Semisweet chocolate is a dark chocolate that balances bitter chocolate flavor with sugar’s sweetness. Semisweet chocolate is produced by combining chocolate liquor, a small amount of sugar, cocoa butter, and usually vanilla and lecithin. Semisweet chocolate can be exchanged for bittersweet chocolate in recipes. If kept under optimal conditions, semisweet chocolate will last for a few years. Used for many chocolate confections and pastries, semisweet chocolate is also excellent for eating on its own.