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The taste of dark chocolate can be a little dull and bitter for many people. However, I’ve come to realize that there are many ways that you can make dark chocolate taste better and less bitter. In this article, I will be covering 10 easy ways to make dark chocolate taste better.
How to Make Dark Chocolate less Bitter?
As a general rule, you can make your dark chocolate taste less bitter by adding some ingredients that will counteract the bitterness. Some of these ingredients include sea salt, fruit, or coffee. Depending on the flavor profile you’re aiming for, there are many options.
Another way to make dark chocolate taste better is to pair it with complementary flavors. For example, if you add some sweetness to it, then it will offset the bitterness. However, just adding sugar is a bit boring and won’t enhance the chocolate flavor as much.
For example, I recently came across an interesting recipe for dark chocolate ganache which added chili pepper to it! I personally haven’t tried it but sweet and savory is always a wonderful combination to try.
10 Best Ways To Make Dark Chocolate Taste Better
On average, some of the simple ways to make dark chocolate taste better to include adding some sea salt, pairing it with some cheese, and quite oddly, adding some chili pepper to it. These additions add complex flavors and reduce the bitterness of dark chocolate.
Now, here are the 10 best ways to make dark chocolate taste better:
- Add a Pinch of Sea Salt
- Pair it with Some Cheese
- Add Some Chili Pepper
- Pair it with Some Wine
- Add Some Fruit
- Use Some Coffee
- Add Some Nuts
- Use Condensed Milk
- Add Vanilla Extract
- Try Using Sweeteners
Using each one of these ingredients will not only make your dark chocolate taste better, but they’ll also introduce you to a whole new range of flavors that you’ll love.
Some of these recommendations actually encourage you to eat dark chocolate as a pairing with another item! I am not a fan of dark chocolate at all. My grandmother told me I should eat a small piece because of health benefits. I would object but my genius grandmother made me love it with CHEESE!
With all these things in mind, I personally enjoy eating 70% Cocoa Smooth Dark Chocolate. I recently found these chocolate bars on Amazon and decided to give them a try. They are pretty sweet and not as bitter as other dark chocolates. Check them out on Amazon!
1. Add a Pinch of Sea Salt
Salt has been used for years to make foods taste better. It’s also a good way to make dark chocolate less bitter and more delicious. Adding some sea salt is one of the simple ways that you can easily make your dark chocolate taste better.
Salt helps in diffusing the taste and aroma of your dark chocolate. It also helps to offset its bitterness of it. It also brings a new flavor palette to the chocolate.
Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Is So Good!
Adding a pinch or two is not going to hurt and I recommend that you try this for yourself, especially if your dark chocolate tastes bitter in the first place.
It is the same idea as salted caramel!
Sea salt flakes are a great and delicious addition. However, make sure you are using flaked salt and not table salt. Table salt is finer yet saltier which may overall ruin the chocolate.
2. Pair it with Some Cheese
Cheese is another ingredient that you can add to your dark chocolate for a new great flavor. Adding some cheese does not just make it taste better but also helps in making the bitter less bitter and tastier as well.
As a child, I loved cheese. When you combine the savory and creamy profile of cheese with the bitter and rough texture of chocolate, it mutes the bitterness while bringing out the delicious, velvet flavors of the chocolate. Now that I’m older, wine is definitely a go-to for me!
You may be wondering how this works, I will tell you why adding cheese with your dark chocolate is an excellent pairing combination. The combination works extremely well and tastes amazing!
Cheese contains phytonutrients that work in synergy with chocolate. This combination will give you a unique flavor profile and makes it less bitter. If you have not paired dark chocolate with cheese before, I recommend that you try this out as soon as possible.
Pairing your dark chocolate bar with this type of cheese will greatly improve its flavor profile!
Here is a list of cheeses that work great with dark chocolate:
- Comté
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Ossau-Iraty (made from sheep milk)
- Blue Cheese
- Aged Gouda
- Pecorino
If you notice, many of these cheeses are intense in flavor and quite dry. Dark chocolate with the combination of these intense flavors will cut away any bitterness and add a multitude of flavor complexity instead.
3. Add Some Chili Pepper
While this may seem like an odd combination, adding some chili pepper to your dark chocolate is a great way to make it taste better. Adding some heat will give the dark chocolate more flavor and makes it less bitter as well.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin which works in synergy with the sweetness of dark chocolates. Capsaicin has been used for centuries on spices to make them taste better.
If you want to add some heat to your dark chocolate, then I recommend that you try adding chili pepper as it is a great way to do so.
4. Pair It with Some Wine
Wine can make any dark chocolate taste better and less bitter. Paring it with wine is one of the best ways to make this happen. You can add some red or white wine to your dark chocolate for a subtle flavor profile change if you are making it from scratch.
If you would like to indulge in a dessert with your wine, you must choose the correct one. Dark chocolate itself is difficult to pair with because of its intense flavor coupled with the intensity of a wine.
Here is a list of wines that work best with dark chocolate:
- Vintage Port
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Zinfandels
These wines are considered full-bodied wines. This means that it has the highest alcohol content and cuts through flavors. They are great palette cleansers which is why they are recommended for dark chocolates.
A great way to improve the overall flavor profile of your dark chocolate bar that you like is pairing it with a glass or two of a full-bodied wine. This will make it taste less bitter and more delicious overall. I highly recommend that you try this for yourself, you will not be disappointed.
