Top 10 Best Cocoa Powder of 2024 [Flavor & Quality]
- By Chris James
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Craving chocolate goodies this holiday season? Make sure you buy the right ingredients that do justice to your cooking and baking skills. A key component for those mouth-watering chocolate delicacies is, of course, cocoa powder. From cookies to cakes, puddings, and pies – this super ingredient comes in handy to bake all of this and much more.
But with so many different varieties offered by so many different brands, it becomes a bit difficult to find the best from the lot. So, how can you get that intense chocolatey taste by getting any random product out there?
Well, let’s take some burden off your shoulders with the best cocoa powder we’ve found so far. And we’ve got a good list! Thus, you can be sure of including that rich chocolate flavor you covet. Scroll down for awesomeness and indulge in your chocolate cravings without caring about decadence.
Top 10 Best Cocoa Powder
1. Anthony's Organic Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- Certified USDA Organic by CCOF
- No preservatives
- No artificial ingredients
- Non-alkalinized
- Batch tested certified gluten-free
Alright, alright, I understand that anyone who has ever baked would’ve heard of Anthony’s Organic Cocoa Powder, and rightly so. This dark and yummy mix is not just excellent for baking or cooking but is also packed with several vitamins and minerals. Thanks to its contents like antioxidants and magnesium, you know you’re eating healthy when you use this product in your food.
2. HERSHEY'S Baking Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- High quality
- Made from 100% cacao
- OU Kosher certified
- Gluten-free
The brand HERSHEY’S is renowned for a reason: it makes some utterly delicious cocoa, and this one is proof. With a subtle, mild sweetness, this product is a must-have for any baking enthusiast. For a particularly excellent example, try this while you make frostings, and you’ll definitely love the result.
3. Ghirardelli Chocolate Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Beverage Mix
Key Features
- 100% all-natural
- Made in the USA
- Comes with a freshness seal
- Super rich and creamy flavor
You want rich and complex chocolate flavor. You’re not a fan of mild taste when it comes to chocolate brownies, cookies, mochas, et al. If yes, then this beverage mix from Ghirardelli is meant for you. With its sweet yet strong taste, it can elevate the magnificence of any beverage or dessert that needs a dash of cocoa.
4. Rodelle Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- Gluten free
- GMO free
- Manufactured in a wind-powered facility
- Comes in a resealable bag
- No extra additives
- Made from 100% cacao
Are you looking for Dutch processed cocoa powder? If so, then nothing can beat this one from Rodelle. Processed with alkali, it has one of the highest levels of cocoa butter, which ensures you of a superb flavor. A name to reckon with, the brand has been a hallmark of quality when it comes to baking ingredients. No wonder why, it has been a part of the industry for eight decades and continues to impress its consumers with appetizing products!
5. Wild Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- 100% pure
- Non-GMO
- USDA organic
- Non Dutched
- Natural cold process
- Vegan-friendly and paleo-friendly
For all intents and purposes, this is a much-deserved entry to the list. It’s loaded with antioxidants and more flavonoids than green tea, red wine, or blueberries. And that’s not all! It also contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, potassium, and phosphorus. So, if you wish to consider it a superfood, go ahead. You won’t be wrong. It’s also 100% free of some common food allergens, including milk, eggs, tree nuts, fish, and wheat.
6. Valrhona Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- 100% pure
- Made in France
- Exceptionally fine
- Powerful flavor
Whether it’s the rich red color of this product or its authenticity, you’re getting an exceptional quality for sure. Valrhona understands the importance of color and flavor, that’s why this one comes from the house of renowned artisan chocolatiers. And health enthusiasts will love how it comes without any added sugar – which makes it perfect for hot chocolate, mousse, and truffles.
7. Scharffen Berger Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- OU Kosher Certified
- Gluten-free
- Sourced from local cacao growers
- Premium quality
If you’re going to get unsweetened powder, you need nothing but the best. With rightly roasted and well-fermented beans, this Scharffen Berger product is an excellent hit. Being purer than alkalized one, it delivers a fuller aroma and a much richer chocolate flavor than most of its contemporaries. What’s more? You get some fantastic recipe ideas to make your baking truly exceptional.
8. The Cocoa Trader Dutch Processed Brown Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- Made using 100% authentic cacao beans
- Ready to use
- Finely ground
- Blends well
Another one for the Dutch processed beans lovers. This mix is treated with alkali while production to neutralize its pH level to a 7. Consequently, you get a product that looks great and tastes great too. Enjoy its mellow, smooth, and earthy flavor and a color that varies from light or reddish brown to a deeper hue. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, flavonoids, and minerals, it’s your doorway to guilt-free indulgence.
