what to do with cocoa nibs

I recently took a tour of the ScharffenBerger chocolate factory and came away clutching a package of cocoa nibs (not to mention a hefty supply of chocolate.) I thought I knew all the ways possible to incorporate more chocolate into my life, but cocoa nibs were a happy new find.

I would love to know if anyone has any creative uses for these - I'm leaning more towards savory dishes, but certainly won't pass on good dessert ideas. So far (while munching on a handful straight out of the bag) I've considered sprinkling them over pasta in a chipotle cream sauce, maybe with grilled chicken and a fairly assertive green tossed in. The folks at the factory mentioned marinades and dry rubs for pork and chicken - has anyone tried this?

[financialdistrictresident]

I first had cocoa nibs at The Wine Bar on lark (Albany). Don't remember how they used them . . .

[hippiechickinsing]

They make a nice crunchy addition to rice krispie treats, also a nice counter to the super-sweet marshmallows.

[HillJ]

I use them in place of chewing gum or mints. Another CH thread asks how to rid yourself of garlic breath...cocoa nibs!

[Mightymom68]

Add to granola, chocolate chip cookies and pancakes!

[krissywats]

I found this recipe a long time ago but never made it - always sounded wonderful to me:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 stick of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 egg
1 1⁄2 tsp vanilla
1 1⁄2 Cup cake flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp sea salt
1⁄2 tsp nutmeg
1⁄4 Cup cocoa nibs
8-9oz chocolate chips

365 degrees 7-8 minutes

[Leonardo]

My favorite chocolatier here in Portland coats them in chocolate!
http://roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview....
Review & photo by Michael Stern

[dbell]

Being diabetic I buy sugar free, fat free chocolate pudding. I add 2 tablespoons of cocoa nibs while cooking, delicious and no added sugar. I use the nibs for medicinal purposes.

[Dommy]

Sadly SB only sells the Nibs now by huge boxes... no longer in the Tubes. :(

--Dommy!

[dbell]

cocoa nibs can be found at cocoasupply.com

sold in 2 lb lots for $8.25 for the 2 lbs. They also have 5 lb blocks of premium dark chocolate with a 65% cocoa and cocoa butter combined content for 13.25 for the 5 lbs.

[Brandon Nelson]

Nibs are a fabulous additon to banana bread.

I've been trying to find a source for cocoa nibs or even cocoa beans. Does anyone know where I might be able to find them via mail order in the US?
Thanks!

Scharffenberger makes them. I found them in my local Whole Foods Market but I'm not sure they're regularly stocked. You can get them on line from chocosphere.com

I found roasted whole cocoa beans in a local Mexican market. Never got a good answer as to what to do with them, though, and then lost them to a mouse infestation.

You can get the nibs direct from ScharffenBerger.

Link: http://www.scharffenberger.com/produc...

saw them recently at sur la table(I forget the brand)

try the link below. el rey is a great source for chocolate and cocoa nibs. their prices are much better than scharffen berger.

Link: http://www.elreychocolate.com

[bumby]

Yes! Theo Chocoate Factory in Seattle, WA. They are the FIRST fair-trade and organic makers of chocolate bars, nibs and confections.

www.theochocolate.com

[krissywats]

I've seen them at Williams Sonoma.

[Mightymom68]

http://www.spiceandtea.com/

At Blue Hill, they're utilized to give texture to a foie gras dish (in limited quantities, of course).

There are some recipes for them in "Bittersweet" by Alice Medrich. I have not made any of them, but they include savory items.

Seared Long Island Duck w/ Orange-Cocoa Nib Crust & Bing Cherries
http://pellegrinivineyards.com/kitche...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_...

Here's a link to a show that Michael Chiarello did recently. He used them in a salad.