5. Add Some Fruits
Adding fruits is another way to make dark chocolate taste better. Fruits work great with dark chocolate as they both have a sweetness to them that helps in offsetting the bitterness of dark chocolate.
Some great fruit combinations that you can try with your dark chocolate are:
- Berries (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry)
- Bananas
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Kiwi Pear
Each of these fruit combinations will work great with dark chocolate and helps in making it taste less bitter. If you have not tried pairing your dark chocolate with any fruits before, I recommend that you try out some of the combinations that I have listed here.
6. Use Some Coffee
The natural bitterness of coffee compliments the flavors of dark chocolate well. This is going to make your dark chocolate taste even better. Adding a sprinkle of coffee will bring out the complex flavors of the chocolate.
Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant that helps in improving the flavor of dark chocolate. Caffeine works great with the bitterness of dark chocolate and makes it taste amazing.
For added fun, you can make a mocha by melting the dark chocolate and mixing it into your coffee!
If you are a coffee lover, then I recommend that you try adding some coffee to your dark chocolate. You will not be disappointed.
7. Add Some Nuts
Adding some nuts is a great way to add both flavor and texture to your chocolate! Nuts work great with dark chocolate as they both have a sweetness to them that helps in offsetting the bitterness of dark chocolate.
Some great nut combinations that you can try with your dark chocolate are:
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Macadamia Nuts
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
- Cashews
You might want to try a few different combinations to see which one you like the best! Sometimes I melt the dark chocolate, put a dollop of it on parchment paper, and put a few nuts on it. I stick it in the fridge and soon enough, I have a tasty treat!
*Side Note: You might also want to know The Right Way to Melt Chocolate Without Burning It. I recently wrote an article that talks about the Different Ways to Melt Chocolate Correctly, which you might want to check out!
Each of these nut combinations will work great with dark chocolate and helps in making it taste less bitter. For easier eating, you can cut up your chocolate into smaller pieces and mix them in a bowl with nuts to eat like a snack mix.
8. Use Condensed Milk
Condensed milk is just evaporated sweetened milk. Putting your dark chocolate in condensed milk is a great way to introduce sweetness and a creamier texture to dark chocolate.
You will need to melt the chocolate first in a double boiler. Afterward, you can put the dark chocolate in condensed milk and stir it all up until they are fully incorporated into one another. Be careful not to burn the chocolate when melting it as that will make it even more bitter.
This is absolutely delicious on its own but you can use it as a chocolate sauce on any delicious treats!
9. Add Some Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is another great option as it contains a lot of flavors. It has a sweet taste to it that will enhance the naturally decadent flavors of dark chocolate.
If you are looking for an easy way to add some sweetness and depth to your dark chocolate, then I recommend that you try adding a bit of vanilla extract into it as this is going to help in doing so effectively.
I don’t recommend adding drops of vanilla extract directly onto dark chocolate when eating. The best way to incorporate the vanilla extract is to first melt the dark chocolate and then add the vanilla. You can then pour the mixture onto parchment paper (don’t spread it too thin).
Put the chocolate in the freezer and now you have delicious chocolate! Break off a piece and enjoy!
10. Try Using Sweeteners
Adding sweeteners like sugar or honey will make dark chocolate taste so much better! For some people, dark chocolate doesn’t taste very sweet so naturally, a little bit of a sweetener can make a world of a difference.
There are many different types of sweeteners that you can use with dark chocolate.
Here are some popular ones:
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave nectar
- Brown sugar
- Cane sugar
You will need to melt the chocolate first before adding a sweetener as this will make it easier to mix everything together.
How to Sweeten Dark Chocolate Using Honey?
As a whole, it is fairly simple to sweeten dark chocolate with honey. All you need to do is melt the chocolate and then add honey into it. Stir everything together until they are fully combined. Allow chocolate to harden at room temperature or in the freezer.
The best way to melt chocolate is through the double boiler method. Set up a pot of hot water (not boiling), place a heat-safe bowl on top, and add chopped chocolate to the bowl. Stir until chocolate is fully melted.
You can also choose to add some vanilla extract, cocoa powder, or butter to give the chocolate a more rich taste while it’s in its liquid form.
*By the way, you also might want to see an in-depth article about Creative Things To Do With Leftover Melted Chocolate. I recently wrote this article breaking down all the ways to Use Leftover Melted Chocolate, which you can check out here!
How Do You Get Used To Dark Chocolate?
As a general rule, you can get used to dark chocolate by starting with a bar of dark chocolate that contains a lower cocoa percentage and then working your way up. Start from 35% chocolate and work your way up in 10% increments.
Additionally, try adding some sweetener to it and see if that helps in making it taste better for you.
Another thing you can do is add some nuts or condensed milk to make it more flavorful. Finally, melt the chocolate before adding any toppings. This will bring fun textures and flavors to your chocolate!
*By the way, you might also want to know How To Store Melted Chocolate To Make It Last. I recently wrote an article that talks about The Best Way To Store Melted Chocolate, which you can check out here!
Final Thoughts
Dark chocolate comes with an acquired taste that is not meant for everyone. Most people actually find it to be bitter from the first try and never try it again!
The good news is that you can make it taste better by using the different methods that I’ve tried! With all of these different tricks and tips, you will be able to make your dark chocolate taste better in no time at all.
