Au Naturel

Natural, or nonalkalized, cocoa powder is the traditional cocoa familiar to most American bakers in Hershey’s square, brown box. Natural cocoa is very bitter and naturally acidic with a pale, dusky brown color and a hearty flavor. Natural cocoa is the best choice for classic American cakes, brownies, and other desserts made with lots of sugar, often leavened with baking soda. Most important of all, natural cocoa performs best in dishes that need to be cooked or baked. Natural cocoa powder is usually sifted together with the flour and other dry ingredients, or it can be dissolved in a little hot liquid to make the flavor “bloom” before it is added to the rest of the ingredients. The powerful flavor of natural cocoa is particularly delicious in cake recipes that include sour cream, buttermilk, and brown sugar.