Anyone who wants to control the sugar in their crêpes
If the batter or topping already contains sweet ingredients, unsweetened cocoa lets you decide separately how much sugar to add.
Who are these options for?
Lovers of rich hot chocolate
If you’re serving a drink alongside your crêpes, a cocoa powder with a higher cocoa content may be what you’re looking for. Check the sugars too: a rich-tasting recipe can still be sweet.
Families who prefer a milder drink
An instant mix or a powder with additional ingredients may suit you if convenience matters more than finding pure cocoa for baking.
What should you look for first?
Start by choosing according to how you’ll use it — in crêpe batter or to make a drink — then compare the ingredients of products that suit your needs.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Control over sugar | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list. Distinguish between unsweetened cocoa and sweetened cocoa powder. | When the topping is already sweet, I want to decide what to add to the batter. Around 36% of consumers prioritise controlling sugar. |
| A pronounced cocoa flavour | Check the cocoa percentage where stated, and whether it applies to the whole product. Start by adjusting a small amount of the mixture. | If I’m mainly looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour, the ingredients matter more to me than ease of preparation. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| A quick drink to prepare | Read the preparation instructions and check what other ingredients are in the powder intended for drinks. | If I want to serve a cup alongside my crêpes without changing a recipe, I prefer a mix that’s ready to stir in. Simplicity comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and allergen information, including any traces listed on the packet you buy. | If someone in my household needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to check the composition of the specific product. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘intense’ or ‘less sugar’ means ‘unsweetened’
A high cocoa content can still go hand in hand with a lot of sugar. For example, Chocolat Poulain lists 47% cocoa and 52 g of sugars per 100 g for Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres.
For batter or a topping, compare the sugars per 100 g before adjusting the rest of the recipe.
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Using a cereal-based powder like baking cocoa
According to Banania, Banania Original contains cereals, banana and honey, among other ingredients. Its composition differs from that of unsweetened cocoa and may change the flavour you want in your batter.
Read the product description and ingredients before swapping baking cocoa for a drink powder.
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Assuming ‘pure’ means allergen-free
Auchan’s product information for its 100% pure cocoa lists possible traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts. Banania lists wheat and barley in Original.
If you have an allergy or need to avoid an ingredient, check the information on the packet you’re actually using. Don’t assume it’s the same across different pack sizes.
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Assuming a Nutri-Score is required by law
Santé publique France describes Nutri-Score as voluntary. For prepacked foods, the DGCCRF distinguishes this logo from the labelling information to check, including the ingredients list and nutrition declaration.
Whether or not a Nutri-Score is displayed, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values that are relevant to your choice.
Brands to know
Poulain
Cocoa powders worth considering for a rich drink, but don’t confuse them with unsweetened cocoa.
- Chocolat Poulain states that 1848 contains 50% cocoa.
- According to Chocolat Poulain, Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres contains 52 g of sugars per 100 g.
Auchan
Its 250 g 100% pure unsweetened cocoa is a useful option for recipes where you want to control the sugar separately.
- Auchan lists cocoa powder as the only ingredient in this product.
- It lists possible traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and nuts.
Van Houten
Auchan describes The Original as an unsweetened cocoa for baking and drinks, among other uses.
- This product can be used in crêpe batter where the sugar is measured separately.
- Check the ingredients for the product and pack size you choose: this description doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Nesquik
Auchan describes its Moins de Sucres product as an instant mix for a cocoa drink, not as pure cocoa for baking.
- Auchan’s product information states that this product contains 28% cocoa.
- The recipe also contains soluble maize fibre and oat flour.
Banania
Original is a chocolate powder made with cocoa and cereals, rather than pure cocoa for flavouring batter.
- The composition published by Banania lists 19% cocoa in Original.
- The recipe contains wheat and barley, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients if you need to avoid these cereals.
Powders for these uses on Joybuy
This selection includes cocoa to consider for batter or a topping, as well as sweetened chocolate powders that can be served as a drink with crêpes or used in a dessert. Check the ingredients of your chosen pack before adjusting the sugar in your recipe.
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Van Houten VH1F, cocoa powder 14.7%, 1 kg
Worth considering for batter or a topping when you want to control the sugar separately. It isn’t clear what ‘14.7%’ in the product name refers to, so check the composition and this percentage on the packaging before choosing it.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 400 g
For a chocolate drink with your crêpes or a dessert made with sweetened cocoa powder. If you add it to the batter, check the sugars listed on the packet before adding any more.
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Van Houten VH2, chocolate powder 34%, 1 kg
Worth considering for a drink or a recipe where a sweetened powder is suitable. Check what the ‘34%’ in the product name refers to. The product information also lists milk and possible traces of nuts.
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Poulain Cocoa with Rich Flavor, 450 g
This pack is worth considering for a drink or a dessert made with sweetened chocolate powder. In crêpe batter, take into account the sugars in the powder and any toppings you plan to use.
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Columbus Intense Chocolate Powder, 320 g
For a drink or dessert if the sugar and milk in this recipe suit you. Check the packaging for the sugar content and the unit used for the nutrition values before comparing it with other powders.
Frequently asked questions
Which cocoa should I choose to flavour crêpe batter?
Unsweetened cocoa is a good choice if you want to control the sugar in the batter separately. Sweetened cocoa powder will affect the amount you add, so check its ingredients and nutrition information — especially if the topping will also be sweet.
Does powder described as ‘intense’ necessarily contain less sugar?
No: this description doesn’t tell you the sugar content. For example, Chocolat Poulain lists 47% cocoa and 52 g of sugars per 100 g for Grand Arôme Moins de Sucres. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g rather than relying on the product name alone.
Is Nutri-Score compulsory on chocolate powder in France?
No. Santé publique France says that displaying it is voluntary. When choosing a prepacked food, also check the ingredients list and nutrition declaration described by the DGCCRF. The absence of this logo doesn’t tell you everything about the product’s composition.
Is the sugar in chocolate powder enough to make it subject to the ‘soda tax’?
No, the presence of sugar alone isn’t enough to establish that. Article 1613 ter of the French General Tax Code, published by Légifrance, applies to drinks and liquid preparations for drinks under the conditions set out in that text. A powder bought for crêpes shouldn’t automatically be treated as one of these products. To compare powders, check their sugar content.
Does ‘100% pure’ cocoa guarantee that it contains no traces of allergens?
No. Auchan’s product information for its 100% pure cocoa lists possible traces of several allergens. If this matters to your household, read the information on the packet of the product you buy.