Category: Delectables

Shoppers are talking about the new double chocolate croissants that were recently spotted in the store by a fan account on Instagram. According to the comments below the post, many shoppers who have yet to try the new croissants are incredibly excited to get their hands on them. This makes sense considering regular Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants — which feature a plain pastry with melty chocolate inside — were already incredibly popular with shoppers. Now, the store seems to have taken the chocolatey goodness up to the next level, with the new croissants including not only gooey chocolate inside but also chocolate-flavored pastry on the outside. If you are ready to get in on the double chocolate goodness, then you’ll find these new croissants in the freezer section of Trader Joe’s stores across the country. One box of four croissants sells for $5.49, making the new double chocolate croissants cheaper per pastry than similar items from popular coffee shops. And if Redditors are to be believed, Trader Joe’s croissants are even better than those from “local French bakeries.” What makes Trader Joe’s frozen croissants so good is they are frozen raw before they are proofed or baked. So to make them, you have to let them sit on the counter to rise for a few hours and then pop them in the oven to bake until they’re golden. This makes for a perfectly fluffy and bakery-quality croissant each time. You can choose to make only one or make the entire pack. If you have leftovers, no worries — simply pop the stale croissants in the oven to bake again for five minutes, and they are as good as new. Or you can also use your leftover croissants in other creative ways.

Kekeo searches the world for the finest craft chocolate bars and bring them right to your doorstep monthly. From rich dark Peruvian chocolate bars to new start-up chocolate bars on the come up, you never know what you’ll get inside the box! Each month they  will curate 4 to 5 premium specialty crafted chocolate bars. Looking to give a chocolate enthusiast a gift? Start with the Kekao Subscription Gift. You prepay for a selected amount of months and leave the rest to them! They search the world for the finest craft chocolate bars and bring them right to your doorstep monthly. Who doesn’t love chocolate? For more info, click HERE.

THE phrase “gut-friendly foods” tends to conjure images of difficult-to-pronounce kefir, kimchi and kombucha. But it turns out something as simple as a chocolate bar could actually have real benefits when it comes to your insides. According to Dr Megan Rossi, a gut health scientist and dietitian, this is due to plant chemicals known as polyphenols, which are found in certain cocoa-based sweet snacks. They have been found to support the growth of beneficial bacteria, and ultimately help protect against inflammation and illness. Fiber also plays a major role in choccy’s gut-boosting properties. Dr Rossi, founder of The Gut Health Doctor, said: “Cocoa may even influence the growth of certain microbes in our guts.” But not all confectionery is created equally, the expert warned. While some can be advantageous, others can actually worsen your gut health thanks to ingredients like emulsifiers. If you’re reaching for a sugar hit but don’t want to wreak havoc on your stomach, Dr Rossi recommends Lindt Excellence Dark 90%. To learn about more chocolate bars that are good – and bad for your gut, click HERE.

Dark chocolate, with its rich and complex flavor profile, has earned its place as a beloved indulgence for cacao enthusiasts and foodies alike. Whether you’re savoring a small square after a meal or using it as a key ingredient in your culinary creations, there’s no denying the allure of this cocoa-infused delight. From its intriguing history dating back to ancient civilizations to its modern reputation as a potential health booster, dark chocolate has more to offer than meets the eye — or, should we say, the taste buds. If you’re a fan of rich, velvety goodness that only dark chocolate can deliver, you’re in for a treat. TheDailyMeal.com has embarked on a delicious journey to uncover the 20 best dark chocolate brands out there. From bittersweet bites that make your taste buds dance to indulgent bars that practically redefine decadence with fruity notes, they’ve tasted and ranked them all. Join them as they take you through the good, the bad, and the downright divine in the world of dark chocolate.  Click, HERE.

Chocolate is already a crowd-pleaser. It has a rich and creamy texture, a perfectly sweet flavor, and it goes well in everything from indulgent chocolate layer cakes to savory mole sauces. One would be hard-pressed to find a way to make this popular confection even better, but it turns out that there is a way: Make it holographic. Click, HERE, to find out how!

There’s nothing better than a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. But there are actually a lot of things that can make a mug of hot cocoa even better. If you’re entertaining guests, we suggest putting out a whole spread—or bar—of toppings, mix-ins, and accompaniments. Your guests or family might be expecting the most obvious ones, like whipped cream or mini marshmallows, so allow us to inspire you with 20 imaginative ingredients to include in your hot chocolate bar. To see the options, click, HERE.

 

Icebox cake fans and cookie pie crust lovers are in mourning: Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers are no more. Introduced in 1924 and responsible for popularizing icebox cakes, the cookies were “delisted” this year according to a representative from Mondelez International, Nabisco’s parent company. And to rub salt on the wound, the reliable alternative, 365 by Whole Foods Market Brownie Cookie Thins, is also no longer being carried by the grocery chain. But all is not lost! For icebox cakes in particular, almost any cookie or cracker can be used to assemble the no-bake desserts, and there are plenty of alternatives to make chocolate cookie crusts for pies and cheesecakes. Here’s a rundown of some of the options, along with our top pick as a near dupe for the Famous Chocolate Wafers. (R.I.P.) Click, HERE.

