Unsweetened white chocolate is a confection that contains cocoa butter, milk solids, and vanilla, but no added sugar. It provides the rich, velvety texture of white chocolate without the sweetness. So in short: yes, unsweetened white chocolate does exist!
What is unsweetened white chocolate?
Unsweetened white chocolate, also known as sugar-free white chocolate, is made with just three main ingredients:
- Cocoa butter – This provides the signature creamy texture.
- Milk solids – Usually in the form of powdered milk. This gives white chocolate its milky flavor.
- Vanilla – Vanilla extract or vanilla beans provide white chocolate’s characteristic vanilla notes.
Traditional white chocolate also contains sugar, which is what gives it its characteristic sweet flavor. Unsweetened white chocolate has no added sugars at all. It contains only natural residual sugars from the cocoa butter and milk solids.
So in summary, unsweetened white chocolate:
- Has the texture and mouthfeel of white chocolate.
- Contains the milky, creamy, and vanilla flavors of white chocolate.
- Does not contain any added sugars or sweeteners.
How is it made?
Unsweetened white chocolate is made through a similar process as regular white chocolate, but without adding any sugar.
Here are the key steps:
- Milk powder preparation – The milk powder is mixed with water to create a milk concentrate. This provides the dairy flavor.
- Cocoa butter melting – The cocoa butter is melted down into a smooth oil. Cocoa butter gives white chocolate its signature texture.
- Mixing – The milk concentrate, melted cocoa butter, vanilla, and any other flavorings are mixed together.
- Conching – The mixture undergoes a process called conching. This further blends the ingredients and smoothes out the texture.
- Tempering – The white chocolate goes through a temperature controlled process called tempering. This stabilizes the cocoa butter and gives the chocolate a glossy finish.
- Molding – Finally, the unsweetened white chocolate is poured into molds, cooled, and solidified.
The only major difference from regular white chocolate is the lack of added sugar in the mixing stage.
What does it taste like?
Unsweetened white chocolate has a much more mild, subdued flavor than regular white chocolate. It provides creamy, velvety texture without overwhelming sweetness.
Some key flavor notes:
- Creamy – The cocoa butter gives it a rich, creamy mouthfeel.
- Milk nuances – Subtle dairy and milk flavors come through.
- Vanilla – Vanilla is a primary flavor component, since there’s no sugar to balance it out.
- Mild sweetness – There are natural residual sugars that give it a light sweetness.
- Neutral – Overall the flavor is quite mild, neutral, and not overly sweet.
Keep in mind that unsweetened white chocolate still contains about 7 grams of fat and 90 calories per ounce. So while not sweet, it is still a rich, calorie-dense food.
How can it be used?
The mild, neutral flavor profile of unsweetened white chocolate makes it very versatile to cook and bake with. Here are some of the most common uses for it:
- Melting and drizzling – It can be melted down and used as a topping or filling for fruits, pastries, desserts, etc.
- Smoothies – Blend it into smoothies to add thickness and richness.
- Frosting and ganache – Whip it into frostings or combine with cream for ganache.
- Baking – Use it in place of chocolate chips or chunks in cookies, bars, muffins, and cakes.
- Fat replacement – Substitute unsweetened white chocolate for some of the butter, oil, or cream in baking recipes.
- Coating – Dip or coat pieces of fruit, pretzels, biscotti, nuts, or other snack items with melted unsweetened white chocolate.
It’s best used in recipes where you want the textural component of chocolate without a lot of sweetness. The mild flavor means other ingredients like fruit, nuts, and extracts can shine.
Benefits of unsweetened white chocolate
Here are some of the advantages that unsweetened white chocolate has compared to regular white chocolate:
- Lower in sugar – It can be a good option for limiting sugar intake.
- Less overpowering sweetness – Lets other flavors come through instead of just tasting sugary.
- Versatile for cooking/baking – The neutral flavor lends itself well to both sweet and savory dishes.
- Calorie-dense – Still provides a concentrated source of calories along with the fat from cocoa butter.
- Skin-protective antioxidants – Contains beneficial cocoa flavanols like regular dark and milk chocolate.
