The composition of chocolate topping, its useful properties and contraindications for use. Interesting facts about the delicacy. What dishes is it added to and how to make chocolate syrup in your home kitchen?
Chocolate topping is a sweet, aromatic syrup with the consistency of a thick sauce, which is used to enhance the flavor and garnish a variety of desserts, cocktails, kefir, cold cuts and ice cream. As a rule, they decorate the top of a culinary masterpiece or the dish on which it is served. Children love to eat chocolate topping with spoons or with bread, but mankind knows thousands of delicious recipes using cream. Topping is often referred to as a sweet chocolate syrup called ganache.
Composition and calorie content of chocolate topping
In most cases, topping is placed on top of the dish, which is why its name comes from the English noun "topping", which translates as "upper part".
The calorie content of chocolate topping is 374 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 3 g;
- Fat - 10 g;
- Carbohydrates - 70 g;
- Dietary fiber - 2, 6 g;
- Water - 31 g;
- Ash - 0, 67 g.
The ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates: 1: 3.3: 23.3.
The product contains cocoa, therefore it has a rich vitamin composition - A, B, D, PP, it also contains minerals - magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc.
Minerals per 100 g of product:
- Zinc (Zn) - 0.73 mg;
- Selenium (Se) - 1.4 mcg;
- Copper (Cu) - 0.51 mg;
- Manganese (Mn) - 0.38 mg;
- Iron (Fe) - 2, 11 mg;
- Calcium (K) - 224 mg.
Most often, this topping is bought for children, therefore, to a greater extent, it is based on products of natural origin. According to the standard recipe, chocolate syrup purchased at any grocery store contains the following ingredients: water, granulated sugar, milk fat, glucose syrup, defatted cocoa powder, carrageenan (a type of natural thickener).
Interesting! Chocolate topping is commonly called pastry sauce or syrup.
Useful properties of chocolate topping
In many ways, the benefits of chocolate topping depend on the products that make up it. For example, chocolate is the most useful for a person: the higher the percentage of cocoa or chocolate in the topping, the more nutritious and healthy it will be for you (provided that the product is consumed in moderation).
Useful properties of chocolate syrup:
- High calorie content - one dessert with chocolate topping will allow a person to quickly satisfy their hunger during a short break.
- The presence of pronounced taste qualities - any person who loves sweets, after consuming topping, receives a charge of endorphins (hormones of happiness).
- Saturation of the body with flavonoids - these natural substances are contained in chocolate and help to strengthen the immune system, prevent aging of the body, and improve the functioning of the digestive system.
Unscrupulous manufacturers can add a lot of preservatives and artificial sweeteners to the syrup, so to protect yourself from toxic food, learn how to make chocolate topping at home - more on this later in the article.
Contraindications and harm of chocolate topping
Despite the impeccable taste of chocolate syrup, too large portions of topping can be harmful to human health. For example, thickeners, which almost no store-bought sauce can do without, negatively affects the condition of the stomach.
Topping contains a large number of flavors and dyes, which in some cases can be toxic to the human body. Sweet sauce contains a lot of sugar, so its use should be limited to diabetics.
Also, the harm of chocolate topping lies in the content of huge doses of milk fat, cholesterol, which settles on the walls of blood vessels. The formation of cholesterol plaques leads to poor circulation.
If you cannot reduce the consumption of this sweetness, prepare homemade topping - a natural product is less hazardous to your health.
Topping made in your home kitchen should only be stored in the refrigerator and no longer than 3 days. At the same time, store-bought syrup does not deteriorate for a year from the date of manufacture.
How to make chocolate topping?
How to make chocolate topping in just a few minutes? Step-by-step instructions for making syrup for beginners:
- Mix in 150 ml of water 2 tbsp. l. cocoa powder and 80 g of sugar.
- Bring the resulting mass to a boil. Keep the fire moderate.
- While the syrup is on the stove, mix a glass of starch with 100 ml of milk.
- Once the syrup boils, combine it with the dissolved starch. Pour the milk mixture into the chocolate syrup (slowly, in a thin stream).
- After boiling the topping for a few minutes, add a chopped one-hundred-gram bar of chocolate to it.
- Cook the resulting substance over low heat until it thickens to the desired degree. Remember to stir the topping to prevent it from burning.
- Cool the finished product and place it in the refrigerator for several hours.
The degree of bitterness in the topping can be adjusted according to your taste preferences. If you like soft and delicate syrup, choose chocolate with a small percentage of cocoa powder. Buy extra dark chocolate and high-strength cocoa powder to add a bitter taste to your topping.
The following recipe for how to make chocolate topping is suitable for people who prefer to eliminate cholesterol from their diet. To prepare a dietary syrup without eggs and milk, follow a simple procedure:
- Dissolve 250 g of sugar and one pinch of salt in 180 g of water.
- Boil the syrup over moderate heat.
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to boiling water, the same amount of vanilla and 5 tbsp. l. cocoa powder. At this point, cocoa lumps may form in the syrup. To avoid this, stir the substance vigorously while adding the cocoa.
- Boil the topping for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the syrup from the stove when the mixture changes color and thickens.
- Pour the topping into a sterilized container and leave in a cool place for a while. Don't worry if it turns out to be too runny, give it a little time and the syrup will thicken.