The Hershey Company and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products have released limited-edition Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars and Hershey’s Kisses, featuring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  With the help of 21 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses candies foils, wizards, witches and Muggles alike can celebrate their Hogwarts House with Sorting House foils, relive memorable quotes from the series with Magical Moments foils and find other foils featuring objects from the series, including the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry’s birthday cake and more.  The limited-edition Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars feature imprinted images on the milk chocolate, such as wands, brooms and eyeglasses. The 12 package designs highlight significant symbols from the film series, including the Hogwarts Express, Hedwig the Owl, Ron Weasley’s flying car and more. The limited-edition Hershey’s x Harry Potter bars and Hershey’s KISSES candies are available now at retailers nationwide in individual bars or six-packs of 1.55-ounce Hershey’s bars and 9.5-ounce bags of KISSES candies.

Toblerone, the renowned Swiss chocolate brand, has announced a new version of its iconic product. For its new range of confectionery, the brand has abandoned its legally protected triangular shape. The Swiss chocolatiers will be hoping the move can put the wind back in the brand’s sails following the disappointment of losing its Matterhorn branding. The new Toblerone Truffles will sport the brand’s signature smooth center with crunchy almonds and nougat but will instead be cast in diamond shaped casing. Each chocolate will come individually wrapped, allowing customers to take a couple with them on the go. UK customers will be able to purchase a 180g box from all major retailers, with prices starting at £6.09. For die-hard Toblerone followers, a 400g box of Toblerone Truffles are available on the brand’s website with options for personalization. The thoughtful gift would set you back £21. For those who like a challenge, the 4.5kg bar is available for £73.99. At 78cm long, the bar is meant for sharing.

Chocolate fills many roles: for some, it’s a sweet treat; for others an ingredient. But for the finest chocolatiers, it’s an art form. The artisans behind the best chocolate brands in the world take that approach when crafting bean-to-bar sensory experiences, each with their own unique culinary flairs and adherence to using the best cocoa from Switzerland to Venezuela. Among these, you’ll find in-house specialties in traditional practices or chocolate makers with a world-renowned sense of inventiveness. Whether crafting smooth or sharp, caramel or truffle, indulgent or health-conscious treats, these are the finest chocolate brands in the world. You’ll find these finest chocolate brands on EliteTraveler.com (click, HERE).

Let’s face it, dark chocolate isn’t for everyone. It seems like people either love it or hate it. However, the many people who are fans of this richer, stronger-flavored form of chocolate swear it is the ultimate chocolate indulgence and are constantly seeking out the best dark chocolate bars. If you’ve always been loyal to milk chocolate, trying some premium dark chocolate brands may prompt you to rethink your stance. Especially when you consider the health benefits that dark chocolate can offer as a nice bonus. Here are the picks, as per PARADE.COM, as the best dark chocolate bars, leading up to the one that tops the list. (Any of these are terrific options, though, and the one you like best will depend on personal preference and the percentage of cocoa content your taste buds can handle.) Click HERE.

Kinder Chocolate, the flagship offering of the Ferrero confectionery brand, will be available in the U.S. for the first time starting in August. Catherine Bertrac, senior vice president of marketing for Kinder and mainstream chocolate for Ferrero USA, said the company has been gearing up for its biggest U.S. launch over the last several years. “It was time to complete our Ferrero legacy of what we call the legacy portfolio of Kinder,” she said. Ferrero’s Kinder brand launched in Europe in 1968. Kinder chocolates first came to the U.S. five years ago with the introduction of Kinder Joy. Kinder Bueno was introduced in 2019, and then seasonal products started appearing in 2020.

With so many different chocolate companies offering up boxes upon boxes of their wares, it can be hard to even know where to start. Your choice may be dependent on the flavors you like, the flavors the recipient likes (if you’re gifting), the occasion, and even your level of risk (there’s a lot of weird chocolate on the market now). Thankfully, those at ROBB REPORT were willing to do the hard work of tasting loads and loads of chocolate in a conference room to make your life a little bit easier. In pursuit of the best chocolate in every category—from white to dark, fruit-flavored to caramel, and everything in between—these are the brands they deemed to be the crème de la crème of cacao. Proceed with caution, because eating one single piece can quickly snowball into sampling the entire assortment. Here’s the list but you can find more details HERE.