9. Guittard Chocolate Rouge Cocoa Powder Unsweetened
Key Features
- Gluten free
- Non GMO
- Peanut free
- Made in the USA
Hailed as one of the best Dutch processed cocoa powders in the world, this one from E. Guittard is famous for its distinctive bittersweet flavor and a rich, deep red color. Perfect for baking fanatics who want a fudge-like taste and complete chocolate essence that’s not too overpowering. Include it while making cakes and pastries, and you’ll love the subtle punch it adds to your toothsome treats.
10. 365 Everyday Value - Organic Cocoa Powder
Key Features
- No sugar added
- Certified Organic
- Certified Kosher
- Certified Vegan
- Certified Fair Trade
The brand name doesn’t disappoint – this product delivers great value with its amazing quality. Made using Fair Trade beans, it comes with a Whole Trade Guarantee and is absolutely organic as well as natural. And its main selling point is its unbelievable price! Go for it if you are looking for some of the finest ingredients to complement your cooking and baking experiences.
Cocoa Powder Buying Guide
Nothing can beat the flavor of cocoa when it comes to adding that chocolate essence to your cakes, puddings, pies, cookies, and much more. But, apart from an intense chocolate flavor, what are the other benefits of this amazing ingredient? Let’s take a quick look.
Benefits of Cocoa Powder
Packed with the goodness of compounds that do wonders for your health, this product can be a blessing in disguise for chocolate fans.
- Being one of the richest sources of polyphenols and, particularly flavanols, it’s loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects
- Studies also suggest that the use of cocoa can help in avoiding dental cavities and gum diseases to a certain extent
- Polyphenols found in it are also associated with improving brain function and blood flow – thereby, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases
- By improving the nitric oxide levels in your body, it’s also believed to reduce high blood pressure
- It’s also said to improve mood and alleviate the symptoms of depression
Things you must consider before purchasing Cocoa Powder
Here’s what to look for before you go ahead and pick the best of the lot –
Type – You can find two kinds of cocoa powder: Dutch-processed and natural. While the former has been washed in a potassium solution to neutralize its acidity, the latter hasn’t had its acid stripped. Result? The Dutching process brings out a darker color and gives it a mellow flavor, and the natural one is usually lighter in appearance with a slightly acidic, bitter taste that has an intense chocolate flavor
Fat Content – You can also narrow down your choices based on fat content. High-fat powders often have a rich flavor, which makes them perfect for those gooey cakes and cookies. On the other hand, low-fat ones are for those who eat, keeping their health in mind.
Sweetened or unsweetened – If you want to control the sugar content and sweetness level of your drinks or baked products, get an unsweetened powder. But don’t forget that sweetened one is mostly picked by those who want the perfect hot cocoa that’s sweet and delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is cocoa powder made of?
Answer: It is derived from raw cacao beans. These beans are first fermented and dried. After drying, these are roasted, winnowed, and cracked into nibs. The nibs are then ground, which turns them into a paste, also called chocolate liqueur. This liqueur often contains half butter and half solids. Note that it’s the purest form of chocolate essence. Moving ahead, this liqueur is then placed in a clean, natural fabric (usually cotton), which is put inside a mold with holes.
This makes it ready for pressing. The pressing leaves a cake by removing over three-quarters of avocado oil or butter. This cake is then crushed into a fine powder. - Does it make you fat?
Answer: While you can always opt for a low-fat version if you are too concerned about the fat content in this product, it’s important to note that it doesn’t make you fat. In fact, it is believed to improve fat metabolism and energy – which is why many people often use this incredible ingredient to aid weight loss.
- How do I store it?
Answer: Keep it at a cool, room temperature and in a dry container that’s air-tight or sealed. But place it away from spices and similar strong-smelling ingredients. Also, care should be taken to replace it after a year as its flavor tends to fade over time.
- Are cocoa powder and chocolate the same?
Answer: Cocoa powder is a purer form of chocolate. In fact, it’s lower in fat and higher in nonfat cocoa solids. While chocolate contains these solids and butter, It has a very little amount of butter in it. Put simply, cocoa powder is chocolate without most of its butter. Going by the contents, it usually has 10 to 12% butter. Whereas, pure, unsweetened chocolate has over 55% butter.
Make Your Baked Goods A Crowd Favorite
No two brands of gourmet cooking ingredients are created equal. There’s a variety of products out there, but we don’t have the time or the money to try it all. I hope this list helped you with the best cocoa powders you can try. Get the right ingredient and give your baked goods the signature flavor that’s nestled in authentic cocoa.
