Have you ever wondered what the percentage printed on some chocolate labels actually means.
It is the total percentage of ingredients, by weight, that come from the cocoa or cacao bean, including chocolate liquor and cocoa butter.
Most chocolate is made from chocolate liquor, coca butter or cocoa powder.
Chocolate liquor is the ground or melted state of the nib of the cacao bean.
Cacao nibs are raw pieces of cacao beans that have been roasted and hulled. They are essentially raw chocolate
Cocoa butter is the fat component of the bean.
Cocoa powder is the nonfat part of the bean which is ground into powder.
Confused yet?
It all comes down to the fact that generally the higher the percentage amount the higher the flavor intensity and the less sweetness.
These muffins are easy and quick to make.
They would make a wonderful treat for Father’s Day.
Chocolate Chip Muffins
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
6 tablespoons sour cream
½ cup milk
¼ cup Canola oil
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a muffin pan.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg, adding the sour cream before adding this mixture to the flour.
Add the milk, oil and chocolate chips. Stir just until blended.
Pour into the prepared muffin pan.
Bake muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Makes 12 muffins.
Linda Murchison can be reached at 315-4431 or lmurchison@nwfdailynews.com. Write to Daily News, P.O. Box 2949, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.