Best Overall Chocolate: Thierry Atlan
Best Milk Chocolate: zChocolat
Best Dark Chocolate: La Maison du Chocolat
Best White Chocolate: Jacques Torres
Best Belgian Chocolate: Neuhaus
Best Sea-Salt Caramels: Fran’s
Best Peanut-Butter Chocolates: John Kelly
Most Adventurous Chocolates: Vosges Haut-Chocolate
Best Fruit-Flavored Chocolate: andSons Chocolatiers

Chocolate lovers have been amazed after learning the story behind M&M’s and what the brand name actually stands for. The chocolates’ name stands for Mars and Murrie after chocolate heirs and business collaborators Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie. Bruce was the son of Hershey executive William Murrie, while Forrest was the son of Mars founder, Frank C. Mars. The story started when Forrest E. Mars fell out with his dad, the original owner of Mars. The Mars company started before Hershey’s, by Frank C. Mars, and his son was really good at coming up with chocolate bars. The son visited Europe where he reportedly spotted people enjoying chocolate covered in candy coating. Not wanting to share his idea with his dad when he planned to bring the idea to the US, he turned to his family’s rival, Hershey’s. He went to Hershey’s, introduced himself as the son of Mars and told them he didn’t want to give the idea to his father, and proposes they work together. The guy who was running Hershey’s, his last name, Murrie, agreed but said he’d have to work with his son. So he worked together with the son of the Hershey executive, and they created M&M’s, naming the brand after themselves – Mars and Murrie.

 

There is a new fad involving eating butter with chocolate going around the Internet, and people are really divided over what to think of it. Both delicious in their own right but how does a mélange of the two even work? Turns out that eating slabs of butter with solid chocolate is completely normal in France. It all started when a France-based American mom shared how French children like to eat baguettes with a stick of butter and chocolate slab sandwiched inside. Her caption states, “French kids don’t have an after school snack…they have a gouter!” She then shows herself cutting into a fresh baguette and then putting a tablet of chocolate and a stick of butter inside to create a sandwich-dessert of sorts. It quickly caught on, with people loving the simplicity of it while enjoying the refreshing take on an after-school snack.

Both cheese and dark chocolate are known for pairing well with wine, and both are considered essential elements to include in a thoughtfully executed charcuterie board — although not necessarily together. But seriously, why not together? Indeed, thanks to the role of fermentation in their respective manufacturing, both feature complex flavor notes, including in the ranges of sweet, fruity, tangy, woody, nutty, and bitter. And these various nuances can play off one another in wonderful and sometimes surprising ways. And let’s not forget, of course, that individually, both cheese and dark chocolate are considered to be “feel-good” foods because both have been shown to light up the brain’s reward center. Accordingly, to enjoy them together would tend to present the prospect of even greater pleasure. For more specifics, click HERE.

A life-sized chocolate bust of Britain’s King Charles III weighing 23 kilograms (more than 50 pounds) has been unveiled by confectionery brand Celebrations to mark the forthcoming coronation. A team of sculptors and chocolatiers led by master chocolatier Jennifer Lindsey-Clarke took 130 hours across four weeks to make the model, using more than 17 liters (4.5 gallons) of melted chocolate, Celebrations said in a press release on Wednesday. This is equivalent to about 2,875 individual Celebrations chocolates. The ornamental shoulder pieces decorating the King’s uniform were modeled from individual Twix, Milky Way, Galaxy and Bounty chocolates, with the King’s collar made from Maltesers Teasers. One of each of the Celebrations chocolates, including Snickers, was used to create the medals on his chest.

Barry Callebaut has unveiled the next chapter of its development of ruby chocolate in releasing it for the bakery and snacks market in the form of baking chocolate chips for its North American region. Since gaining its formal launch in 2017, the much-heralded series, which has been claimed as the fourth category of chocolate, has gained broad global applications in ranges including Nestle’s flagship KitKat, through to its use across ice cream and wider confectionery markets. The ruby chip will fall into the premium category of the firm’s comprehensive Intense Indulgence solutions portfolio, which represents the attitude of customers who are dedicated to enjoying life to the fullest and seeking products that are a feast for the eyes and taste buds.

The company’s latest box of chocolates would crush Forrest Gump. It weighs in at 5,616 pounds. The giant box of chocolates that measures more than 30 feet long and more than 15 feet wide and filled with enormous chocolate candies weighing in at 11 to 38 pounds each was created during an event Monday as Russell Stover employees worked to break the record for the world’s largest box of chocolate. The previous record held by U.K. chocolatier Thorntons was a mere 3,725 pounds.

Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts are getting cookie-fied once again. The chain is teaming up with longtime collaborators Oreo and Chips Ahoy to debut a sweet new slate of doughnut flavors. The Cookie Blast collection features four new doughnuts and, though the brands have worked together before, features two full-sized Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies stuffed inside, the first time the doughnut chain has featured the Chewy version of the cookie brand’s products. Check out the new doughnuts, HERE.

