White chocolate is that delicious, creamy confection derived from chocolate. It is characterized by its pale ivory appearance. White chocolate isn’t really chocolate, perse. White chocolate usually consists of cocoa butter, sugar and milk solids, and it lacks the cocoa powder found in proper chocolate. The melting point of cocoa butter is high enough to keep white chocolate solid at room temperature but, like normal chocolate, it melts in the mouth. During the chocolate making process, the dark-colored solids of cocoa bean are seperated from the fat, but unlike conventional chocolate, these are not recombined with the fat at a later time in the process. Due to this, white chocolate does not contain the antioxidants or other helpful alkaloids found in conventional chocolate. White chocolate also contains much less theobromine than conventional chocolate, and contains only trace amounts of caffiene.
Fortunately for those of us who choose not to eat animal products, it is also possible to make vegan white chocolate with, say, cocoa butter, soy milk, and sugar. This variation of chocolate lends itself to lots of yummy vegan recipes, such as white chocolate cheesecake, macadamia nut and white
chocolate chip cookies, and white chocolate mousse, to name a few. These sweet bites are even delicious straight out of the bag. Vegan white chocolate chips are highly addictive, so be warned! You may just catch yourself eating through half a pouch in one sitting if you’re not careful.
There is a growing demand for vegan substitutes in culinary practice, and the past 10 years have given us much larger selections to choose from at the grocery store. Still, there are items, like vegan white chocolate, that are particularly difficult to come by, because they are in such high demand! Fortunately, as the vegan movement is growning rapidly, it is becoming easier and easier to find vegan chocolate, and even vegan white chocolate!
Vegan white chocolate may not be quite as healthy as a good piece of dark chocolate, but it is incredibly valuable in baking deliciously sweet and decadent desserts that will please even the pickiest eater! Try making chocolates with white chocolate centers and dark chocolate exteriors and you will be sure to brighten up the day of anyone you give a piece to!