Cocoa butter is a type of fat that is extracted from cocoa beans. To obtain cocoa butter, the beans are first removed from the larger cocoa plant and then roasted, stripped, and pressed to separate the fat from the beans. The remaining portion of the beans is then converted into cocoa powder.
Three main properties of cocoa butter:
1. Has very little chocolate flavor
It is interesting that while cocoa butter has a strong chocolatey aroma, it only provides a subtle flavor, making it ideal as a background flavor that adds richness to recipes.
2. Melts very easily over low heat
Before you use cocoa butter in a recipe, you need to melt it first. Here’s how you can easily do it: first, finely chop the butter into small pieces. Then, put them in a small pan and heat it on low.
In just a few minutes, it will melt completely. Remember to remove it from the heat as soon as the white bits disappear to avoid burning it.
You can use a silicone spatula to scoop up the melted butter and make sure none is wasted. That’s it!
3. Always return to its hardened state when cooled
When you melt the butter, it can turn solid again at room temperature or if placed in the refrigerator or freezer.
You can switch between liquid and solid forms as many times as you want. To avoid solid chunks or veins of hard fat in your recipes, you need to thoroughly mix the melted butter with other ingredients that are at room temperature or warmer.
What are the Cocoa Butter Benefits?
Providing vitamin E
It is a decent source of vitamin E, which benefits your body in many ways. Vitamin E supports vision, reproduction, and the health of your brain, skin, and blood.
Keeping your skin moisturized
It contains a high amount of fatty acids, which makes it well-suited as a main ingredient in skin cream.
Fatty acids help to hydrate the skin. The fat in cocoa butter creates a protective barrier that holds in moisture and prevents your skin from drying.
Healing your skin
Cocoa butter is a primary part of many topical treatments for conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
The rich moisture content and protective oil-based nature of butter itching and allow the skin to heal after a flare-up.