“Costco bakery just brought out a peanut putter chocolate cream pie for the first time ever and I am screaming,” as revealed on an Instagram post. “Peanut butter pie is my all time favorite and this Costco pie is four and a half pounds. It is huge. It has a buttery graham cracker crumble crust. And the center is the perfect peanut butter, chocolate mousse combo. This one is dangerously delicious.” The pie is available for just $19.99, and if you were to cut the sizable dessert into eight slices that would be less than $3 per slice. The Instagram post showcasing the new treat from Costco has been met with nearly 1,000 comments. Many people expressed their eagerness to get their hands on the Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie.

All of the best 3D printers print from some form of plastic, either from filament or from resin. But an upcoming printer, Cocoa Press, uses chocolate to create models you can eat. The brainchild of Maker and Battlebots Competitor Ellie Weinstein, who has been working on iterations of the printer since 2014, Cocoa Press, will be available for pre-order, starting on April 17, 2023 via cocoapress.com. (the company is also named Cocoa Press). To learn more, click HERE.

Delicious to eat, yet notoriously tricky to shift from your couch or clothes, here’s how to remove chocolate stains from every surface of your home. Chocolate may be one of the tastiest substances on earth, but it’s also one of the messiest – and most likely to leave a permanent mark on anything from t-shirts to carpets and couches. The reason it tends to hang around longer than other foodstuffs? Chocolate is made from a potent combination of fat (butter or milk), which can leave an oily residue on fabrics; and tannins – dark natural pigments also found in tea and red wine – that can discolor them. So, when you’re looking for cleaning tips to banish chocolate marks, you need to make sure you’re tackling both elements of the stain at once. With this in mind, the experts tell how to remove chocolate stains quickly and effectively. Read on to discover how to get everything from your child’s favorite top to your living room carpet looking spotless and chocolate-free (click HERE).

Li-Lac Chocolates is Manhattan’s oldest chocolate shop, having survived decades of change in New York City. Since Li-Lac opened in 1923, owners have stuck to the founder’s original chocolate recipes while adding new confections along the way. Today, Li-Lac makes its legendary fudge, butter crunch, and truffles, as well as over 1,000 specialty molds for occasions like Easter and Thanksgiving. The company has six locations in New York City, with all of its ingredients made inside its Brooklyn factory. For more information, visit Li-Lac Chocolates and to watch an amazing video of the history of Li-Lac and how they make chocolate click HERE.

When you throw “chocolate” and “perfume” in the same sentence, your stomach might start to do the wave. But what if  Erin Jahns told you some of the most popular and beloved fragrances ever created had the note subtly woven into them? (Think Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, Mugler’s Angel, Byredo’s Velvet Haze, and the like.) She’ll be proving that the good-enough-to-eat perfume movement happening right now is spiked with 12 chocolatey scents that pretty much scream longevity and also happen to be surprisingly more subtle than you’d think. Curious to see which chocolate perfumes she routinely recommends and would actually wear? Click HERE.

 

We all want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a sweet treat, but getting that same old box of grocery store chocolates every year isn’t so impressive. Gifts should be unique, fun and just right for the person you’re gifting to. Valentine’s Day coming up on February 14 is all about chocolate, and it can be hard to keep the chocolate theme and still make it a thoughtful surprise. Whether you’re looking for boxes of chocolate, cakes or something totally creative, the gifting experts at Reviewed have compiled a list of delicious chocolate gifts for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. Click, HERE, to see the 21 chocolate gifts.

Krispy Kreme has leveled up its love for Valentine’s Day this year. The chain announced new heart-shaped donuts, which are “choc-full” of Hershey’s chocolate. The limited-edition boxes are available starting Jan. 30 at participating shops across the United States. Each Valentine’s Day dozen box is made up of the four heart-shaped flavor variations: the Hershey’s Pick You, which is dipped in chocolate icing and topped with a decorative buttercream rose; the Hershey’s Double Chocolate Kiss comes filled and dipped with milk chocolate and topped with mini milk chocolate kisses; the Hershey’s Strawberry Dream is decorated with red icing and white chocolate chips and topped with sprinkles; and the Hershey’s Chocolate Chip Caramel Kreme, which is filled with the brand’s signature cream and topped with caramel icing, drizzles of chocolate, semi-sweet chips, and sprinkles.

When the famous Swiss chocolate company was originally founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1845, its specialty chocolate confectionery shop employed a modest 10 people. Over 175 years later, the Lindt company has grown rather spectacularly to more than 14,000 employees with nearly $5 billion dollars in annual sales, according to Statista. Much happened in the intervening years. In fact, when the first storefront opened on Marktgasse in the old town section of Zurich, there was no Lindt attached to the name. Rather, it was Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann and his father David Sprüngli who started the chocolate making tradition, opening their first factory only two years after the confectionery debuted, per Lindt. How Lindt’s Lindor chocolate is a whole other story! Find out, HERE.

