Convert Dark Chocolate to Milk Chocolate the Easy Way

Every home probably has some dark semi-sweet baking chocolate in the kitchen. However, if you’re not a huge fan of dark chocolate, you’ll probably have a stash of milk chocolate hidden somewhere. But what happens when you run out, and how do you satisfy your craving for milk chocolate when all you have is dark chocolate?

Converting dark chocolate to milk chocolate requires that you have the necessary ingredients, including dark chocolate, milk, and butter. Cut the chocolate into small pieces, then melt it in a microwave or oven. Stir and add in the milk and butter while still stirring. Finally, let the mixture cool.

By the way, the value of a good whisk, like the simple but effective one I use, found on Amazon, cannot be overstated. In fact, it might be my favorite tool in the kitchen and is great for tasks like this!

In this article, we tackle whether you can make milk chocolate from dark chocolate. We also give a detailed step-by-step process that you can follow to make your milk chocolate from home. Hopefully, you’ll be more confident to try out this simple recipe. 

Can You Make Milk Chocolate From Dark Chocolate?

Although it’s possible to make milk chocolate starting with dark chocolate as the base, you don’t quite get the same results. If you’re looking to make homemade milk chocolate, you’re better off using powdered milk.

That said, it’s possible to turn your dark chocolate into a substitute for milk chocolate. The process is quite similar to that used to make a ganache.

 If you only have dark baking chocolate in the house, here are some simple steps you can follow to convert it into milk chocolate. Besides dark chocolate, you must also ensure you have some milk or cream and butter.

Related What To Add to Chocolate To Make It Harden? (Complete Guide).

Chop the Chocolate Into Pieces and Melt It

Depending on your dark chocolate form, your first step should be to cut it into smaller pieces. Cutting the chocolate bars into smaller pieces will help fasten the melting process. If you’re using chocolate chips, you don’t have to cut them and can skip to the melting bit immediately.

Use an uncovered double boiler to melt the chocolate on low heat. A double boiler usually has a pan in the bottom and another one on top. The bottom pan holds water whose steam melts the chocolate in the second pan. One of the crucial things to this process is that the water from the bottom pan shouldn’t touch the other pan’s bottom. 

The melting process needs to be slow, which is why the boiler is left on low heat. Don’t attempt to fasten the process, as you could end up destroying the ingredients in the chocolate. Quickening this melting process could also just result in burnt chocolate.

Uncovering the boiler prevents condensed water on the inside of the lid from getting into the molten chocolate.

Keep Stirring With a Spatula

When you notice the chocolate at the edges starts to liquefy, get a spatula, and start stirring the mixture. Keep stirring frequently until all the chocolate melts to ensure that it doesn’t burn. Ideally, it would be best if you used a rubber or silicone spatula to stir the chocolate. Using a wooden spoon could be disastrous as it would absorb the moisture from the chocolate. 

Pour in Some Milk and Butter

Once all the dark chocolate has melted, it’s time to add in the milk and butter. Adding milk or cream helps to achieve a softer chocolate bar. Therefore, if you want the milk chocolate to be solid at room temperature, you won’t need as much liquid as you usually would have.

Add about two tablespoons of butter and two tablespoons of condensed milk to the melted chocolate. Stir the mixture and keep stirring to achieve a smooth and consistent chocolate paste. If you feel that the paste is too thick, adding whole milk to the mix helps. Additionally, you can add some condensed milk if the chocolate isn’t sweet enough.

Finding the right ratio of milk to chocolate can be a challenge, and you may not get it right the first time. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should always use more liquid for chocolates with a higher cocoa percentage.

Cool the Mixture

While it cools, it will help if you keep stirring the chocolate mixture until you have the desired consistency. At this point, you can pour the mixture into any container of your choice. Better still, why don’t you pour the mixture into candy molds so you can make some cute chocolate bars?

Let the mixture cool at room temperature, and don’t refrigerate it. You can even keep the chocolate in a cool and dry place for several months without worrying about its shelf life. 

Helpful Tips to Turn Dark Chocolate Into Milk Chocolate

Now that you have the entire step-by-step process, wouldn’t it be better if you had some tips? Here are some of the things you should keep in mind to ensure you only get the best homemade milk chocolate.

• Melt the chocolate in an oven or microwave. Don’t have a double boiler? Don’t worry. You can always use your oven to melt the chocolate at a low temperature. Preferably, set the temperature to about 300℉ (148.9°C). You can also set your microwave to 50% power. In this case, you’ll need to check the chocolate every ten seconds and stir using a spatula every time you check. 
• Use a plastic bag to melt the chocolate. Another quick and straightforward way to melt the chocolate is by placing it in a plastic bag. Ensure that it’s tightly sealed before placing it in a bowl of hot water to melt the chocolate. 
• Don’t add any cold liquids to the chocolate. We get that you may be impatient for the chocolate to cool. However, you shouldn’t add any cold drinks, including water, to the chocolate. If you need to add any liquids to the chocolate, do so before melting it. You can also opt to heat the liquids before adding them to the chocolate. 
• Uncover the chocolate when heating it. When melting your chocolate, make sure that it’s uncovered, regardless of the method you’re using. Melting the chocolate while it’s still covered can result in condensation on the lid, which causes water to fall into your chocolate. 

Related 5 Best Ways To Prevent Chocolate From Melting.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Taste Like Milk Chocolate

Once you have made your milk chocolate, you’ll undoubtedly be keen to know whether you nailed the taste. Frankly, you can’t quite get the same taste as you would from making milk chocolate from scratch using milk powder.

Just as the name suggests, milk chocolate has a milkier taste. Often, its texture will also be creamier compared to that of dark chocolate. If you want to get dark chocolate to taste like milk chocolate, your best bet is to find the right ratio of milk to chocolate. Adding condensed milk to the melted chocolate helps you achieve a similar taste to that of milk chocolate. The butter also helps with the taste.

Your first few attempts may not get the ideal taste. However, you should keep experimenting until you find the ratio that suits your taste preference.

Conclusion

If you love milk chocolate, finding out that you only have dark chocolate left can be devastating. However, instead of making another run to the store, you can turn your dark chocolate into milk chocolate.

You only need to melt the dark chocolate, throw in some butter and condensed milk, and let it cool. It might take you some time, but you’ll be the king of making milk chocolate from dark chocolate in no time.

So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the kitchen and make some milk chocolate that everyone will love.

Thanks for stoppin’ by.

Jelly Grandma

For more, don’t miss Is Chocolate a Good Survival Food? How Should It Be Stored?