More than Marshmallow!

The original marshmallow candy was made using the sap from the root of the Marsh Mallow plant. In ancient Egypt, the juice of the Marsh Mallow was mixed with honey to make special candy that was reserved for pharaohs and gods.

Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis)

In the 19th century, pharmacists from France used the Marsh Mallow juice to make hardened medicinal candy. It was originally used to soothe children's sore throat. Confectioners later figured out that the Marsh Mallow juice could be replaced with gelatin instead to make dessert. The marshmallow candy you see today is made with corn syrup, sugar, cornstarch and gelatin.

Marshmallow Candy

Coo Coo for Cocoa Powder

Ghirardelli Chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder is the ingredient that gives Animated Cupcakes chocolate essence or its intense flavoring. Ghirardelli has a higher cocoa butter content than Hershey's or Neslte cocoa powder. It is evident in the texture, color and aroma.

Premium cocoa powder usually contains 22-24% cocoa butter. The color is usually rich, a bit reddish, and has a bitter chocolate taste to it.

Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa powder can be found at specialty supermarkets for about $6.50 -$9.00 for a 10 oz. can.

Bay Area Chocolates

If you have ever visited San Francisco, you might have caught site of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. They are the manufacturer of premium chocolate products and one of the few companies in America that controls the entire chocolate manufacturing process, starting with the cocoa beans to the finish product. This means that they have intensive quality assurance in selection of cocoa beans. It is not uncommon for the company to reject as many as 40% of the beans presented to them.

Scharffen Berger! (Gesundheit!)

Scharffen Berger chocolate is one of the best chocolates available to me. It has a higher cocoa butter content in comparison to Hershey's or Nestle cocoa powder. These are unsweetened non-alkalized cocoa powder. Scharffen Berger chocolate is processed in way that is nut free and dairy free. And all their chocolates are gluten-free.

Shcarffen Berger is a first-tier chocolate manufacturer, which means that they execute every step of the processing. The history of the company is quite interesting. Their first chocolate was made with a coffee grinder, mortar, electric mixer and hair dryer. I know that doesn't sound too delicious, but they've come along way from that.

Scharffen Berger unsweetened cocoa powder can be found in a 6 oz. can from $8.00 - $12.00.