Ethel M® Chocolates announces its 2023 Valentine’s Day offerings including two new limited-edition premium chocolates sure to excite chocolate lovers and gift givers. The new gourmet chocolates, Dark Chocolate Blood Orange Satin Crème and Milk Chocolate Bananas Foster Truffle are handcrafted with decadent flavors to create a mouth-watering experience. The Dark Chocolate Blood Orange Satin Crème balances tart sourness, milk sweetness, and bittersweet cocoa with 100% blood orange juice blended with a signature, creamy satin crème center and wrapped in a dark chocolate shell. The Milk Chocolate Bananas Foster Truffle features white chocolate banana ganache layered with buttery rum caramel, wrapped into a milk chocolate truffle, and finished by hand with colored cocoa butter. In addition to the chocolatier’s new products, Ethel M Chocolates will offer customer-favorite gift options including the five-piece Love Collection, Large and Small Design-Your-Own Heart Boxes, Large and Small Heart Gift Boxes, and gift baskets including Ultimate Chocolate Lovers and Splendid Sweets, perfect for any chocolate afficionado on your Valentine’s Day gift list.

To celebrate the winter Broadway season in New York City, Serendipity3, home of the famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, has teamed up with Some Like It Hot, the new hit Broadway musical comedy, to create a spicy rendition of its iconic frozen beverage available now through the end of January. The “Some Like it Frrrozen Hot Chocolate” ($27.95) features a frosting and Red Hot candy rimmed goblet filled with Serendipity3’s iconic blend of cocoas infused with ancho chili, sriracha sauce, cinnamon and allspice. The limited-edition dessert is topped with a cloud of whipped cream, hot salted Sriracha milk chocolate shavings, a drizzle of Sriracha sauce, spicy gummy pepper candy and a “Some Like It Hot” stirrer that changes colors based on temperature.

Paige Bennett, as posted on INSIDER.COM, tried and reviewed six different brands of chocolate-chip cookies from the grocery store. She loved the texture of the soft-baked option from Pillsbury, and was surprised by Keebler’s. Out of all the cookies, she stuck to her childhood preferences and crowned Chips Ahoy the winner. Read more, HERE.

There’s nothing like chocolate. Few can argue the fact that, of all the flavors possible in the universe, none are so ubiquitously craved as chocolate.  Dove is a recognizable brand, and no, we’re not talking about skincare products. We are, however, talking about self-care of the highest order, coming in the form of chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel-filled, or crafted into truffles, Dove meets all your chocolate needs. TheTastingTable.com put the brand to the test by running out and finding a variety of their products, tasting them, and ranking them from worst to best. While we all have our quirks and preferences about our ideal flavors and textures, TheTastingTable.com had to try to be objective. Though they’d be lying if they said that even the “worst” isn’t pretty darn great! Check out the list, HERE.

Tate’s Bake Shop introduces new Cookie Bark in two flavors – Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt, and Milk Chocolate with White Chocolate Drizzle. New Cookie Bark takes the brand’s signature crispy chocolate chip cookies and covers them in rich chocolate. Here’s a closer look at the brand’s first-ever Cookie Bark flavors: Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Cookie Bark features thin, crispy chocolate chip cookie pieces covered in dark chocolate and sea salt. Milk Chocolate with White Chocolate Drizzle Cookie Bark takes thin, crispy chocolate chip cookie pieces and coats them with milk chocolate and a white chocolate drizzle. Tate’s Cookie Bark can be found at tatesbakeshop.com and on shelves at stores nationwide for a suggested price of $6.49 per 5-ounce pouch.

This holiday season, whether you’re looking for an indulgent Holiday Gift for a special Human in your life or a new go-to snack to satisfy a sweet tooth, enjoy giving back while indulging with Hu’s simple ingredients and unbeatable taste. From now until December 31, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET, 40% of all sales at Hu Kitchen via this LINK will directly support underserved youth through the USTA Foundation.

For a very limited time, you can snag this sweet-treat set that’s one of Amazon’s best-kept secrets for only $20! The Popbar Hot Chocolate Sticks are a mouth-watering gift set that’s perfect for anyone you adore that has a sweet tooth! With six delicious chocolate on a stick, you can shake things up with their three flavors dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate; you’ll never run out of those rich flavors to enjoy! Both kosher-certified and gluten-free, these can even be a wonderful gift for those with dietary restrictions! Per the brand, all you have to do is fill up a mug of hot milk, place the hot chocolate stick in the cup, and stir for up to two minutes. Then you’re set to have the most relaxing and delicious cup of cocoa!

 

Prides Crossing Confections started a block away in Beverly Farms, MA in 1982 and found their home about 20 years ago just over the tracks in the Prides Crossing train station where they reside today. What separates them from other chocolate shops is that the over 100 varieties of chocolate are all done by hand, cut by hand, and made in small batches. Their most popular seller is their Turtles, a layer of creamy caramel sandwiched between two layers of chocolate with your choice of nut, (almond, cashew, macadamia, or pecan),– and absolutely delicious! Of course, there are other delicious assorted chocolates, found on their website, for shipping. For more info, check out their website at PridesCrossingConfections.com.

