Copha for cake decorators
Copha is the vegetable shortening that has been on Australian shelves since 1933. What it is made of, what it does, and where to find it. A short orientation guide.
Copha is the white block in the dairy case that has been the easy answer for chocolate crackles, no-bake slices, and moulded treats in Australian kitchens for more than ninety years.
What Copha is
Copha is a vegetable shortening, made with more than 99% coconut oil and less than 1% soy lecithin. It was developed in 1933 and has been part of Australian baking for more than ninety years.
The brand describes itself as Australia's favourite vegetable shortening. In New Zealand, the same product is sold under the brand name Kremelta .
You will find Copha at Coles, Woolworths, and selected independent stores, in the dairy case.
What Copha does
Copha is gluten free, contains no palm oil, and remains stable at room temperature up to 36 degrees Celsius. It has a firm texture and a high melting point, and it gives a smooth finish and creamy texture without refrigeration.
That set of properties is the reason it sits where it does in Australian baking. The 36 degree room-temperature stability is what makes slices, moulded treats, and chocolate crackles hold up on the bench in a warm Australian kitchen without refrigeration.
What decorators bake with it
Copha publishes a free online recipe library at copha.com.au . The library is organised into ten categories: cheesecakes and cakes, chocolate, Christmas dessert, crackles, easy desserts, Easter dessert, gluten-free dessert, kids party dessert, no-bake dessert, and dessert slices.
The Cake! Network partnership page lists chocolate crackles, layered slices, no-bake cheesecakes, and moulded treats as the recipe types Copha is used for. Easter bunnies and crackle slice are called out as classic recipes that Copha-led updates are appearing in through Cake! Network channels.
For procedure (how much Copha to use, how to melt it, what to mix it with), the Copha recipe library is the source.
The Cake! Network partnership
Copha is a Platinum Partner of the Australian Cake Decorating Network . It is produced exclusively in Australia and has been a pantry essential for more than ninety years.
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The questions.
- What is Copha?
- A vegetable shortening made with more than 99% coconut oil and less than 1% soy lecithin.
- Is Copha gluten free?
- Yes.
- Does Copha contain palm oil?
- No.
- How heat-stable is Copha?
- The brand states Copha remains stable at room temperature up to 36 degrees Celsius.
- Where can I buy Copha?
- Coles, Woolworths, and selected independent stores, in the dairy case.
- Is Copha the same as Kremelta?
- Copha is sold in New Zealand under the Kremelta brand.
- When was Copha first sold?
- It was developed in 1933.
More questions?
If you have more questions, become a Cake! Member and ask in the members-only group. You'll hear from working Australian decorators who have already solved what you are working on. A$120 a year, inc GST.