Difference between dutch chocolate and regular chocolate

Cocoa powder, the ground cacao powder that comes after you remove some of the cacao butter from the processed cacao bean, comes in two forms: natural and Dutch-process.

Dutch-Process vs Natural Cocoa Powder

• Natural cocoa powder is lighter in color, has a higher acidity of about 5 pH, and because of that acidity, has a sharper chocolate flavor.
• Dutch-process powder is natural cocoa powder that has been treated with an alkalizing agent, changing the pH from a more acidic 5 pH to a neutral 7 pH. The process was invented by Coenraad Johannes van Houten, a Dutchman (thus the name “Dutch-process”).

Dutch-process cocoa powder is milder on the palate, though it can, paradoxically, have more chocolate flavor because more cacao butter is left in the powder. (Fat is a carrier of flavor, remember!)

Dutch-process cocoa is often darker in color than natural cocoa, ranging from a dark gray, to reddish brown to almost black, depending on the brand and process. The color has nothing to do with the quality or flavor of the cocoa powder.

Black cocoa, an extra Dutch-processed cocoa, has most of the chocolate flavor stripped out of it, and it's what is used in Oreo cookies.

Dutch-process cocoa also dissolves easier in liquid than natural cocoa, making it ideal for hot cocoa mixes.

Can You Substitute or Swap Natural Cocoa for Dutch-Processed Cocoa?

Whether or not you can substitute cocoa powders depends on the recipe. Here are the general rules:

WHEN IT'S OKAY: Is the cocoa being used for coloring or added to a non-baked dish just for flavor? Then yes, you can swap one type of cocoa powder for the other without issue.

For example, I like to add a teaspoon or so of cocoa powder into the cinnamon layer of our coffee cake, to give it more color contrast. Same goes for recipes like hot cocoa, pudding, or mole sauce. In those cases, I’d swap the two cocoa powders without an issue. Keep in mind, however, that the flavor might shift depending on the recipe, as natural and Dutch-process do taste different.

WHEN IT'S NOT OKAY: Is the cocoa being used in baking recipes like brownies, cakes, or anything that “rises” when you bake it in the oven? Then no, you should not swap one cocoa for the other, at least not without modifying the leavening agents, i.e. the baking powder and baking soda measurements (more on that below).

The Relationship Between Cocoa Powder and Leaveners

If you swap cocoa powders without changing the leavening, the results will be unpredictable due to chemical reactions between the cocoa powder and the leavener.

Your baked goods may be fine, depending on how the recipe is built. But there’s a high chance your cookies and brownies could be denser, and cakes may be flatter without the fluffy crumb.

If you use Dutch-process cocoa in place of natural cocoa without adjusting the leavening, it could result in baked goods that have a slight salty, metallic, or soapy taste.

If you use natural cocoa in place of Dutch-process without changing the leavening, it could lead to a sharper, less-balanced, and more acidic-flavored baked good.

• Why is that? Read this post: The Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder

How to Substitute Natural Cocoa for Dutch-Processed Cocoa

All that said, if you find yourself with only one kind of cocoa powder on hand and don’t feel like going to the store to get the other kind, here’s how to substitute:

• If the recipe calls for natural cocoa, and all you have is Dutch-process, use the same amount of Dutch-process cocoa, but remove the baking soda and double the amount of baking powder. For example, if the recipe calls for 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa, no baking soda, and 2 teaspoons baking powder.
• If the recipe calls for Dutch-process cocoa and all you have is natural cocoa, use the same amount of natural cocoa but remove the baking powder, and add half the amount of the baking soda. For example, if the recipe calls for 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon baking soda, use 1/4 cup natural cocoa, no baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

Keep in mind, as with all substitutions, that the outcome can vary drastically depending on the recipe. But the above is a good starting point for substituting one cocoa powder for the other!

These types of cocoa aren't always interchangeable. Here's how to know which cocoa to use when.

