Milk chocolate recipe from Scratch

Cocoa butter comes in a solid block that resembles a giant bar of soap. You you may be able to find cocoa butter in your local baking supply store or health food store, but if you can’t, you can always buy cocoa butter online. Some cocoa butter is sold specifically for use in cosmetics and may have ingredients mixed into it that aren’t meant to be eaten, so be sure to check the package before buying.

I bought my cocoa butter from Navitas and I was very happy with it. The 16 oz package was $25 and it was enough cocoa butter to make 12 white chocolate discs, 100 mini cocoa butter cookies, and 12 cocoa butter cupcakes.

How To Make White Chocolate

UPDATE 12/1/15: Many readers have had problems with this recipe. Although it worked for me, it is definitely not guaranteed to work. Try it at your own risk. Troubleshooting this recipe is on my long to-do list and if I can figure out where the problem is, I will give another update and change the recipe where needed.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon orange extract (You can replace this orange extract with any flavored extract that you like. If you want a more traditional vanilla-flavored white chocolate, use more vanilla extract for a total of one teaspoon vanilla extract.)
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger (You can use any spices that you like or leave out the spices entirely for a more traditional white chocolate.)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Place cocoa butter in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in the microwave. If you are used to melting butter in the microwave, you'll be surprised at how much longer this process takes for cocoa butter. Set the microwave for two minutes and then add a minute at a time until the cocoa butter is completely liquefied.
2. Stir in the powdered sugar and the milk powder. Make sure that all of the sugar is completely dissolved in the cocoa butter.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
4. Pour or spoon the mixture into your molds. If you are using a silicone cupcake tin, use approximately one tablespoon of the cocoa butter mixture per circle.
5. Refrigerate until cool.
6. Pop the white chocolates out of the molds and enjoy on the spot, use to decorate cupcakes or cakes, break into pieces and add to cookies, or use in any other way that you can dream up.