Chocolate baking bars vs. chocolate chips? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate:
Can I use Chocolate Chips in place of Semi-sweet baking chocolate?

Can I substitute chocolate baking bars for chocolate chips? Usually the baking bars are so much more expensive. I am going to be melting the chocolate, so I'd figure chocolate is chocolate, right? However, I am worried about if when letting the chocolate set, if the results are going to be different or not (texture, shine, smoothness, etc). Thanks!

chocolate melting-chocolate

Best Answer

I would say that if you're melting chocolate, it's fine to substitute chocolate bars - maybe even preferred. Chocolate chips are a much lower quality chocolate than real chocolate bars. (I've read that chocolate chips contain less cocoa butter, so that they hold their shape better in cookies - which also makes them harder to melt.) In general, I've found that when baking with chocolate, the higher the quality of the chocolate, the better the end product.

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Chocolate baking bars vs. chocolate chips? [duplicate] - Two Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate baking bars vs. chocolate chips? [duplicate] - Yummy homemade muffins near ingredients on table

Is baking chocolate the same as chocolate chips?

While the names may be the same, there are slight differences. To help keep their shape, chips have less cocoa butter and contain added stabilizers. While you may not notice a big difference between the two in the texture of a brownie, in sauces and candy making it can greatly alter the recipe.

Can baking chocolate be substituted for chocolate chips?

Use one ounce of semi-sweet baking chocolate, or one ounce of unsweetened baking chocolate, plus one Tablespoon of sugar, in place of one ounce of chocolate chips. Chop the bar into chunks to replicate the look of chips, in cookies, muffins or pastries.

Are chocolate chips and chocolate bars the same?

Chocolate chips have added stabilizers that prevent them from properly melting, whereas chocolate bars don't. Look at the ingredients list on your bag of chocolate chips, and you'll find stabilizers like soy lecithin, which are used to help them keep their shape when heated.

Can I use regular chocolate bar for baking?

As a rule of thumb, it's probably best to stick to using cooking chocolate for baking with, and normal chocolate for eating. However, if you find yourself craving chocolate, but you only have the baking kind, it's perfectly acceptable to snack on this if needs be.

Chocolate Chips vs Baking Bar - Baker's Tip

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