Have you tried Chocolove chocolates yet? If not, the holidays may be a perfect time, especially if you are looking to add some sweets to someone’s stockings. Whether you want to add full size chocolate bars to your holiday gift giving or are looking to add some chocolate trees to the mix, then they have us covered with some delicious chocolates that are also available in no sugar added varieties. Check out their website for their huge selection (click HERE).
There is a new flavor of DOVE Chocolate joining the festive, seasonal line up. Introducing the new, Milk Chocolate Toffee Almond Crunch. These little DOVE Chocolate squares are festively wrapped in silver, gold, and blue foils, perfect for the entire holiday season. And of course, these delightful squares are a perfect serving every time. The limited-edition innovation deliciously nods to a holiday classic flavor, and is made with real almonds, smooth milk chocolate and hints of toffee, with each bite of milk chocolate mixed with the crunch of toffee almonds to create a true moment of pleasure. The luxurious, festive treat is a true complement to holiday tables, with each festive foil-wrapped chocolate holding a special message. DOVE Milk Chocolate Toffee Almond Crunch PROMISES are available at retailers nationwide and come in a 7.94 OZ pack.
Whenever the winter weather rolls in, nothing warms quite like a cup of steaming hot chocolate. We love being able to make our own by warming up a cup of water in the microwave, dumping in a packet of hot chocolate mix, and adding a small mountain of mini marshmallows before sipping away. Of course, we’re always on the hunt for the best hot chocolate mixes to buy to add to our holiday beverage lineup. There are just so many options out there! Check out these choices of the Better Homes & Gardens editors (click HERE). You will not be disappointed in their picks.
Barry Callebaut launched a complete portfolio of dairy-free chocolate compound, expanding the company’s plant-based options. These new options are 100% plant-based and are processed in segregated facilities where no dairy is present. The new line includes dairy-free EZ Melt Compound, Compound Chip/Chunk, Compound Soft Chunk, Compound Soft Shaped Chunks and Bulk Liquid for different applications. This line complements Barry Callebaut’s Plantcraft chocolate range, which was first introduced in early 2020. That higher-end line has dairy-free chocolates, nuts, cocoa powders and cacao fruit ingredients.
Hot cocoa is such a good cold-weather treat. It can warm up even the coldest hearts and hands with its creamy sweetness and rich chocolatey flavor. Fans can now get their hot cocoa fix at Dunkin’ like never before with the new Dunkin’ Hot Chocolate Bombs. The new Hot Chocolate Bombs come in two festive flavors. The Dunkin’ Hot Chocolate Bomb features a Belgian milk chocolate exterior, while the Dunkin’ Mint Hot Chocolate Bomb has a mint-flavored Belgian milk chocolate outside shell. Both bombs have mini marshmallows inside.
It’s that time of year when brands start bringing back their beloved seasonal flavors to enjoy through the holiday season. Two years ago, Breyers released its Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate flavor and, spoiler, it was a hit. Better check your local freezer aisle STAT, because a PR rep confirmed to Best Products that the limited-edition flavor is back!
You can’t argue the fact that hot chocolate is glorious on its own, especially on a cool and crisp evening. But you’ll love it even more when included in one of these hot cocktail recipes, as you get a one-two punch of comfort via the warm chocolate and hooch. Hot chocolate cocktail recipes are more than just throwing in a splash of Bailey’s or dark rum in your mug of instant cocoa; you deserve something even better. Think complimentary flavors like coconut and banana as well as suitable spirits like brandy and vodka. Hot chocolate may seem like a kid thing (and drinking it should, by all means, make you feel like one), but you can give it the bona fide adult treatment in style. Get the marshmallows ready and stoke the fire, these are the best hot chocolate cocktails to take the sting out of the cold. Click HERE for the recipes.
The imminent arrival of winter should have you changing up dessert plans. We’re moving from ice cream cone season into hot chocolate season. Dairy Queen, which knows a bit about frozen treats, is tweaking its menu to recognize the change in seasons. Though, it is not quite abiding by the spirit of the change. You’re getting the hot chocolate, but it’s not really going to be hot. Dairy Queen is bringing back the frozen hot chocolate. The Blizzard chain says that the frozen cocoa snack has been requested repeatedly by fans. It has decided to listen to the will of the ice cream-loving people by putting it back on the menu. The chilly cocoa mixes a “rich cocoa fudge” with its familiar vanilla soft serve. The treat is finished with whipped topping and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. The drink is available now at select locations around the country.
The bargain grocery store chain, ALDI, recently released a hot chocolate melting snowman and fans are very excited. Made by the brand Choceur, the melting snowman is similar to the hot cocoa bombs that went viral on TikTok last year. According to the instructions, all you have to do is place it in piping hot milk and the snowman will “melt” (a.k.a. dissolve) into a tasty mug of hot chocolate. The snowman, which costs just $1.99, is made of white chocolate and is filled with mini marshmallows and dark chocolate drops.
While many of us know it in the form of bars, candies or baked goods, for most of its 5,000-year history, chocolate has been a drink. It’s the original form of consuming chocolate, and it carries the importance of culture with it. Regional variations on drinkable chocolate abound, particularly in Latin America, where there are as many recipes as there are towns or families making it. Since chocolate is beloved around the world, you’ll find local hot chocolate drinks almost everywhere, especially in destinations where cocoa beans grow. The exception is Western Africa. While 70% of the world’s cocoa supply comes from Ghana and the Ivory Coast, people typically drink the big-name Nestle brands. The same could be said for the United States where, for many, hot chocolate means hot cocoa, made with Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Thankfully, there’s a wide world of chocolate drinks available. Here are seven you should try immediately, if not sooner, click HERE.
