Chocolate product with cocoa particles as the emulsifying agent

1. A chocolate product comprising:

an emulsion comprising from 0.1 to 10% wt/wt of cocoa particles as an emulsifying agent, wherein the emulsion is free of synthetic emulsifiers, artificial emulsifiers, and structuring agents, the emulsion further comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil and corn oil, and the chocolate product does not contain added sweetener relative to all the other ingredients in the chocolate product.

2. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion is selected from the group consisting of a water-in-oil emulsion and an oil-in-water emulsion.

3. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa particles have a mean particle size from 1 to 50 μm.

4. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion has a cocoa solids content from 10% w/w to 15% w/w.

5. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa particles have a fat content from 0.1 wt. % to 55 wt. %.

6. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa particles are selected from the group consisting of (i) defatted cocoa powder having a fat content from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %, (ii) standard cocoa powder having a fat content of 10 wt. % to 15 wt. %, (iii) high fat cocoa powder having a fat content from 20 wt. % to 25 wt. %, (iv) cocoa fibers, (v) cocoa solids of cocoa liquor, and (vi) combinations thereof.

7. The confectionery product of claim 6 , wherein the defatted cocoa powder has a fat content less than 1 wt. %.

8. The chocolate product of claim 6 , wherein the standard cocoa powder has a fat content of 10 wt. % to 12 wt. %.

9. The confectionery product of claim 6 , wherein the high fat cocoa powder has a fat content from 20 wt. % to 22 wt. %.

10. The confectionery product of claim 6 , wherein the cocoa fibers have a fat content of about 5 wt. %.

11. The confectionery product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa solids of cocoa liquor have a fat content of 50% wt. to 55 wt. %.

12. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa particles are cocoa powder having a fat content of 10 wt. % to 15 wt. % and which has been subjected to wet milling.

13. The chocolate product of claim 1 , wherein the cocoa particles are 2 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the confectionery product.

14. The chocolate product of claim 1 , consisting of the cocoa particles, the oil selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil and corn oil, water, and an additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of a flavoring agent, a colorant, liquid milk, milk powder, and mixtures thereof.

15. The chocolate product of claim 1 , consisting of the emulsion and an inclusion selected from the group consisting of cereals, dried fruit pieces, and mixtures thereof, and the chocolate product is selected from the group consisting of an aerated product, a bar, a spread, a sauce, and a filling.

16. The chocolate product of claim 1 consisting of the cocoa particles, the oil selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil and corn oil, water, and a milk ingredient.

17. A chocolate product comprising:

an emulsion prepared by a process comprising:

mixing ingredients of an aqueous phase;

mixing ingredients of a fat phase, the ingredients of the fat phase comprise an oil selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil and corn oil;

dispersing cocoa particles in one or both of the aqueous phase or the fat phase; and

homogenizing the two phases to form an emulsion,

and the chocolate product does not contain added sweetener relative to all the other ingredients in the confectionery product.

18. The chocolate product of claim 17 , wherein the cocoa particles have a mean particle size from 1 to 50 μm.

19. The chocolate product of claim 17 , wherein the emulsion is free of synthetic emulsifiers, artificial emulsifiers, and structuring agents.

20. The chocolate product of claim 17 , wherein the emulsion has a cocoa solids content from 10% w/w to 15% w/w.