For many of us, Chocolate is one of life’s greatest guilty pleasures. Smooth, sweet, and decadent, chocolate can take many forms— from a simple block or bar to an ingredient for desserts and beverages. 

Today we’re going to look at two of the most popular varieties of chocolate— white chocolate and Milk Chocolate.  

What Is White Chocolate

While many don’t consider it ‘real chocolate’ due to its lack of cocoa solids, white chocolate contains part of the cocoa bean. Made up of cocoa butter, sugar, Milk solids, and sometimes vanilla, white chocolate is sweet and buttery with a smooth texture. 

Benefits of White Chocolatе

Because white chocolate doesn’t contain any actual cocoa solids but rather the fat extracted from the cocoa beans, it doesn’t receive the potent antioxidant benefits of real chocolate. White chocolate does, however, have a few of its own benefits. It is rich in fatty acids and contains some antioxidants of its own. 

As an added benefit, it makes a superb addition to a delicious flavored coffee— white chocolate mochas all-round!  

Pros and Cons of White Chocolate

Pros

• Contains some antioxidants and fatty acids. 
• Has a smooth velvety texture. 
• Makes a sweet addition to coffee. 

Cons

• Usually has far more sugar than other types of chocolate. 
• Doesn’t have all the health benefits that ‘real chocolate’ might have. 

How to Make Homemade White Chocolate 

You’ll need:

• 1 cup cocoa butter  
• 1 cup powdered sugar  
• 3 tsp whole milk powder  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• ½ tsp salt 
• Thermometer
• Microwave or pot with water 
• Large mixing bowl
• Spoon or whisk for stirring 
• Molds

Step 1 – Melt the cocoa butter

First, melt the cocoa butter either in the microwave or in a bowl submerged in a pot of hot water (the double boiler method). Never heat cocoa butter directly on the stove as it is very easy to burn. 

Step 2 – Add milk powder, sugar and vanilla

Once the cocoa butter is nice and smooth and fully melted, add the milk powder and the sugar. Stir everything and make sure it is all fully mixed. Then add the vanilla and mix everything thoroughly. 

Step 3 – Temper the chocolate

The next step, known as tempering chocolate, gives it a smooth, shiny texture and allows the chocolate to harden properly. The key here is to keep the chocolate between 88-90°F while stirring until the chocolate is looking smooth and shiny. 

Step 4 – Pour the chocolate into molds 

Finally, pour your homemade chocolate into your mold and place it in the refrigerator. Once the white chocolate has set and hardened, it is ready to be enjoyed!

What Is Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate is what most people think of when they think of a sweet treat. Typically composed of cocoa, sugar, and milk, milk chocolate is rich and smooth. It is by far the most popular version of chocolate, consumed as both a bar and a block and powder form for hot chocolates and mocha coffees. 

Benefits of Milk Chocolate

The health benefits of chocolate are well known. It is thought that chocolate contains high levels of antioxidants, which may aid in lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. Because all of the health benefits of chocolate come from cocoa solids, the higher the cocoa percentage, the better.

Health facts aside, chocolate is pretty much great with everything. Especially coffee! Combine some milk chocolate with a dose of coffee from the world’s best stovetop espresso maker and you have yourself one mighty tasty beverage. 

Pros and Cons of Milk Chocolate

Pros

• Made with real cocoa beans. 
• Can be used as a delicious part of many different foods and beverages. 
• Can have high levels of antioxidants. 

Cons

• Milk chocolate can still contain a lot of sugar. 
• Milk chocolate contains a large number of calories. 

How to Make Homemade Milk Chocolate 

You’ll need:

• 1 cup cocoa butter
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk powder 
• 1 cup powdered sugar (optional)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• Microwave or pot
• Thermometer
• Large mixing bowl
• Spoon or whisk for stirring 
• A mold for your chocolate bar

Step 1 – Melt the cocoa butter

Melt the cocoa butter in the bowl using either a microwave or the double boiler method, as mentioned in the previous recipe. 

Step 2 – Add the other ingredients 

Once the cocoa butter is melted, add the sugar, cocoa powder, and milk powder. Mix everything well. Then add the vanilla and mix again. 

Step 3 – Temper the chocolate

Tempering the chocolate is an important step, responsible for giving chocolate its shiny texture and crisp ‘crack’ when you bite into it. 

To temper the chocolate, we basically need to stir it while keeping it at the right temperature until it is super smooth and shiny. Using the thermometer, keep the chocolate at between 88-90°F while stirring until you’re happy with the chocolate’s consistency. It should be shiny and smooth.   

