Do you have an insatiable chocolate craving and are looking for other healthy alternatives? Chocolate is a favorite snack for many people, and its unique taste makes it addictive.
It is made with ingredients that make you feel satisfied and relaxed, making every bite memorable. Chocolate is available in several forms, which include unsweetened, dark, bittersweet, semi-sweet, white, and milk.
Chocolate is used worldwide on Valentine’s Day to commemorate the lovers’ day every year. It is rich in antioxidants and has active phenolic compounds. However, its sugar and calorie contents are associated with weight gain, which is why people seeking to lose weight should refrain from using this product in plenty.
Instead of using chocolate, you can substitute it with yogurt, cocoa powder, fruits, corab, and cacao.
Chocolate Taste – Texture and Uses
Chocolate’s taste is relative to the type you are trying. As we are going to see, there are many types of chocolates. We are going to describe the taste and texture of each type below:
●White chocolate: it has a sweet taste and aroma, primarily because of the ingredients used in making this chocolate. Condensed milk and vanilla are components used in making this chocolate. The texture is creamy and soft. Although it comes from cocoa bean-like all other chocolates, it does not contain cocoa solids, which is why it has a white color.
●Dark chocolate: it is among the most popular types among chocolate lovers, possibly because of its distinctive color and health benefits. Dark chocolate is made with sugar and chocolate liquor, making it ideal for vegans since it does not contain dairy products. It has a chocolaty and semi-sweet flavor.
●Milk chocolate: it is made with milk, chocolate liquor, and sugar. It takes the top position of the most popular and is consumed by people of all ages. The chocolate has a soft and creamy texture, has a lovely light brown color with a sweet taste.
●Bittersweet chocolate: the chocolate has a dark color, and as the name suggests, it has a bitter and earthy taste. It is made of chocolate liquor with 70% cocoa and very low sugar quantities.
●Semi-sweet chocolate: it has a balanced taste. That is, not too much chocolaty or sweet. This chocolate can have bits of fruity flavors, nutty or earthy tastes.
There are many things that chocolate can be used to make. Here are a few ideas:
●Baking: if you want to have a chocolaty flavor in your pastries, you can use dark chocolate. It also gives them its dark color, which makes everyone identify with them.
●Dessert: after taking the main course, the best way to wind it up is with a sweet dessert. Milk chocolates make an excellent dessert. A sweet dessert also suppresses your appetite and can help you control the food portions if you are on a strict diet plan.
●Beverages: chocolate can be used to make alcoholic drinks more luxurious. It can also be used in hot beverages to make them tastier.
●Spreads: you can add chocolate to your spreads to give them a rich chocolaty flavor.
Best Substitutes for Chocolate
When looking for chocolate substitutes, you should consider what you want to substitute for and the intended results. Since chocolate is almost irreplaceable, there are a few things you can use and still feel satisfied with the alternative. Here are a few:
1. Fruits
If you take chocolate for its sweet taste, you can definitely satisfy your sweet tooth using fruits. Fruits are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, phytonutrients, and other nutrients that make them recommendable for health reasons.
Berries are incredibly awesome and can be used in replacing chocolates as they are full of health benefits. They are soft and have a dark color on their skin, which is also consumable. Some of the ways you can substitute chocolate with fruits include:
●In baking. You can use dried fruits in pastries to add flavor and for decoration purposes
●In beverages. Fresh fruits can be blended to make fresh fruit juice and in making smoothies. They are also used in creating cocktails and in enhancing beverage presentation.
●In making spreads. Fresh fruits are made for making jams that you can use for spreading. You can also use fruits to add fruity flavors in other spreads.
2. Yogurt
If you are not allergic to dairy products, yogurt is your best alternative for chocolate. It is full of healthy nutrients such as proteins, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. You can opt to go for natural yogurt or flavored one.
Yogurt is thick with a creamy texture. Its flavor is dependent on whether you are using natural or flavored yogurt. Flavored yogurt can be fruity, chocolaty, or vanilla. Plain yogurt is slightly acidic and is rich in probiotics.
Besides being nutritious, you can substitute chocolate with yogurt in the following ways:
●In baking. Substitute chocolate while making your cakes, doughnuts, muffins, and even biscuits. Flavored yogurt works best and adds both flavor and nutrition to your baked items.
●As a dessert. Since flavored yogurts are sweet, they can make excellent desserts for the main course dishes.
●In beverages. Yogurts are used in enriching smoothies and making them have excellent consistency.
●As a snack. Chilled yogurt is an excellent substitute for a chocolate snack. Instead of grabbing a bar of chocolate, take yogurt and enjoy it at any time of the day. It makes you feel full. Garnish it with a few fruits to make it more enjoyable.
3. Corab
Not a fan of caffeine? This is definitely your best substitute for chocolate. Corab contains rich nutrients such as fiber, calcium and has low fats. It does not have cholesterol, a component that is highly associated with negative cardio health.
Corab has a sweet taste, which makes it ideal for people with a sweet tooth. It has a mild texture and does not require additional sweetening as it is naturally sweet. Natural sugars do not have many calories compared to added ones, so you do not have to worry about gaining weight. You can use corab to substitute chocolate in the following ways:
●In baking. Corab can be used in making cheesecakes and brownies. However, when you include corab in your baking, ensure you reduce the usual temperature to avoid burning what you are baking.
●In beverages. Use corab chips in decorating both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It also improves the tastes of the beverages. Sprinkle a few chips or as needed in your beverage.
●As a dessert. Since corab is a sweet item, you can use it plain as a dessert. Additionally, you can add corab chips in salads to make them more presentable while adding that unique and unmatched taste.
●As a snack. Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Take corab chips in a small bowl and enjoy the sweetness in every bite. This snack can be enjoyed at any time of the day and still feel refreshed the way you would when taking a chocolate bar.
4. Cacao Nibs
Cacao nibs are the cocoa seeds before undergoing a lot of processing to get the chocolate and other products. This means that they are loaded with super nutrients such as magnesium, phytonutrients, sulfur, flavonoids, polyphenols, fiber, zinc, vitamins, antioxidants, and proteins. This substitute is healthier than most superfoods.
In fact, when compared to berries, this substitute is way richer. Berries are the most envied foods when it comes to nutritional value, but cacao surpasses them. So, if you are worried about what happens to the value you get from chocolate, this substitute has better value.
When considering the taste, cacao nibs can be compared with that of unsweetened chocolate. They have a crunchy texture, making them ideal for a snack by the fireplace or when enjoying your movie selection. Since they are low in calorie, cacao nibs make an excellent substitute for chocolate and can be used in:
●In baking. Whether you love taking cakes for breakfast, muffins, or doughnuts, you can use cacao in your baking. It adds great taste to your confectionaries.
●As a snack. As we have mentioned, cacao is crunchy, and that is what makes an ideal snack. So, if you get hungry before going to bed, get a handful of cacao nibs instead of chocolate. It makes you full for longer, and you can reach till morning without getting hungry.
●In beverages. When having your favorite smoothie, you can use cacao nibs to make it more delightful. Also, if you are having yogurt, this substitute can fit well too.
●In desserts. Whichever salad you are serving, cacao will make it more presentable and enjoyable. Since it is unsweetened, it is ideal for salads.
Are you still wondering how you can replace chocolate in your diet? These great substitutes are ideal items for replacing the chocolate. Whether you are looking to substitute for your baking, salad, snack, or dessert, you have lots of options to include in your diet. These substitutes are also healthy and will not compromise your health goals.
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