For people monitoring their sugar intake or wanting to cut back on sweets, unsweetened white chocolate can provide the experience of chocolate without all the added sugar.
Downsides and considerations
Here are a few downsides and considerations to keep in mind with unsweetened white chocolate:
- Higher cost – It is more expensive than regular white chocolate and can be hard to find.
- No sugar means less shelf stability – The lack of sugar means it has a shorter shelf life.
- Calorie dense – Still high in fat and calories, so portion control is important.
- Mild flavor – Some people find the flavor uninteresting on its own.
- Not actually chocolate – Contains no cocoa solids, so technically isn’t chocolate.
It’s also important to check the ingredient label. Some products labeled “sugar-free white chocolate” may contain artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols that affect the flavor and nutrition profile.
Where to buy unsweetened white chocolate
Unsweetened white chocolate can be hard to find in regular grocery stores since it’s still a specialty product. Here are some places it can often be found:
- Online specialty chocolate shops
- Health food stores
- Specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods
- International food markets
- Gourmet chocolate brands (e.g. Valrhona, Guittard, Callebaut, etc.)
When shopping online, search for terms like “sugar-free white chocolate”, “no added sugar white chocolate”, or “70% white chocolate” to find unsweetened options.
Expect to pay significantly more than regular white chocolate. Unsweetened white chocolate often costs $8 per bar or more due to the specialty processing and higher quality ingredients.
Popular brands
Some popular brands offering unsweetened white chocolate include:
| Brand | Details |
|---|---|
| Lindt | Their 70% Cocoa White Bar contains no added sugar. |
| Ghirardelli | They make an 86% Cacao Unsweetened Baking White Chocolate. |
| Valor | They have Organic Unsweetened White Baking Wafers. |
| Callebaut | A major chocolate supplier that offers Callets Unsweetened White Chocolate. |
| Guittard | Makes 91% Cacao Sugar-Free White Baking Chips. |
As you can see, unsweetened white chocolate may also be labeled as sugar-free, 70% or higher cacao, high percentage, or for baking. But they all have that same mild, velvety flavor without the added sugars.
How to store unsweetened white chocolate
Unsweetened white chocolate is more fragile than regular white chocolate. Here are some storage tips to maximize freshness:
- Keep it cool – Store at temperatures around 60-70°F.
- Seal tightly – Keep tightly wrapped in original packaging or an airtight container.
- Low humidity – Avoid humidity which can cause blooming.
- No direct light – Don’t store in direct sunlight.
- Limited time – Try to use within 6 months for best quality.
With proper storage, unsweetened white chocolate can maintain quality and texture for months. But expect a shorter shelf life than sugar-containing white chocolate.
Unsweetened white chocolate recipes
Unsweetened white chocolate is great for making lower sugar desserts and confections. Here are some recipe ideas:
Cookies and bars
- White chocolate macadamia nut cookies
- Unsweetened white chocolate blondies
- Sugar-free white chocolate chunk cookies
- White chocolate cranberry oatmeal bars
Desserts
- Unsweetened white chocolate mousse
- Sugar-free white chocolate cheesecake
- Fruity white chocolate parfaits
- White chocolate avocado pudding
Candies
- Unsweetened white chocolate truffles dusted with coconut
- Sugar-free white chocolate bark with nuts and dried fruit
- White chocolate peppermint patties
- White chocolate peanut butter cups
Get creative with unsweetened white chocolate by pairing it with naturally sweet ingredients like fruit, honey, coconut, nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, etc. The mild flavor allows other components to shine.
Conclusion
Unsweetened white chocolate provides a neutral base to add texture and creaminess without significant added sweetness. The lack of sugar allows the subtle cocoa butter, dairy, and vanilla flavors to come through.
While unsweetened white chocolate has some advantages, it may not appeal to all chocolate lovers due to the mild flavor. It also has a higher price tag and shorter shelf life than regular white chocolate.
Overall, unsweetened white chocolate is a unique specialty product that can be useful for lowering added sugars in desserts, smoothies, confections, and more. Just don’t expect it to be a direct replacement for the sweet taste of regular white chocolate in all applications.