If you have a sweet tooth, chances are chocolate brands are high on your snack radar. And if you agree that chocolate might as well be the eighth wonder of the world, keep reading. Per Insider, the chocolate industry is a more than $100 billion business, and to keep that business alive requires a lot of cocoa beans. According to the National Confectioners Association, it takes 400 cocoa beans to make just one pound of chocolate — and a cacao tree will, on average, produce some 2,500 beans a year, or about six pounds of chocolate. To put this into context, for Valentine’s Day alone, an estimated 58 million pounds of chocolate are sold every year (via Good Housekeeping). As for chocolate makers, as with any food product, some brands are killing it in this space, while others aren’t quite living up to the hype. Our Tasting Table taste testers hit the ground running to round up 20 chocolate brands with the end goal of ranking them from worst to best. Check out the results, HERE.

The James Beard Foundation award-winning pastry chef extraordinaire has dropped a bomb just in time for the holiday season. His lineup of high-end hot chocolate bombs will remind you of the best cup of scratch-made cocoa. Confections are sold at seven retail locations throughout New York City, as well as online. Check out all his hot chocolate selections, HERE.

It’s tough to go wrong with chocolate, which makes it a great gift for pretty much anyone in your life. And if you buy the fancy stuff from bean-to-bar chocolate makers or chocolatiers, it often comes in a beautiful box or wrapper that’s ready to be gifted. To help you get started on your search, FORBES.COM rounded up standout options from some of their favorite chocolate companies. While you’re at it, pick up some bars for yourself (and tell yourself that extra chocolate is better than paying for shipping). Click, HERE.

 

If you’re a hot chocolate superfan, then you’ve probably encountered hot chocolate bombs, which straddle the line between homemade and boxed hot cocoa in the most delicious way. These “bombs” are spheres of glossy tempered chocolate that are filled with hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, and other treats. When they’re added to a mug of warm milk, the chocolate orb melts, revealing all the fun treasures inside. If you love hot chocolate bombs, you may have wondered why chocolate giant Hershey hasn’t marketed its own version of the trendy treat until now. In a case of “better late than never,” the confectioner unveiled its new Hot Chocolate Bombs. The bombs, filled with cocoa and either mini marshmallows or cinnamon chips, should be just the ticket for sipping on while wrapping holiday gifts or tucked into a Christmas stocking. The bombs are available nationwide during the holiday season.

There’s nothing cozier than a big mug of hot chocolate, bundled up by the fire in the middle of winter. And if you’re not up for making a hot chocolate recipe from scratch, the best hot chocolate mixes are here to help. From sweet and marshmallowy cups to decadent mugfuls rich with chocolate flavor that double as a great Christmas treat (or, honestly, any time of year!), GOODHOUSEKEEPING.COM picked the best store-bought hot chocolate for any palate. Check them out, HERE.

This fall, Dr. Bronner’s is launching a new flavor of its delicious, organic, fair trade, and vegan Magic All-One Chocolate pairing organic peppermint with 70% dark chocolate and sweetened with lower-glycemic coconut sugar. The latest offering—Cool Peppermint Cream—delivers a lively, lightly sweet mint taste alongside a decadent cocoa experience featuring a unique blend of cocoa from Ghana and Ivory Coast, coconut sugar from Indonesia, cocoa butter from Congo, and bourbon vanilla from Madagascar. Dr. Bronner’s Cool Peppermint Cream Magic All-One Chocolate flavor was created to honor the company’s legacy of peppermint products and its socially and environmentally responsible supply chain. All of Dr. Bronner’s chocolate, now available in seven flavors, is made from cocoa beans grown using regenerative organic farming practices that have lasting positive impacts on farmers, their communities, and the land. Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One Chocolate was created to address and model solutions to the ecological and social harm prevalent in the conventional chocolate industry.

With fall in full swing and winter quickly approaching, the season for hot chocolate is officially upon us, which means it’s time to polish your mugs in preparation. This sublime drink originates in Mexico. The Olmec people drank hot chocolate as early as 1500 B.C., per Smithsonian Magazine, but theirs looked a little different than ours does today. While most of us like a sweet sip, the Olmecs’ hot chocolate was bitter. They would harvest and roast their own cacao seeds. If they did add a sweetener, it was to ferment the drink. Today, we have the convenience of grocery stores that sell a variety of premade mixes. To fully prepare you for hot chocolate season, MASHED.COM rounded up the top mixes of the year. Whether you like your hot chocolate dark and creamy or rich and full of marshmallows, they’ve got you covered. These are the best hot chocolate mixes of 2022 (click HERE).

