What's the Difference Between Dark and Milk Chocolate?

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When it comes to desserts, there's nothing quite like the sight, smell, and taste of chocolate. It's a versatile ingredient that can make everything from cakes and cookies to decadent hot chocolate recipes. Heck, it's even great just on its own as a little treat, which is hard to say about pretty much any other pantry staple!

There are seemingly endless types of chocolate, too. When you pull out those chocolate dessert recipes, the first thing you probably look for is what kind you'll be using. Two of the most common options are dark chocolate versus milk chocolate. Any good recipe will tell you which to use, because they do taste and react differently.

But do you actually know the difference between dark and milk chocolate? We bet you can guess just by their names alone, but let's dive a little deeper into chocolate 101 so you know all the sweet details! This way, you can make an educated decision whether you're baking or snacking.

What makes dark chocolate different from milk chocolate?

You may have guess it already, but the difference is milk! Dark chocolate―meaning the kind you eat like bittersweet and semisweet―has three main ingredients: cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar. A higher cocoa solid percentage means a lower sugar content, so a 72% bittersweet chocolate will taste less sweet than, say, a 60% semisweet chocolate. (Unsweetened chocolate is also dark chocolate but does not contain sugar.)

Milk chocolate, on the other hand, replaces some of the cocoa solids with milk solids, resulting in a lighter color and flavor and often a creamier texture. The reduction of the bitter cocoa solids also makes milk chocolate sweeter than dark chocolate, though of course, that varies by percentage of sugar a manufacturer may use. And while all chocolate goes bad, milk chocolate has a shorter shelf life because the milk makes it more perishable.

The reason some recipes call for one chocolate versus another is because the addition or absence of that milk may change the overall percentage of fats and liquids, affecting the texture as well as the flavor in the end result. And yes, that includes white chocolate as well, which only contains sugar, milk, and cocoa butter.

Which chocolate is the healthiest?

In general, the higher the percentage of cocoa solids, the healthier the chocolate is for you. There are two reasons for this. First, cocoa solids are rich in antioxidants, so theoretically the more there are in the chocolate, the more benefits it has. Second, a higher percentage of cocoa solids means a lower percentage of sugar. So, if you're going to choose something to nibble on, a bittersweet chocolate is going to be the healthier option.

But if you're a milk chocolate fan, don't fret! Milk contains calcium and protein, so although you won't get your recommended daily allowance of either just from that Hershey's bar, it's not all bad news. The key, no matter what kind of chocolate you prefer, is moderation. Remember, they call contain calories, fat, and sugar, so just be mindful of how much you're eating. But don't forget to enjoy life, too. Nibble away, fellow chocolate lovers!

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