white chocolate

what is it?

Technically not chocolate at all, white chocolate consists of cocoa butter mixed with sugar, milk solids, and flavorings. It doesn't have the intense, deep flavors of real chocolate, but its mellow sweetness and pale color give it an important place in the sweet kitchen, especially when used together with another type of chocolate. To be sold as white chocolate, it must contain at least 20 percent cocoa butter.

Look-alikes are sold under names like “white chips” or “white baking bar.” These are made with vegetable oils in place of some or all of the cocoa butter. They may also contain more sugar and off-tasting artificial flavorings.

Two of our favorite white chocolate brands are Green & Black’s and Lindt.