If you are converting a recipe from cups to grams, start here: 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate weighs 10.6 g. The cup weight is 170 g, and since there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, the division is 170 ÷ 16 = 10.6 g. Multiply that by the number of tablespoons in your recipe and you have the weight.
This page gives you the full tablespoon table, a cups table for cross-checking, and worked examples from real cooking. All figures are approximate and come from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
About Dark Chocolate
Chopped dark chocolate bars, for melting or folding into batters. Ganache, brownies, fondue and baking. That is why it shows up in recipes measured by the tablespoon: it is used in amounts too small for a cup measure to be practical, yet large enough that guessing the weight can throw a dish off. Knowing that one tablespoon weighs 10.6 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Cool, dry place, up to 1 year.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 3.5 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 10.6 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 21.2 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 31.9 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 42.5 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 53.1 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 63.8 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 74.4 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 85 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 95.6 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 106.2 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 116.9 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 127.5 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 138.1 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 148.8 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 159.4 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 170 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 170 g divided by 16 and rounded to one decimal place. Sixteen tablespoons make one cup, which is why the last row of the table matches the cup weight exactly. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Cups to grams for reference
Most recipes switch between cups and tablespoons, so here is the same ingredient measured in cups. Use this table when a recipe gives a cup amount and you want to weigh it, or when you have already measured in tablespoons and want to check the total.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 42.5 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 56.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 85 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 113.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 127.5 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 170 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 255 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 340 g |
Worked examples
A chocolate ganache for a cake
A ganache to cover a small cake uses 8 tablespoons of dark chocolate, about 85 g, melted with cream and poured over the top. Eight tablespoons is enough for a thin, glossy coat on a single layer cake. Chop the chocolate finely so it melts evenly, pour the hot cream over it, and leave it for a minute before stirring, because stirring too early leaves lumps that never quite disappear.
A topping for ice cream or pancakes
A topping for pancakes or ice cream for two people takes 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate, about 21.2 g, scattered over the top. Two tablespoons is enough to make the dish feel indulgent without burying it. Add the chocolate while the pancakes are still warm so it softens slightly, but keep it off the ice cream until serving, because it hardens on contact with the cold and turns into shards.
A hot chocolate for two
Two mugs of hot chocolate use 3 tablespoons of dark chocolate, about 31.9 g, melted into hot milk. Three tablespoons across two mugs gives a properly chocolatey drink rather than a faintly brown one. Melt the chocolate into a little of the milk first to make a smooth paste, then whisk in the rest, because adding all the milk at once leaves lumps.
How the figure is measured
Dark Chocolate is measured spooned and levelled: spoon it loosely into the tablespoon, then sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag or jar, because scooping packs the ingredient down and a scooped spoon can weigh far more than a spooned one. The spoon-and-level method is the one the source data assumes, so it is the method that makes the numbers on this page true.
The cup weight of 170 g comes from King Arthur Baking. The tablespoon figure is that cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place, which is why the table is consistent from one row to the next. All results are approximate: brand, grind, humidity and temperature all move the real weight a little, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use these numbers as a guide.
When you do not have a scale
Not every kitchen has a scale, and a tablespoon measure is a perfectly good tool for small amounts of dark chocolate. The key is technique: fill the spoon the way the source data assumes, which for dark chocolate is spooned and levelled. A level spoon is the standard, and a heaped spoon is a different measurement altogether, so level the top with a straight edge and do not guess.
For amounts larger than a few tablespoons, a cup measure is more reliable than counting spoons, because each spoonful adds a little error and the errors add up. One cup of dark chocolate is 170 g, which is 16 tablespoons, so if a recipe calls for a cup, use the cup measure rather than counting sixteen spoonfuls. And when a recipe has to work the first time, borrow or buy a scale: it costs less than a single failed bake, and it removes the biggest source of variation in home cooking, which is the way ingredients pack into a spoon or a cup.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of dark chocolate?
One tablespoon of dark chocolate weighs 10.6 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 170 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 3.5 g, and one cup is 170 g.
How many grams is a teaspoon of dark chocolate?
One teaspoon of dark chocolate weighs 3.5 g, approximately. A teaspoon is a third of a tablespoon, so the teaspoon weight is the tablespoon weight of 10.6 g divided by three. For very small amounts, the teaspoon is the better tool, because it is easier to level accurately than a tablespoon.
How many tablespoons of dark chocolate are in 100 g?
About 9.4 tablespoons. The calculation is 100 g divided by 10.6 g per tablespoon, which gives 9.4. In practice, measure 9.4 level tablespoons and accept that the result will be a gram or two off, or weigh the ingredient directly if the recipe needs to be exact.
How many tablespoons of dark chocolate are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, so one cup of dark chocolate is 16 tablespoons and weighs 170 g. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons (85 g), a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons (42.5 g), and three quarters of a cup is 12 tablespoons (127.5 g).
Can I use a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon?
It is not a good idea. Eating spoons vary widely in size and shape, and a tablespoon from a cutlery drawer can hold noticeably more or less than a standard measuring tablespoon. A set of measuring spoons costs very little and is the only way to make the figures on this page true in your kitchen.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scooping directly from the bag, which packs the ingredient down and makes a spoonful weigh far more than a spooned one.
- Leaving the spoon heaped instead of levelling it, which adds an unpredictable extra amount every time.
- Measuring a damp or clumped ingredient without breaking it up first, which leaves air pockets and a short measure.
- Using a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon, since eating spoons vary widely in size.
The thread running through all of these is the same: a tablespoon is only a standard measure when it is filled in the standard way. Measure dark chocolate spooned and levelled, level it off, and check the weight on a scale when the recipe has to be right, and the numbers on this page will serve you well.