Craving a bite of brownie, a sip of hot cocoa, or a spoonful of chocolate pudding? You're going to need cocoa powder, the key flavoring agent that makes these and countless other sweet treats downright irresistible. But did you know there are two types of cocoa powder—natural cocoa and Dutch-process cocoa—each with its own distinct color, flavor, and composition? Here's how know exactly which type of cocoa to use when.

Types of Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is made from cocoa beans, just like chocolate. The beans are fermented, roasted, and hulled, and the resulting cocoas nibs are turned into a paste, which is then pressed to remove most of the cocoa butter. What's left is dried and ground to become the substance we know as cocoa powder. The difference between types of cocoa powder lies in how they are processed before they are ground. 

Dutch-Process Cocoa

To make Dutch-process, or alkalized, cocoa powder—also sometimes called "European-style cocoa"—the cocoa beans are first soaked or washed in an alkaline solution made with potassium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Once dried, they are finely ground to a powder. Baked goods made with Dutch-process cocoa have a dark brown, almost black hue, like our favorite One-Bowl Chocolate Cake and these Dark-and-White Chocolate Shortbread Hearts.

Natural Cocoa

Natural, or non-alkalized, cocoa powder is made from pure cocoa beans that are simply roasted and ground. Baked goods made with natural cocoa powder are a lighter, more reddish brown than ones made with Dutch-process. Try the natural variety in our winning Texas Sheet Cake or Hot Cocoa with Almond Milk.

Similarities and Differences

Compare these two varieties of cocoa side by side and you'll notice that the natural cocoa powder is lighter in color, almost reddish brown. Dutch-process appears much darker, nearly black, and this color is reflected in baked goods made with each type. You might think that the darker colored powder would have a more intense chocolate flavor, but the opposite is true. In the process of alkalization, the cocoa beans lose some of their acidity, so the powder takes on a milder, less bitter flavor. (The whole point of alkalization is to remove some of the acidity, actually.) You might also notice differences in aroma. 

Some pastry chefs and professional bakers prefer the mild flavor of Dutch-process cocoas in baked desserts—it's the variety we use most often in our recipes—while others point to the bolder, almost fruity flavor that comes from natural, non-alkalized powder. 

When the Cocoas Are Interchangeable

If a recipe simply calls for 'unsweetened cocoa powder,' you can usually use either type. This is especially true for sauces, frostings, puddings, ice creams, and hot cocoa (anything unbaked).

When and Why to Use a Specific Variety

Things get a little more tricky with substituting one for the other when you're baking a cake, cookie, or other treat that requires baking powder or baking soda for leavening. The difference in acidity between the two cocoa powders affects the way they interact with these leavening agents, which themselves boast varying levels of acidity and alkalinity. 

As a general rule, recipes that call for natural cocoa powder also include baking soda, while those that specifically require Dutch-process cocoa also include baking powder among the other ingredients. The same is true for buttermilk, since it's also acidic and will react differently with each powder. (Brownies are often the exception to this rule, as most are made without chemical leaveners, or at least the chewy, fudgy ones—not tender, cakey brownies.) If you frequently bake cakes and cookies (if you've read this far, then you probably do), it's worth stocking both types of cocoa powder in your pantry. 

"Both are delicious," says AmyGuittard, chief marketing officer of Guittard Chocolate Company, and a fifth generation employee of her family's namesake business. Having both gives the home baker a creative advantage, and allows for versatility when baking as each imparts distinct color, aroma, and flavor, she says. 

Guittard isn't suggesting you taste the cocoa powder yourself, however. "Since they are both unsweetened, they are very strong when tasted raw, but they really come to life when used in a recipe along with sweeteners and other ingredients," she says. Rather than tasting, she suggests you try baking the same chocolate cake or cookie recipe twice—once with Dutch-process and next with natural cocoa powder. Keep everything else the same, then do a blind tasting to see if you prefer one to the other.

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