What Is Cocoa powder and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about cocoa powder and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 1,792 recipes to cook tonight.

What is cocoa powder?

Cocoa solids  are the low-fat component of chocolate. When sold as an end product, it may also be called  cocoa powder,  cocoa, and  cacao.

The separation of the two components may be accomplished by a press, or by the Broma process. The resulting powder, sold as natural cocoa powder, is more reddish than the traditional "chocolate" color, and relatively low in pH, causing a sour or acidic taste. 

Dutch process chocolate has been treated so as to neutralize the acidity and has a milder flavor; it is also the traditional chocolate brown in color.

Accordingly, health professionals recommend consuming chocolate in forms that are high in cocoa solids while low in cocoa butter, such as hot cocoa.

Nutrition

Where found

Cocoa powder is usually found in the bakery section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Cocoa powder is a member of the Sweets US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does cocoa powder weigh?

Related

Sweets

Recipes using cocoa powder

There are 1792 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Velvety hot chocolate spiked with creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate chips, creating a decadent fireside drink that tastes like liquid Reese's cups.

Delightful Vegan Brownies

Vegan brownies built on the Depression-era wacky cake method: no eggs, no butter, no milk. Vinegar and baking soda do the lifting for a fudgy, chewy chocolate brownie that mixes in one bowl.

Cinnamon Brownies

Cinnamon-spiked fudgy brownies with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and a cinnamon cocoa frosting on top. Mexican chocolate-inspired warm-spiced treat.

Cinnamon Brownies

Cinnamon-spiked fudgy brownies with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and a cinnamon cocoa frosting on top. Mexican chocolate-inspired warm-spiced treat.

Frosted Rich Brownies

Frosted rich brownies: low-fat brownies built on evaporated and powdered skim milk instead of butter, then crowned with a coffee-spiked cocoa frosting. Deeply chocolate without the heaviness.

Frosted Rich Brownies

Frosted rich brownies: low-fat brownies built on evaporated and powdered skim milk instead of butter, then crowned with a coffee-spiked cocoa frosting. Deeply chocolate without the heaviness.

Superb Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream

Love the deep-rich chocolate taste, and the roasted hazelnut just added in another kick. Absolutely to die for.

Chewy Coco brownies

Chewy cocoa brownies made from scratch with a sugar substitute, so they're lower in sugar but still rich, fudgy, and chocolatey. A simple one-bowl brownie built on cocoa powder, no melting.

Silky Chocolate Truffles

Silky chocolate truffles with semi-sweet chocolate, butter, and egg yolks rolled in cocoa powder. Five-ingredient French-style confection that turns pantry basics into an elegant gift.

Cocoa Layer Cake

A simple, one-bowl cocoa layer cake that comes together in minutes and bakes into two tender 9-inch layers. Rich chocolate flavor without fuss—perfect for beginners.

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

One-bowl fudgy cocoa brownies with brown sugar and chopped walnuts. Melted butter and cocoa replace bar chocolate for a deeply chocolatey brownie that's ready in 35 minutes.

Chocolate Coffee

Chocolate coffee melts unsweetened chocolate into strong instant coffee with milk and sugar for a frothy stovetop mocha. Old-fashioned cafe au lait meets chocolate, finished with whipped cream and cocoa.

Olive Oil Brownies with Coconut

Olive oil brownies with coconut, made dairy-free with fruity olive oil instead of butter, deeply chocolatey from cocoa and two chocolates, with a layer of shredded coconut baked right through the middle and on top.

Chocolate Waffles

Chocolate waffles bake up crisp outside and tender inside, with cocoa, brown sugar, and a splash of rum for depth. Cake flour keeps them light. A brunch-meets-dessert waffle made for piling on berries, cream, or syrup.

Best Peanut Butter Chip Brownies

Lighter peanut butter chip brownies use prune puree instead of butter for moisture, with egg whites for structure. Fudgy chocolate brownies studded with peanut butter chips, no oil required.

Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double chocolate chocolate chip cookies with rich cocoa dough and semi-sweet chips folded throughout. Soft fudgy centers, crisp edges, and an option to add chopped nuts for crunch.

Best Chocolate Chip Brownies

Fudgy cocoa brownies loaded with chocolate chips and nuts, baked in a sheet pan for 48 generous squares. Rich chocolate batter topped with melty chips creates chewy-crisp perfection.

Super Fudge Cupcakes

Super fudge cupcakes soak chopped dates in boiling water before folding into a chocolate batter studded with chips and nuts. Date-sweetened, intensely fudgy cupcakes with a tender crumb.

Brownies with Peanut Butter Topping

Brownies with peanut butter topping take fudgy cocoa squares and crown them with melted peanut butter chips spread into a silky icing. Brown sugar deepens the cocoa, peanut butter chips melt right in the pan. A two-layer treat from one bowl.

Italian Coffee with Chocolate

Italian coffee with chocolate: equal parts strong hot coffee and Italian-style hot chocolate poured together, then crowned with whipped cream. A simplified take on Turin's classic bicerin.

Mrs. F's Double-Rich Chocolate Cookies

Double chocolate cookies baked low and slow for fudgy centers and crisp edges. Cocoa powder plus semi-sweet chips deliver deep chocolate flavor in every bite.

Famyly's Favorite Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

This is my family's absolute favorite banana muffin. To make an awesome banana bread, pour the prepared batter into a greased 9x13 loaf pan instead of muffin tins and bake for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Australia Šokolaadlkoogid

Lamingtons, the classic Australian treat, squares of tender almond butter cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in shredded coconut. Pillowy, chocolatey, and snowy with coconut in every bite.

Never on Sunday Chocolate Ice Cream

Never on Sunday chocolate ice cream is a custard-based churned dessert built on cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate, and a hit of whiskey stirred in just before freezing. Triple-chocolate punch in every scoop.

Easy Cocoa Buttermilk Pancakes

Cocoa buttermilk pancakes whip up in 20 minutes with a tender, slightly tangy crumb and rich chocolate depth. Quick weekend breakfast served with berries, nuts, and syrup.

All 1,792 recipes