The best way to curb a chocolate craving and boost your health, learn how to use raw cacao powder in your recipes! Unlike cocoa powder, raw cacao is a superfood in its own right as it's so nutritionally dense. Learn why you'll love it as well as how to work it into your diet and enjoy more chocolate!
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, we have a lot of staples in this house (bone broth powder, collagen, algae tabs) and one of the biggest is easily raw cacao powder.
As a chocolate lover, cacao powder has become my go-to source to make everything chocolate. Though cocoa powder does work too, the way that they are processed is very different, and thus, their tastes and nutritional benefits are different.
What Is Raw Cacao Powder
Cacao beans are the purest form of chocolate that comes from the cacao plant (and then cacao beans). These beans are then fermented and roasted before being milled into cacao powder.
This allows the cacao powder to retain so many of its nutritional benefits, living enzymes, and awesome, health-boosting properties.
What Do Raw Cacao Beans Taste Like?
Since cacao beans are chocolate in their purest form, it's pretty bitter. Even dark chocolate lovers like myself will want a sweeter flavor (I'm a sucker for 85% dark chocolate). This is where cocoa powder differs greatly.
This means that when learning how to use cacao, you also need to figure out how to sweeten cacao to your liking.
There are lots of different ways to do this (honey, maple syrup, coconut syrup, sugar, etc) it all depends on what flavor you're going for, how you're using cacao, and what your typical palate is used to.
Most pure chocolate bars are a combination of cacao butter and butter. This is what makes chocolate creamy and delicious, but not sweet. Learning to play around in the kitchen can make it so that creating your own chocolate is utterly simple.
Fact: cocoa butter and cacao butter are the same thing. Just referred to differently!
Benefits Of Raw Cacao Powder
As I mentioned, the benefits of cacao are plentiful. This chocolate powder is underused. When it is used, we load it with so many processed additives that it nixes the healthy benefits.
However, here are a few fun eye-openers for you:
- Super high in antioxidants: raw cacao has 40 times the antioxidant count than blueberries.
- One of the highest sources of plant-based iron. Since iron is a key component in our metabolism (it helps carry out certain enzymatic reactions) we really do need it
- More calcium than cow milk: we definitely need calcium however we don't need cow's milk to get it. There are plenty of non-dairy sources that provide adequate amounts.
- Contains a high amount of magnesium. I am a magnesium fanatic and actually use a magnesium powder from perfect Supplements because it's just that (learn more about the benefits of magnesium important.
Where To Buy Cacao
There are a lot of quality brands out there when it comes to ways to use cacao.
My personal favorites are below. The reason that I opt for these particular bags of cacao is simply that I trust the brand.
All three brands are very well known in the health community, their processing methods are high quality and I often use other products from them.
However, at the end of the day, it's definitely your call!
How To Eat Cacao Powder
Now that I've sold you on using it, you're probably wondering the best ways to use it! Truthfully, you can make just about anything chocolate flavor, it's more about learning to play around with intensity.
Keep in mind that cacao is potent. So more often than not, you don't need a lot of it. One tablespoon goes a long way!
Fun fact: did you know you can GROW your own chocolate tree? I want to try this so badly. I'd be in heaven 🙂
Below are a few easy ways and recipes to use cacao powder.
Chocolate Smoothies and Drinks
Raw cacao powder blends perfectly into smoothies, hot chocolate, and protein shakes, adding rich chocolate flavor and a boost of antioxidants. Start small with about 1 tablespoon for a bold flavor and know that you need something sweet with it!
Cacao In Baked Goods
Swap cacao powder into your favorite baked goods like muffins, brownies, or cookies to add nutrients and a rich, chocolate taste. Just remember: cacao is more intense than cocoa, so start with a smaller amount.
No Bake Recipes
Cacao powder is a staple in no-bake energy balls, protein bars, and raw desserts, it provides chocolate flavor and pairs well with dates, nut butters, and protein powders. It's ideal for quick, nutrient-dense snacks with minimal prep.
Quick Tips
- Begin with 1 teaspoon raw cacao to gauge bitterness
- Make sure it is mixed fully
- Add natural sweeteners like maple or honey
- Don’t forget nutrient boosters like collagen or protein powder
Using Cacao Powder In Skincare Products
Because this powder has so many nutritional benefits, it's also great on your skin (learn more about the perks of cacao powder on the skin).
Cacao Vs Cocoa Powder For Baking
So, if cacao is so amazing. What is cocoa powder? You can grab cocoa powder pretty cheap from Costco (yes, we do still use cocoa powder sometimes, and it's one of my husband's favorite Costco buys).
Cocoa powder is made from cacao beans being processed at a higher temperature.
This doesn't seem like a big deal but the result is cocoa powder that has:
- A sweeter taste
- Fewer live enzymes
- Reduced nutritional properties
This means that while cocoa powder and cacao powder can be interchanged evenly in baking, cocoa powder will have a sweeter taste. Cocoa powder will require more sugar to balance out the bitterness.
Really, cocoa powder is just a more processed form of cacao. One thing to note is that you can also use Dutch cocoa powder to bake with. Don't mistake this for cacao. Dutch cocoa powder is still cocoa powder. The difference is that it has been washed to reduce its acidity level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cacao And Cocoa Powder
Nutritionally, cacao is better as it is the least processed of the two. However, cocoa powder will naturally be sweeter, making it easier for some people to bake with.
The powder can be mixed into baked goods, smoothies, overnight oats, and the like. It can also be used in no-bake desserts and to make homemade chocolate. However, it is naturally bitter tasting so there's often some trial and error to determine the best way to sweeten it.
Cacao nibs taste similar to raw cacao powder. Really, cacao nibs are just crushed pieces of the bean. Cacao nibs don't truly replace chocolate chips, though as they're not sweet at all but they're a nice bit of crunch in smoothies and baked goods so long as there is additional sweetener.
Yes! Cacao powder has not been processed with any filler ingredients and is totally raw. This means that it is naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and vegan. In fact, it's a great way to enjoy chocolate without any of the additional dairy! Learn more about dairy-free diet swaps.
Parth Rathod says
It is yes tasty and is good for health
thank you for sharing
fitasamamabear says
My favorite kind of treat!
Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete says
Some awesome tips and info, lady! Thank you!
fitasamamabear says
No problem- it's one of my favorites!
Amanda says
I've never used this so it was really helpful reading about all the ways to start using cacao powder! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a wonderful day!
fitasamamabear says
Glad I could help Amanda.. it makes everything so yummy!
Joleisa says
I must admit that ive not heard of that powder before. Have to do some research. It sounds healthie though so i wanna check it out. Thanks for sharing
fitasamamabear says
definitely look into it.. everyone loves chocolate!
Farrah says
I have a bag of cacao powder I got not too long ago but haven't had a chance to use yet--can't wait to try these ideas out! :] I may be starting with the hot chocolate! 😛
fitasamamabear says
Haha hot chocolate is definitely a win! I use it in my new chocolate chunky monkey smoothie too 😉 Enjoy!