No, baking chocolate is not the same as dark chocolate.
Here's a breakdown of the key differences:
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Baking Chocolate (Unsweetened Chocolate): This is 100% chocolate liquor, meaning it's pure ground cocoa beans. It contains no added sugar or other ingredients and is intensely bitter. Its primary use is as an ingredient in baking and cooking.
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Dark Chocolate: Also sometimes called semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate contains cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar. The percentage of cocoa solids varies, with higher percentages (70% or more) generally indicating a more intense chocolate flavor and less sweetness.
In short, baking chocolate is a raw ingredient, while dark chocolate is a finished product designed to be eaten or used in less intensely flavored applications. Dark chocolate contains chocolate liquor, but it also contains sugar and often other flavorings.
