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What is Cacao Butter?
ShareWhat is the Difference between cacao butter and cocoa butter?
Both of these come from the same bean. However, the difference lies in the heating temperature that is used to separate the bean from its oils. Cacao is heated at a much lower temperature than cocoa butter thus retaining a higher percentage of nutrients than cocoa butter.
Nutritional Benefits of Cacao Butter:
- Loaded with vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, cacao butter is great for your skin and hair;
- Cacao butter contains magnesium which is very supportive to the health of the nerves;
- Iron is found in cacao butter. This important nutrient is important for blood health and the prevention of anaemia;
- Stearic Acid is the predominant saturated fat found in cacao butter. Research shows that this fat will have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels;
- Cacao butter is a naturally occurring fat that is not hydrogenated nor contains trans fat;
- Cacao butter contains phytosterols which have shown to be hearth healthy.
Uses:
- Can be used to make homemade chocolate;
- Used as a body moisturiser.
Recipe:
Homemade Raw Chocolate1 cup cacao butter
½ cup cacao powder
¼ cup of maple syrup or rice syrup (depending on the desired sweetness, this can be adjusted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: chopped almonds, splash of orange or mint extract
Melt the cacao butter over a double boiler on a low heat. Once melted, add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. Place in moulds or smooth over parchment paper on a baking dish and freeze until hardened. Once hardened, break into pieces and store in the refrigerator.
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