Knowledge Base > Fran Costigan - Chocolate in Vegan Desserts
Fran Costigan - Chocolate in Vegan Desserts
This event was on
Tuesday, May 05, 2026 at 1:00 pm Pacific, 4:00 pm Eastern
Join Chef Fran Costigan, Rouxbe Director of Vegan Pastry, for a discussion and practical information about chocolate. We’ll explore its many forms, functions, and best uses in vegan … Read More.
Question:
Can you share which Cocoa Power to use when, e.g. If recipe requires baking power use Dutch Cocoa power?
— Irina Lubenskaya
Answer:
If a recipe requires, you use Dutch process/alkalized cocoa powder, if you see the recipe is primarily leavened with baking powder. There might be some baking soda in there as well, especially with vegan desserts, we need the oomph to get the lift going, but it's basically baking powder. There is some baking soda in baking powder. If you're using non-alkalized or natural cocoa powder, you look to see if you should be using baking soda.