Take a note:
- In 1 tsp. topping contains 5 g of syrup, and in 1 tbsp. l. - eighteen.
- A properly prepared syrup practically does not freeze, so it can be stored in the freezer.
- A standard topping recipe can include a variety of fruits, ground nuts, cinnamon and other ingredients that you love.
Chocolate Topping Recipes
Knowing the recipes for chocolate topping, you can add treats to many culinary dishes almost every day and not be afraid of health problems. A few simple recipes that include chocolate syrup:
- Fruit salad with chocolate … Cut banana, plum, peaches into small pieces, add a few raspberries and ice cream. Stir and pour over with chocolate topping. Let the salad sit for a few minutes to melt the ice cream - it tastes better this way!
- Banana cake with chocolate syrup … Whisk with a mixer 75 g butter and 175 g sugar. It is better to choose granulated sugar of a dark brown color, because it is absorbed faster. Finely chop the bananas (350 g unpeeled) and mix with 2 eggs. It is better to use overripe bananas. Combine 250 g flour with 1 tsp in a separate bowl. soda. Add half of the mashed potatoes and dry mixture to the butter mass and mix thoroughly. Then add the rest of the bananas, flour, 0.5 tsp to the resulting mixture. grated nutmeg and a pinch of cinnamon. Stir the dough again. It is necessary to bake the cake in a preheated oven for about an hour. Leave the finished pie in a baking dish for a few minutes. Pour the cooled dessert with chocolate topping.
- Chocolate cheesecake … The dish is served in cups or other portioned dessert tins that can be reheated in the microwave. Grind 50 grams of cookies and mix with 2 tbsp. l. melted butter. Put the mixture on the bottom of the cups, tamp it tightly. Whisk 120 grams of sour cream with curd cheese, in a 1: 1 ratio. Add 1 tsp to the beaten mass. powdered sugar, 1 egg and 2 tbsp. l. orange juice. Stir the dough again until smooth. Pour it into cookie cutters and microwave for about 2 minutes. The dish is done when bubbles appear in the center of the cup. Garnish the top of the cheesecake with chocolate topping to taste.
- Lavash envelopes … To prepare this dish, you will need a ready-made rectangular pita bread. For one package of pita bread, 2-3 bananas are required. Cut the peeled fruits in half and wrap them in pita bread, like in an envelope. Fry the stuffed pita bread in a frying pan using a small amount of butter. It is important to fry the envelopes on a hot surface - in this case, the lavash will not absorb the oil into itself, but will be fried until golden brown. Pour the finished envelopes generously with chocolate syrup.
Chocolate Topping Drink Recipes
Here are some recipes for drinks with chocolate topping that you can quickly prepare in your home kitchen:
- Latte with sweet topping … Mix 180 ml of medium milk with 15 ml of coconut syrup. Whip the resulting mass until a dense foam appears and pour the espresso into it (coffee can be prepared in any way convenient for you). Decorate the resulting drink with chocolate topping.
- Coffee with ice cream and chocolate topping … Brew 100 ml of any type of coffee. Add 50 ml of warmed, but not boiled milk to it. On top of the drink, place a loaf of ice cream and pour the chocolate sauce over it. Please note that it is better to use tall glasses to serve such a delicacy.
- Milkshake with chocolate syrup … Whisk 100 g of ice cream with 100 ml of milk. Add a pinch of vanilla sugar or vanillin and 1 tbsp. l. topping. Beat the cocktail thoroughly again until frothy. Decorate the finished drink with chocolate confectionery sprinkles.
- Chocolate tea … Brew your favorite tea and let it brew for 2-4 minutes. Mix 2 tsp in a cup. milk powder and the same amount of chocolate topping. Add a pinch of cinnamon. Pour the tea over the mixture and mix the ingredients well. The drink is ready to drink!
- Airy banana cocktail … Dissolve a glass of powdered sugar in 2 glasses of pasteurized milk. Add 1 tsp. vanilla sugar and mix thoroughly the resulting mass using a mixer. In a separate bowl, beat 2 bananas, chopped on a grater or in a blender, 100 g ice cream and 2 tbsp. l. chocolate topping. Combine the milk mixture with the banana mixture and beat until thick foam forms. The cocktail can be served in tall glasses with strawberries as a decoration.
Interesting facts about chocolate topping
In Spain, chocolate topping is used to prepare fish dishes. Sweetness is indispensable both for the marinade and for decorating a dish with ready-made fish.
Professional chefs divide all chocolate topping recipes into “beginners” and “classics”. New recipes appear almost daily and are just as quickly forgotten, but the classic ones are known and remembered by all professional chefs. One of these toppings is chocolate syrup with almond flakes and berries, which was invented by the world famous chef Jamie Oliver.
Most often, experts use topping to create edible patterns on confectionery products. This is due to the moderately thick consistency of the syrup. It is convenient to draw even the smallest details with topping, because it does not spread.
How to make chocolate topping - watch the video:
Homemade chocolate topping is a healthy and nutritious product that the whole family will enjoy. However, it should be consumed in limited quantities, especially if the cream contains eggs, milk or preservatives. You can use sweetness to prepare not only desserts, but also meat or fish dishes. Experts recommend keeping the topping in the refrigerator.
