Hi all
I have two fairly large packets of Cacao Powder in my cupboard and I'm not sure what to use it for, is anyone able to point me in the right direction to some recipes etc? I have printed something off the internet re using it to make hot chocolate but I wanted to know what else to use it for.
Thank you
CAKE!!!
I'm thinking of a melted recipe with butter & syrup, that turns out sticky! 
I can't bear druggy Nigella Lawson, but do find her chocolate guinness cake exceptionally good. I make it with a good Imperial Russian stout, a treacley tasting beer such as Old Peculiar, or a fairly locally brewed organic chocolate & vanilla stout, & use soy cream, & soy cheese topping when I'm making it with vegans in mind, though Guinness is fine for non-veggies. It's one of those cakes that tastes better after a few days in a tin, as this increases the stickiness, though it's unusual to last that long.
There are several variations if you do a search for CGC:
bbcgoodfood.com/user/736229...
Love your response Mel as I am known for my cakes shall we say!!;). I used to make celebration cakes and children's novelty cakes and it all started when my children were very young. Sugar flowers were what I loved to make although I did use to stress about getting them done!
My mum used to make a cracking Guinness cake and your's sounds yummy.
Thank you for the link, I will have a look at that one - I have been on the internet a fair bit and did struggle so that's really helpful - thank you.
Alicia x
Glad you liked the recipe! I hope it turns out well, & you have enough cocoa to make a second one! The recipe seems strange if you've not made a melted cake before. Make sure it's well cooked, & you line the tin with greaseproof paper as the batter is extremely fluid.
You must be so talented to make sugar flowers. It's pretty to see nicely decorated cakes, though having seen them being made, it's no wonder it made you stressed.
Mx
It is a lovely recipe and fruit cakes are much better than sponge cakes for sue. My mum also used to make a boiled fruit cake and that was lovely as well and very runny.
You certainly feel rewarded when sugar flowers turn out well. The last cake I made was an American style cake (one sat on top of the other without pillars) and the bottom was a very rich fruit cake (lots of alcohol went into that one, a full bottle to be precise!), the middle one was a rich chocolate cake and the top one was a vanilla sponge cake. The flowers cascaded down the sides and the effect was lovely.
Alicia x
You've made me so hungry!
I've not made a boiled fruit cake as dried fruit is something I've only started enjoying in the past ten years. Currants were always dry & horrible when I was young. I do make a good celebration cake with lots of brandy! 
I have a sticky toffee pudding in the freezer that I might have to defrost for tomorrow! My pasta is now cold, & will be suitably turned to resistant starch, so that makes it ok to eat some bad cake, doesn't it..?
Mx
Boiled fruit cake is so yummy but I don't make it as my hubby doesn't eat it so I have to eat it then. I've found a shop near me that sells the Golden Raisins and Golden Sultanas and I now have some with my porridge in the morning along with some chopped almonds.
Sticky toffee pudding, now you are talking. I had read about pasta being turned into resistant starch when cold and that it's better for you - that does give you some room for sticky toffee pudding - surely.
Alicia x
i made a fruit cake and post it two weeks ago.. i used the the boiled method that i found on Youtube..
its only me that eats it so i cut it into 4 pieces and put 3 in the freezer. will take one of out today..😊
I'm always freezing things and I just did not think about freezing fruit cake, why I really don't know ha ha.
Thank you.
Alicia 
Hi Alicia,
If you want to use cocoa powder for baking just substitute 25g of cocoa for flour, which is perfect for 150/200g flour. The same goes for butter frosting just add a little cocoa powder.
Now if I remember correctly you make your own ice cream with wholesome ingredients so when not add some cocoa powder to an ice cream mix and use a naturally sweet fruit to sweeten it. With live yogurt add cocoa powder and chopped dates etc would be good. So you're having it healthily as well as indulgently...😊
And I'd look at some of your favourite treats and adapt them and enjoy 😊 as its got theobromine in it.
Hi Jerry,
Thank you so much for your reply and what I have is Cacao Powder, I'm okay with Cocoa Powder as I will use that and make myself a hot chocolate drink. I realised after BadHare replying to me that she mentioned Cocoa and not Cacao Powder. I am expecting that you can use it the same way as Cocoa but I wasn't sure. Love your idea though of the live yogurt and chopped dates with the powder.
Definitely love the treats and you can't beat the intense flavour of dark chocolate.
Alicia
I mix some unsweetened cacao with some coconut milk and few drops of stevia as a sweet treat.
A simple but permissable for me ...
Ooh thank you Shashikantiyengar, that sounds amazing. I have some coconut milk in the cupboard and stevia so I'm raring to go.
Alicia
Have not tried one more
Its mixing with coconut oil and stevia drops.
Keep in the freezer compartment
Have it as a chocolate
Permissible for diabetics
Have to make this one of these days
That sounds lovely as well, there's no flavour like coconut as I've always loved it.
I'll definitely have to give it a try.
Thank you
Cannot believe all the comments you had regarding cocoa powder, thought this was a healthy eating site! Just put two teaspoons of it in a mug with hot water, no milk, no sugar, supposed to be very good for the heart.
Thank you Anne for your reply, I will do this and have myself a lovely hot drink in the evenings.
Over to your comments re healthy eating site, agree that this is a healthy eating site but myself and some others take the view that 80%/20% rule is good i.e. eat healthily for 80% of the time and then have a little of something you enjoy. I will eat chocolate, mainly dark as I really enjoy it and it is good for you. Some make fruit cakes and if you allow yourself a small slice I don't have a problem with that. In fact, I know if I deny myself some foods then I'll crave it even more and undo any good that I have done. I live to enjoy all my food, healthy and some maybe not quite so healthy.
In addition to what I have said above, I actually do enjoy healthy good but there are times when I like a little treat so I'll have it.
Once again, thank you for your reply.
Alicia
Thank you for your nice response. I had a coronary artery scan over two years ago and came out as high risk which was a bit of a shock as I had no symptoms. From that result I have been on a whole food plant based diet by Dr Esselstyne. I do have some nuts but try to keep to the diet as much as I can. The testimonials on Forks over Knives are worth reading.
You are most welcome Anne. Sorry you came out as a high risk following your scan and can imagine what a shock that must have been, I would say it's a good job you had the scan as you weren't getting any symptoms and who knows what could have happened. I'll have a look at the whole food plant based diet as they do interest me. I have also heard of Forks over Knives and will have a look at that as well.
All the very best to you.
Alicia
Some good ideas already Hidden , I tend to use it with Greek yoghurt and half tsp Stevia for a chocolatey treat occasionally, also like it with porridge.
Ooh thank you for that Sailsalot , I have never thought of using it with Greek or porridge. I absolutely love porridge so this will give it a different twist.
Hi Alicia,
I love this thread, some great ideas here. I also like boiled fruit cakes too. You reminded me of those, and I think they are really tasty.
Zest
Hi Zest
I know, some good ideas. Boiled fruit cakes are yummy and you can cut up slices and then freeze.
Alicia
Does Levothyroxine work for everyone? 
Plant based diet
Porridge with water
Whole foods plant based diet
