Sweets & Baking

Baking soda and baking powder are fundamentally different chemical compounds serving similar but distinct roles in baking. Understanding their chemistry, activation mechanisms, and appropriate applications prevents baking failures and explains…

FD&C (Food, Drug & Cosmetic) dyes are synthetic colorants approved by the FDA for use in food. Some FD&C dyes approved in the USA are banned in the European Union…

Beet juice (natural dye) and FD&C Red No. 40 (synthetic dye) both create red color but differ dramatically in cost, stability, and performance. Understanding these differences explains why manufacturers choose…

Chocolate "snap"—the satisfying break when you bite or break a bar—results from precise cocoa butter crystal structure created through tempering. Understanding cocoa butter crystallization, crystal polymorphism, and proper tempering explains…

Commercial chocolate often uses cocoa butter substitutes—primarily palm oil, palm kernel oil, or vegetable fat blends—instead of pure cocoa butter. Understanding why manufacturers substitute, how substitutes differ in properties, and…

Dutch cocoa (alkalized cocoa) and natural cocoa are the same plant material treated differently. Understanding the alkalinization process, pH differences, flavor modifications, and appropriate applications explains why recipes specify which…

Conching—grinding and mixing chocolate for hours while heating—transforms gritty cocoa particles into smooth, refined chocolate. Understanding what conching accomplishes, why duration matters, and how it differs from simple grinding reveals…

White chocolate contains cocoa butter but lacks cocoa solids—the compounds providing chocolate flavor and color. FDA regulations don't classify white chocolate as chocolate, but rather as a confection. Understanding regulatory…

Chocolate "bloom"—white or gray coating on chocolate surface—results from cocoa butter or sugar recrystallizing in undesired crystal forms. Understanding the two types of bloom, causes, and prevention reveals why storage…

Sourdough's distinctive flavor and digestibility come from extended fermentation (12-48+ hours), allowing slow-acting wild bacteria and yeast to transform dough. Understanding what happens during this time reveals why slow is…