture. Stir until smooth, cool slightly and put in the refrigerator until completely cool.

3. When the mass has cooled completely, remove it from the refrigerator and form small round candies out of it. Place the candies on foil and put them back in the refrigerator so that the mixture sets.

4. Melt the chocolate in a water bath, prick each candy onto a toothpick and dip into it. Place the candies back in the refrigerator to allow the chocolate crust to harden. In a couple of hours, the chocolate miracle will be completely ready!

Potato cakes

• cocoa powder - 2 tables. lie
• 400 gr. chocolate chip cookies
• creamy butter – 150 gr.
• 200 gr. condensed milk (if the condensed milk is thick, then more is possible)
• rum or liqueur - 1 tablespoon.
• a bag of vanillin (if you use liqueur or rum, you don’t need to add vanillin)

Preparation:

1. Turn the cookies into crumbs. To do this, grind in a blender or meat grinder. Add cocoa to the cookies and stir well so that the powder is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

2. Melt the butter in a water bath and pour into the cookies, add condensed milk and liqueur (or vanillin). Grind the mixture well to a homogeneous consistency.

3. Form small cakes from the prepared mixture, place them on a dish and put them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to harden. Each cake can be decorated with cream, coconut or cocoa powder on top - it all depends on your taste.

Potato cakes are ready!

Chocolate cupcake with frosting

Chocolate cupcake with frosting

• 4 table. lie cocoa powder
• margarine – 200 gr.
• 1.5 stack. Sahara
• half a glass of milk
• flour - 2 cups.
• 4 eggs
• 0.5 tsp. lie soda
• nuts, raisins
• vanillin packet

Preparation:

1. Melt margarine in a saucepan, add milk, cocoa and sugar to it. Mix everything thoroughly and bring to a boil. The sugar should all dissolve. Leave a few spoons of the resulting mixture for the chocolate glaze.

2. Cool the rest of the mixture, add flour, vanillin, soda, add raisins and chopped nuts. Mix everything and add beaten eggs. Knead the dough and place it in a greased baking dish.

3. Bake in the oven at 180C until fully cooked. Remove the finished cake from the pan, turn it over and cover it with chocolate icing. You can also make chocolate cheesecake from cocoa.

The choice of desserts is very diverse, because almost any sweet can be made from cocoa, for example, delicious chocolate fondant. However, you should not get too carried away with dishes containing cocoa, as it is a fairly allergenic product.

Interesting Facts

Cocoa is an unusual product. To understand this, it is enough to familiarize yourself with some historical facts about him:

1. In the world, the main consumers of chocolate products are residents of Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, and the Japanese are the least fond of them.
2. The first centners of cocoa brought to Europe were received from the inhabitants of America as taxes.
3. Trees can grow for up to 250 years, but bear fruit only for 25.
4. The powder itself is not harmful to teeth; only sugar has a destructive effect on them.
5. There was a period in Europe when the Catholic Church banned the drink. The first Pope, having tried it, did not appreciate the taste and concluded that it would not bring pleasure to sinners either. Therefore the ban was lifted.