If you thought chocolate was bad for you, think again.
With The Great British Bake Off now back on our screens you may be dying to create some chocolatey bake sensations but worried that you should be ‘eating healthier’. Well now you can do both. We’ve learnt from our friends at Food Thoughts – our favourite brand of premium chocolate baking ingredients – that there are some easy ways to bake with chocolate the guilt-free way.
Did you know that simply swapping standard cocoa powder for Food Thoughts 100% Organic Cacao Powder will add lots of healthy nutrients to your bake? Equally you can lower the sugar content of your recipes by simply swapping your standard cooking chocolate to Food Thoughts naturally sugar free, 100% Cacao Chocolate Melts. You’ll also need to use less to quell that chocolate craving due to their naturally intense chocolatey taste.
Donna Chappelle from Food Thoughts explains: “At Food Thoughts we’ve focused on producing premium, on-trend, chocolate ingredients for people passionate about baking. More and more people are baking with cacao ingredients, largely because they offer a healthier alternative for baking but still deliver a great, intense chocolatey taste. Food Thoughts Cacao powder and Cacao Nibs are both natural sources of flavanols, antioxidants, fibre, protein and so much more – busting the guilt factor of baking with chocolate. Our Cacao Powder has no added sugar while our Cacao Nibs and 100% Cacao Melts are naturally sugar free allowing people to add sugar or sweeteners to their recipes to their own personal taste and health preferences. More traditional cocoa powders and cooking chocolates already have sugar added to them which removes this flexibility.”
In Latin America, natural cacao has been consumed for its superfood health properties for generations, and this is why…..
- Cacao contains more calcium than cow’s milk
- has 50 times more vitamin C than blueberries
- can help improve your mood
- can boost cognitive performance
- helps lower blood pressure
- contains more antioxidants per 100g than acai, goji berries and blueberries
As well as a raft of health benefits, Food Thoughts range of cacao products pack a powerful punch in the taste stakes too. Made from the finest ‘Fino de Aroma’ cocoa beans, chosen for their exquisite quality and flavour, Food Thoughts products have won three Great Taste Awards (known as the Oscars of the food world). They truly do have a more intense chocolatey taste when compared to traditional cocoa and cooking chocolates.
The Food Thoughts Cacao range, stocked by Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Ocado, includes:
Food Thoughts 100% Organic Cacao Powder (£3.00/125g – Sainsbury’s, Waitrose & Ocado)
This beautiful Cacao Powder is non-alkalised and prepared naturally to ensure it retains all health-giving nutrients, including its rich variety of flavanols and antioxidants, alongside fibre and protein. The intense flavour makes this Cacao Powder an ideal healthier baking alternative for cakes, cookies and brownies. Or add a spoonful of this flavour packed powder to smoothies, hot drinks or simply sprinkle on your breakfast. No added sugar.
Food Thoughts 100% Cacao Nibs (£3.50/125g – Sainsbury’s, Waitrose & Ocado)
These lovely little nibs add an intense chocolate flavour and crunchy texture to any of your favourite sweet dishes such as cookies, brownies and cakes or simply sprinkle on your porridge or smoothie bowl. Not only do they taste great but they are a great source of essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium.
Food Thoughts Cacao Chocolate Melts: White, 70% and 100% Pure Dark (£3.99/150g – Waitrose & Ocado)
These unique Cacao Chocolate Melts are shaped to melt quickly, easily and consistently, with no mess. They are gluten-free and are packed with health-giving nutrients and cacao flavanols, elevating your everyday chocolate bakes. Use in any recipe calling for melted chocolate for a more intense flavour or to decorate and finish any sweet bake. Also, delicious melted into a mug of warm milk.
And for those who bake regularly you can find larger size chef packs along with lots of delicious recipes on their website: foodthoughts.co.uk