 

 

Macalat is Made Organic and Without Sugar or Bitterness — A Fermented Mushroom Extract is the Secret Ingredient. Certified Organic, Sugar-Free, 70% Peruvian Cacao, Plant-Based, Zero-Net Carbs, and No Coconut Sugar. Bitter Free. How is that possible? Macalat is a first-of-its-kind, sweet, velvety smooth 70% couverture dark chocolate. Organic Heirloom Peruvian Cacao formulated with other superfood inclusions: Maca, Lucuma, Vanilla, Monk Fruit, and Cinnamon, which result in Macalat’s gentle caramel-like sweetness. The final touch is a marvelous mushroom extract that assures a smooth sweet finish, without the least bit of bitter. The Chocolate Wizardry is self-evident as Macalat melts and swirls in your mouth, releasing and revealing a symphony of chocolate flavor in all its super goodness. Made without Coconut Sugar.

Yes, a new color is out – Purple!

Check out M&M’s video – it’s fun to watch (click HERE)!

 

We’re definitely not strangers to the need of satisfying a sweet tooth.  If you know any chocolate lovers, self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseurs, or chocoholics, you’ve come to the sweet spot for finding them the best chocolate gifts that are just as thoughtful as they are delicious. While it’s hard to go wrong with a dessert as delectable as chocolate, there are so many tasty treats out there. It can be hard to decide on just one! We’ve rounded up the best chocolate gifts that will leave your recipients begging to know where you got them—so they can get more!  From chocolate covered strawberries and drizzled popcorn to s’mores bites and fondue—no matter their particular taste, you’ll find the perfect present. And if they rather take a sip, hot chocolate and chocolate coffee are on the menu, too. There’s even a monthly chocolate subscription and a DIY molten lava cake. All the chocolate desserts they could ever dream of are on this list. And if you’re shopping for any other food lovers, you can also check out these food gift baskets including meat and cheese gift baskets. Dessert is served! Check them out HERE.

 

New York City’s iconic Levain Bakery is introducing a brand-new cookie for the change in seasons. The Fall Chocolate Chunk, which released on Wednesday, September 14, was created with hints of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses, layered with melty Valrhona chocolate. The seasonal cookie is available in 4, 8 and 12 packs. It will also be available in a new fall cookie assortment in 4, 8 and 12 packs that also feature the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip and Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies. All Levain Bakery cookies are baked fresh daily and available to ship nationwide via the bakery’s website and most recently through DoorDash National Shipping. In addition to the current ten bakeries in New York, Washington, DC, and Boston, Levain expanded beyond the east coast to Chicago and LA this year.

 

From babkas to black and white cookies, and challah to honey cakes, few food cultures are as emblematic of New York as Jewish baked goods. This bakery scene in NYC reflects the many Jewish communities in the city, from the diverse enclaves of the Upper East and West Sides to the ultra-Orthodox in South Williamsburg, the Sephardic in Flatbush, and the Bukharian community in Forest Hills. Modern interpreters like Breads and Michaeli Bakery sell buttery, croissant-like babka, and storied shops like Sander’s trace their roots to the mid-20th century, showcasing recipes that generations of customers have grown up on. Check out the top 13 Jewish bakeries HERE.

Let’s be honest, who can resist a square or two (or three) of deliciously creamy chocolate? The editors of VeganFoodandLiving.com certainly can’t! But people often wonder ‘is chocolate vegan?‘ – you’ll be happy to know that we vegans are spoiled for choice these days with a wide selection of tasty vegan chocolate bars at our fingertips. In fact, the UK has dominated the vegan chocolate market with 1 in 5 chocolate launches being suitable for vegans in 20211. We know it can be hard to choose from all of the enticing packaging and unique flavors, that’s why we’ve done the hard part and rounded up our top vegan chocolate bars to save you the hassle…(click HERE)

Whether it’s dark, milk, white, or filled with nuts, almost everyone loves a quality chocolate bar! If you’re among that chocolate-loving crowd, take a look at this roundup of the best chocolate bars LifeSavvy.com found. Click HERE.

If you want to make a people-pleasing dessert, chocolate is the star ingredient you’re looking for. We shave it into ice cream, powder it into our milkshakes, turn it into syrup for our Sundays, and frosting for our cakes. Chocolate, though relatively new to the food scene when compared with ancient eats like butter, has taken the world by storm over the past few centuries and is now our go-to treat. And though most of us only see chocolate presented to us in a candy wrapper, thanks to a few educational cartoons growing up and our own research, we know that chocolate comes from the cocoa bean which is where we source the cocoa butter and powder we need to create cacao liquor. Sugar and other supplementary ingredients are then added to the cacao liquor to create the chocolate we are familiar with. But as we are all aware, chocolate isn’t consistent. Depending on the brand, the percentage of cocoa, and even the type of cocoa used all affect how sweet or dark a batch of chocolate tastes. To find out more, click HERE.

