Who are these choices relevant to?

Parents baking a cake or brownies together

If the recipe calls for cocoa powder mixed into the batter, you can choose the other ingredients yourself. Fairtrade Original suggests brownies and mug cakes as ways to use its cocoa powder.

Families who want to melt or chop chocolate

You’ll need a bar for chocolate chunks or melted chocolate. Before choosing one for your recipe, compare the cocoa percentage, Fairtrade labelling and allergens listed for that particular bar.

Families mindful of allergens and safe ways for children to help

If someone has a food allergy, the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging are what matter most. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises against letting children taste raw dough or batter.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check whether the recipe calls for powder, chocolate chunks or melted chocolate. Then check the packaging of the exact product you plan to use.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Ingredient for the recipe Check whether the recipe calls for cocoa powder or chocolate; you can’t swap one for the other without adapting the recipe. When I’m making brownie or cake batter, I want a powder I can mix in; for chunks or melted chocolate, I’m looking for a bar. For around 40% of consumers, the ingredient’s role in the recipe would come first.
Allergens and safe baking Read the current allergen information, including any warnings about cross-contamination. Don’t let children taste raw dough or batter. When I’m baking with a child who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the packaging and make sure they can help safely. For around 40% of consumers, this would be their first concern.
Flavour and Fairtrade labelling Compare the type of chocolate and cocoa percentage, and look for the Fairtrade labelling on the specific product. If the children will be eating the chocolate too, I want to choose a flavour they’ll enjoy and that suits the recipe, without losing sight of the Fairtrade requirement. Around 20% of consumers would weigh this up first.

Common baking mistakes

  • Assuming a canoe biscuit is automatically Fairtrade

    Albert Heijn describes its Roomboter kano’s as filled biscuits with almond paste and almonds. The product name alone doesn’t mean it’s Fairtrade-certified.

    If Fairtrade is a requirement, look for the labelling on the packaging of the exact product you’re buying.

  • Choosing a dark chocolate bar without considering the recipe

    Verkade states that its Puur contains at least 52% cocoa; the PLUS bar described contains 70% cocoa solids. They’re different bars, and you can’t use a bar instead of cocoa powder without adapting the recipe.

    Use the ingredient form the recipe calls for. If you’re using chocolate, choose a flavour everyone eating it will enjoy.

  • Checking only for the Fairtrade mark

    Fairtrade labelling doesn’t tell you which allergens a product contains. The PLUS bar described contains soya and may also contain milk and nuts, among other allergens.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, especially if you’re baking for someone with an allergy.

  • Letting children taste raw batter

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, raw eggs and flour in dough or batter can contain harmful bacteria. This can make young children ill more quickly.

    Wait until the bake is thoroughly cooked before letting children taste it.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Verkade

One option if you’re looking for a chocolate bar to chop or melt.

  • Fairtrade Nederland says all the cocoa in Verkade’s chocolate bars and biscuits is Fairtrade.
  • Verkade Puur contains at least 52% cocoa and may contain milk and hazelnuts. Check the current packaging to make sure it suits the recipe and everyone eating it.

Fairtrade Original

A cocoa powder option for recipes that call for powder mixed into the batter.

  • Fairtrade Original suggests using its 125 g cocoa powder in brownies and mug cakes.
  • For this product, Fairtrade Original explains that it uses the mass balance principle: Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed with or replaced by non-certified cocoa. So the mark alone doesn’t confirm that the cocoa has been kept physically separate.

PLUS

An own-brand example of a dark chocolate bar labelled as containing Fairtrade cocoa.

  • The PLUS bar described is labelled as containing 70% cocoa solids and Fairtrade Cocoa.
  • According to the product information, this bar contains soya and may also contain milk and nuts, among other allergens. Check the allergen information on each pack.

Lidl Way To Go

A range of chocolate bars for anyone who wants to compare flavours.

  • Lidl says its Way To Go products are fully Fairtrade-certified and include milk and dark chocolate.
  • Ingredients and allergens may vary between products, so choose based on the packaging of the bar you’re using.

ALDI Moser Roth

An example range if you’re looking for a dark chocolate bar.

  • ALDI says Moser Roth chocolate is Fairtrade-certified; the dark bar described is labelled as containing 70% cocoa and weighs 125 g.
  • Check the current ingredients, allergens and Fairtrade labelling on the bar you choose.

Cocoa powder for your baking recipe on Joybuy

This cocoa powder suits recipes where you mix cocoa into brownie or mug cake batter. For chunks or melted chocolate, the recipe calls for a different form of ingredient.

125 g cocoa powder labelled as Fairtrade

125 g cocoa powder, labelled as Fairtrade

The product description suggests using it in brownies and mug cakes. Check the Fairtrade labelling, ingredients and allergens on this product’s packaging; it hasn’t been confirmed that this is the same cocoa powder as the one from Fairtrade Original.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can you use canoe biscuits instead of Fairtrade chocolate or cocoa powder?

Not as a direct substitute in a baking recipe. Albert Heijn describes its Roomboter kano’s as ready-made filled biscuits with almond paste and almonds. You can serve them as a separate treat if you like, but check the packaging if Fairtrade is a requirement.

Can a child taste raw batter while you’re baking?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against tasting raw dough or batter because it may contain harmful bacteria from raw eggs or flour. Wait until the bake is thoroughly cooked before letting children eat it.

Do you still need to check for allergens in Fairtrade chocolate?

Yes. Fairtrade labelling doesn’t mean a product is suitable for people with allergies. Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling requirements for 14 allergens.

Does Fairtrade cocoa mean the cocoa has been kept physically separate?

Not necessarily. Fairtrade Original says that, under the mass balance principle, Fairtrade cocoa in its cocoa powder may be mixed with or replaced by non-certified cocoa. If physical separation matters to you, check the product information before making your choice.