Step 4 – Pour into the mold

Now, all we need to do is pour the chocolate into the mold and let it set. Keep the chocolate in the fridge until it has hardened. Enjoy!

White Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate Comparison

Тaste

The taste of white and milk chocolates is entirely different from one another. White chocolate is sweeter with notes of vanilla, almost tasting like milk. Milk chocolate, on the other hand, tastes like…well, chocolate. Milk chocolate is still sweet but has the unique taste that only chocolate has. 

To put it into coffee terms, if white chocolate is a rich, creamy flat white coffee, then milk chocolate is like a macchiato or a piccolo latte. Both fall into the same family but taste unique in their own right. 

Variety

Chocolate is just like coffee. There are loads of different varieties to suit pretty much everyone’s taste. You can even figure out the kind of chocolate you might like based on the coffee you enjoy.  

If you love the distinctive chocolate flavor of mocha beans, you might really love a single origin milk chocolate. They are often fruity and bittersweet. If you are a fan of decaf espresso with an exquisite chocolate taste, you’ll probably love the bitterness of darker chocolate. 

Теxture

This is where the two types of chocolate probably have the most in common. While white chocolate can be drier when compared to milk chocolate, it is usually velvety and smooth, thanks to the cocoa butter it contains.  

Uses

Both varieties of chocolate have, quite literally, hundreds of uses. From a simple snack to hot chocolates, there aren’t many things that wouldn’t benefit from a bit of chocolate! 

One of the best uses for chocolate is chocolate-coated coffee beans. Dark chocolate-covered espresso beans are a good energy booster snack— and yes, they are just as delicious as they sound. Chocolate is also used as a flavor for premium coffee syrup manufacturers, making it super easy to give the coffee a chocolatey vibe.

If you are a Keurig user, there are dozens of brands that make delicious hot chocolate k-cups, perfect for a winter evening at home. 

Ingredients

The biggest difference between milk and white chocolate is the cocoa beans. As opposed to white chocolate, milk chocolate actually contains cocoa solids, rather than just cocoa butter. It’s the cocoa that gives chocolate its distinctive flavor and color.   

Health Benefits

Thanks to the cocoa that it contains, milk chocolate provides more nutritional benefits than white chocolate. Milk chocolate contains more minerals and antioxidants, through to be good for cognitive and cardiovascular health. 

Having said that, as with high-quality coffee creamers, chocolate should be consumed in moderation. Both forms of chocolate still contain quite a lot of sugar. If you want truly guilt-free chocolate, check out sugar-free dark chocolate. It won’t be nearly as sweet as milk or white chocolate, but it will legitimately be healthy. 

Popularity

Milk chocolate is by far the leader in terms of popularity. According to market research, around 50% of the population in the US prefers milk chocolate. This is opposed to only 10% who prefer white chocolate. 

FAQ About White Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate

Is white chocolate healthier than milk chocolate?

Though white chocolate contains cocoa butter, it is missing the only truly healthy ingredient in chocolate— cocoa solids.  

Is white chocolate really chocolate?

Technically, no. To truly be considered chocolate, a product must contain cocoa solids, not just cocoa butter. 

What is sweeter white chocolate or milk chocolate?

While both can be very sweet, white chocolate is usually the sweeter of the two. Generally, the more cocoa chocolate has, the less sugar it will contain. 

Is white chocolate better than dark chocolate?

White chocolate and dark chocolate are essentially opposites. White chocolate is super sweet, while dark chocolate is often quite bitter. As far as health goes, dark chocolate is far better for you. 

When it comes to taste, which is better is entirely up to you. 

Can I make milk chocolate from dark and white chocolate?

Short answer: no. Because white chocolate is an entirely different thing from both dark and milk chocolate, simply combining white chocolate and dark chocolate will create an odd blend of the two. You can, however, add milk or cream to melted dark chocolate and end up with something resembling milk chocolate.  

Why does white chocolate taste different than milk chocolate?

White chocolate contains no cocoa solids. This is why it is white rather than the glorious chocolate brown of milk chocolate. To get its flavor, white chocolate uses cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. 

Conclusion

Both milk chocolate and white chocolate are glorious creations. Not only are they delicious on their own, but they are also perfect for adding to coffee. 

Try making your own chocolate at home. The best part is you can customize the recipe to suit you, adding only the flavors that you love to create the perfect chocolate just for you! 

Photos from: VadimVasenin / depositphotos.com, Krakenimages.com / depositphotos.com, anterovium / depositphotos.com and Boarding2Now / depositphotos.com.

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