Go Back
–+ servings

BEST Cocoa Powder Substitute (11 Options Tested)

What to substitute for cocoa powder in any recipe, as tested over a decade of baking and chocolate making.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Ingredient Substitutes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Author: Max

Ingredients

Best Cocoa Powder Substitute:

  • Cacao Powder

Second-Best Cocoa Powder Substitute

  • Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder

Reasonable Cocoa Powder Substitute:

  • Baking Chocolate Unsweetened Chocolate - use ½ tablespoon less fat for every tablespoon used

Instructions

  • Directly swap out your chosen cocoa substitute at the step in your recipe during which you're supposed to add the cocoa powder; see notes for indirect cocoa powder substitutes.

Notes

Cocoa powder, cacao powder, baking cocoa, and dutch cocoa are all slightly different versions of the same ingredient: defatted cocoa. They can be used as a cocoa substitute in a 1-to-1 ratio.
Other ingredients that can substitute for cocoa powder include:
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Cacao Nibs (Cocoa Nibs)
  • Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Couverture (Melting Chocolate)
  • Drinking Chocolate Powder
  • Carob Powder
  • Chocolate Spread (NOT Nutella)
  • Hot Cocoa Mix (Hot Chocolate Mix)