Many people don't consider white chocolate candy to be "real" chocolate at all.
Okay, I admit that I felt that way myself for the longest time. I would eat white chocolate if that's all there was on offer, but I never enjoyed it as much as I did milk chocolate and dark chocolate candy.
Then one day I tried a Lindt white chocolate truffle. Mmmmmm. I couldn't believe how scrumptious it was. I was converted to white chocolate that day and have learned a good lesson.
The quality of the chocolate makes all the difference, even when you're talking about white chocolate.
Even if you are a lot like I was and don't enjoy white chocolate by itself, you may discover that
it has loads of appeal when combined with other ingredients or even
used along with its more illustrious "sisters."
White chocolate candy can be found in a variety of different and unexpected places.
You can get white chocolate covered popcorn, white chocolate golf
balls, white chocolate candy bars, even edible designer white chocolate
high heels! I know, weird and wonderful, isn't it?
There are
always plenty of good choices, and now that I've become a white chocolate lover, my trouble is making up my mind! Here's
quite a selection for you to devour with your eyes. Which will you
choose? :)
White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, milk solids, sugar, vanilla,
and lecithin. It does not contain cocoa solids like milk and dark
chocolates do. The cocoa butter gives it a scent and flavor that
resembles dark chocolate, but most of its flavor comes from the sugar
and vanilla.
In 2004, the standard setters of the USA decided that white chocolate
had to have at least 20% cocoa butter, 14% milk solids, and 55%
sweeteners to make the grade. Different countries have different
standards based on their own criteria. Isn't is amazing to know that
somewhere out there is someone with the job of determining these weighty
matters? :)
You may be happy to know that white chocolate does not contain any
caffeine. I thought I would throw that in there in case you needed an
extra excuse to give in. :)
There is a definite difference between genuine white chocolate and its
imitation. Because of the cocoa butter, white chocolate is not purely
white, but more creamy colored.
The imitations are often called white confectionery coating, summer coating, candy coating, almond bark, or white compound coating. To be on the safe side, check the ingredients.
The imitations are made from vegetable fat and do not contain any cocoa
butter. These "other" versions of white chocolate can be great in
certain candy making recipes, but I just wanted you to be aware of the
differences in flavor, etc., so you will know what to expect.
So, is white chocolate really chocolate or not? My conclusion?
White chocolate contains cocoa butter, so, of course, it is chocolate! :)
Indulge yourself!
Have a look at these white chocolate candy recipes if you are in the mood to create something scrumptious.
Return from White Chocolate Candy to Types of Chocolate
Return to Chocolate Candy Mall Homepage
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.