Cocoa beans 67

Apparently it's National Hot Cocoa Day. So you know I am sipping some keto hot chocolate. I made mine peppermint today...

https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/sugar-free-hot-chocolate-mix/

With the addition of cocoa powder, the nice espresso flavor of this classic coffee and walnut cake gets a tasty boost. https://epicurious.visitlink.me/mL5MaI

Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder are traded on futures markets, with London focusing on West African cocoa and New York on Southeast Asian cocoa.

In 2020, global cocoa bean production reached 5.8 million tonnes, with Ivory Coast leading at 38% of the total, followed by Ghana and Indonesia.

The three main varieties of cocoa plant are Forastero, Criollo, and Trinitario; Forastero is the most widely used.

Cacao was consumed by pre-Hispanic cultures in spiritual ceremonies and its beans were a common currency in Mesoamerica.

This nostalgic chocolate chip loaf is like if a chocolate chip cookie, a Blondie & a lighter pound cake had a love child… easy to put together and such a winner. Make the glaze if you want or don't and just eat as is!

Chocolate chip loaf cake

The cake:
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 large egg
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

The glaze:
1-1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Use 1 tablespoon of butter to liberally grease the bottom & sides of 9 x 5 loaf pan.
2. In a small, pot, melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter gently over low heat. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, melted butter, vanilla, salt sour cream & egg. Use a fine mesh sieve to sift flour, baking powder & baking soda over the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold flour into batter. Do not over mix. It will only toughen the texture of the cake. Stir in chocolate chips & pour batter in an even layer into cake pan.
3. Place pan in center of oven & bake until a cake tester/toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center, 40-45 minutes. Cool a few minutes before tracing edges of pan with a small knife & unmolding onto a serving platter.
4. In a small, heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate over a pot of simmering water (a double boiler). In a small saucepan, gently heat sour cream over low heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder & vanilla. When melted, remove from heat & gently stir together. Pour over cake.

⭐RECIPE: http://chocolatewithgrace.com/chocolate-caramel-shortbread-bars/

Crisp buttery shortbread spread with smooth caramel and chocolate adds up to a pretty amazing Homemade Twix bar. With a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, these bars make a pretty fantastic afternoon snack.

They are the basis of chocolate and Mesoamerican foods including tejate, an indigenous Mexican drink.