Dark chocolate has some promising health benefits, and that’s all thanks to special ingredients like cacao and cocoa beans. Unfortunately, there are some sustainability issues that come along with them, and the chocolate industry has come under fire for unethical sourcing practices that are harming farmers and the communities that produce them. Livestrong.com asked registered dietitians to share their favorite organic chocolate bar, and most came up with a few! They told them what makes each of these bars unique, and let them know what ingredients, nutrient info and labels to look out for when shopping. The organic chocolate bars on this list were chosen based on the following criteria: cacao content, sustainability and ethical farming efforts, ingredients, taste and texture, amount of sugar. See the results HERE.

When conditions line up just right, a normally dry cliffside in Arizona’s Navajo Nation outside of Flagstaff transforms into a milky brown waterfall taller than the Niagara Falls — a phenomenon that visitors who were in the right place at the right time recently got to see. Click HERE to see the site!

 

And ANOTHER chocolate ice cream taste test (see Southern Living article, below). See who comes out the winner HERE, as Joey Skladany, on TODAY.COM discusses all 9 chocolate ice creams. The winner may surprise you ( or not, if you’re a true connoisseur of chocolate ice cream!!!).

 

No one expects a chocolate bar to be healthy, but you do generally expect to bite into chocolate, and perhaps creamy nougat, some nuts, or coconut flakes, and not simply sugar. Unfortunately, when it comes to chocolate bars, some rank high on sugar content and low on the chocolatey, caramelly, nutty content we crave. Want to know who’s at the top of the list? Click HERE!

 

 

Who doesn’t have a few pints of ice cream in the freezer for when the craving strikes? If it’s not vanilla that you have on hand, it’s likely chocolate. And the ideal chocolate ice cream has to deliver on the chocolate flavor, whether dark or milk chocolate, dairy-free or regular—if it says chocolate it better mean it. While everyone has their favorite brand, the freezer aisle is loaded with over a dozen varieties of chocolate ice cream, and there are likely a few you haven’t gotten around to trying. Don’t worry, we did the tough job of sampling nine of them for you. In a blind taste test our editors (Southern Living magazine) determined an overall favorite that was rich and creamy, super chocolatey, and without hot fudge or extra toppings, wowed us (click here).

Over the years, Cinnabon has kept things relatively simple: Sure, they’ve branched out into Churro Swirls and Cookie BonBites, but the main star of the show has always been their classic cinnamon roll. So just how rarely has the 37-year-old brand deviated from that underlying cinnamon theme? Well, Cinnabon has a new product, and the company says it’s the first time they’ve ever skipped the cinnamon. Chocolate BonBites are being billed as Cinnabon’s “first-ever chocolate-filled baked treat” and “the brand’s first-ever non-cinnamon treat.” (Interestingly, for both statements, Cinnabon included the qualifier “in U.S. bakeries,” making you wonder what kinds of products Cinnabon locations are whipping up overseas!) This new spin on Cinnabon’s tiny BonBites cinnamon roll is baked with the usual Cinnabon dough, but then — instead of cinnamon — is layered with a chocolate schmear on the inside and topped with both chocolate frosting and cream cheese frosting. These limited time only Chocolate BonBites will be sold until September 11 in either 4-count or 16-count packs, with prices starting at $4.79. The chain says customers should be able to find them at mall bakeries, at Maverick and Pilot Flying J Travel Center locations, or via the new Cinnabon mobile app and food delivery platforms.

Say it with chocolate! These nine adorable little chocolate cameras are handmade with the finest white, milk and dark Belgian chocolate (three of each), plus a negative strip of motivational phrases. The chocolates are made by a family business near Bath in Somerset – a father-daughter team, including the accomplished inventor Kerr Dunlop who designed the hedgehog boot wiper! Their now patented idea of layering chocolate on top of chocolate created Choc on Choc, and they now produce a wide variety of designs – including a gaming controller, stationary, and wildlife designs, as well as ‘Melt and Make Your Own kits’ such as zoo animals and dinosaurs. Buy now from Amazon (£14.93), Choc on Choc (£12.00).

Everyone has a favorite ice cream flavor, whether it’s strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, or something more creative with plenty of fudge ribbons and mix-ins. One of my favorite ice cream flavors is mint chocolate chip.  When it comes to mint chocolate chip ice cream, not all are created equal. First off, there’s the issue of should mint chocolate chip ice cream be white or green?  Then there’s the fact that the ice cream should have discernible chunks of chocolate versus little shavings. With all of this in mind, here are some of the “best” (click, HERE) according to Megan duBois, as posted on EatThis.com, and the “winner” will surprise you!

McDonald’s released a limited-time-only dessert: the Chocolatey Pretzel McFlurry. It’s a vanilla soft-serve ice cream base with chocolate-covered pretzel bits, with a ribbon of caramel sauce swirled in. But there’s another way of trying this! Order a regular Oreo one and ask them to add hot fudge to it (it costs a little extra, but live a little). The cookies offer that signature crumbly Oreo texture, but the hot fudge adds a warm, rich, velvety experience that contrasts with the soft serve.