Many of us have beloved holiday memories of taking part in advent calendars when we were young, usually containing little boxes filled with chocolate. That chocolatey goodness made the lead-up to Christmas almost as good as the day of! We’ve got good news: just because you’ve aged a little doesn’t mean you’re too old for that special holiday treat! Chocolate advent calendars have grown better with age, and you can now find options that run the gamut, from delectable luxury chocolates to fan favorites that have been around for generations. We’ve even included a few for the kids so your little ones can make treasured holiday memories just like yours. Click, HERE, to discover them.
After asking fans to vote between two options for November’s Sweet-of-the-Month, See’s Candies has made both Milk and Dark Chocolate Coffee Scotchmallows available to fans. Milk Coffee Scotchmallow and Dark Coffee Scotchmallow are available in a six-piece box for $10 in shops and online, while supplies last.
Hershey’s has released limited-edition oat made bars in the US. The new bars are part of a very limited test release and mark the first-ever vegan offering from the candy giant. The newest products are available in two flavors: Classic Dark and Extra Creamy Almond & Sea Salt. The bars are dairy-free, vegan, non-GMO, and made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa. The non-dairy treats are available at retailers such as Target.
When you think of hot chocolate, you probably think winter, holidays, snow, cold, and all things December. That makes sense, because what feels better than wrapping your icy hands around a warm mug of chocolatey goodness after being out in the freezing weather? That feeling can only be beat by one thing: Instead of regular hot cocoa mix, you use a hot cocoa bomb. You remember the craze from last year? It’s a chocolate hollow shell that’s filled with cocoa mix and little marshmallows. When you drop it into a warm cup of milk or water, the shell disintegrates oh-so-satisfyingly, revealing the mix and ‘mallows on the inside. Since it’s fall, Target has us covered. They are selling a hot chocolate bomb that is pumpkin spice-flavored!! It’s called the Frankford Halloween Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Melting Bomb, and it’s just an autumn version of the trendy drink. The chocolate is flavored with pumpkin spice, and the inside is filled with mini marshmallows and hot cocoa mix.
If you’ve ever gone trick-or-treating on a cold Halloween night, you know nothing quite hits the spot like enjoying your (or your kids’) candy haul with a cup of hot cocoa. Now, you can keep the spookiness going even as the night winds down with this skull-shaped hot cocoa bomb that will turn a cup of warm milk into hot chocolate in minutes. Available at Dylan’s Candy Bar for $10, the skull hot cocoa bomb comes in milk or white chocolate and is filled with marshmallows. Try Sam’s Club and find some Halloween hot cocoa bombs there.
Multiple generations of Russian children have fond memories of noshing Hematogen bars. Ads promoted these treats as “wholesome and healthy” and able to help with anemia, a condition common in about 25 percent of the population, especially small kids. Made with condensed milk, syrup, and beet sugar, the bar had a taste reminiscent of a Tootsie Roll. But the delish bars contained a dark secret, one linked to the slightly metallic flavor of the bars: black food albumin. That’s a fancy way of saying blood. Just how much blood did these over-the-counter supplements contain? A minimum of five percent cow’s blood. Readily accessible at pharmacies throughout the USSR, the food even survived the collapse of the Soviet Union. You can still purchase Hematogen bars in Russia today. For more history on this, click HERE.
On these still-warm days, turning on the oven for a family dessert still seems like a bad idea. This super simple mousse dessert, however, seems like a great idea. Just add butter to the crust mix, milk to the filling mix and drizzle on the chocolate topping and you have a dessert that looks like you spent a lot more time making it than you did (you should chill it for about an hour). Oh, and it’s delicious.
It really makes no difference which Twix bar you grab if you’re going to make your entire plate taste like the candy bar. That’s what the dueling chocolate bars’ makers are going for with its new concoction. Twix Shakers Seasoning Blend. The idea is you can sprinkle this stuff on anything and it will add the cookie, caramel and milk chocolate taste of the famous twin candy sticks. You can find it at Sam’s Club and other places in the near future.
Low-sugar frozen dessert maker Enlightened has now come out with Sugar-free Chocolate Syrup, a low-carb version of the nostalgic treat but without the sugar. Each serving contains just 1 gram of net carbs, while traditional chocolate syrup can contain up to 12 grams of net carbs and 10 grams of sugar. Having taken its first step beyond the frozen aisle earlier this year with Sugar-free Cones, the brand offers a wide array of ice cream pints and bars, along with snackable cookie dough bites, keto-friendly cheesecakes and adaptogen-infused fruit bars. A 15-ounce bottle of Enlightened Sugar-free Chocolate Syrup retails for a suggested retail price range of $6.99-$8.99.
Is it too soon to start talking about Christmas chocolate? The reason we’re talking about Christmas chocolate is that we’ve spotted that Cadbury Chocolate Puds have made a very welcome return to our lives! The Puds, which consist of a super-tasty truffle center of hazelnut and crispy rice pieces, disappeared from shops in 2003. No idea why. But the good news is that they’re back to make Christmas 2021 a lot better than last year’s festive season! But that’s not all – as well as the original flavor, for 2021, Cadbury is releasing a Winter Orange flavor. YUM!
Dr Pepper has a rather dedicated following already, but if you weren’t a part of the brand’s class of superfans, you might want to jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible. The soda maker has created an all-new, chocolate-inspired flavor, but there’s a caveat. You’ve got to be a rewards member to get it. In its latest collaboration with FANtastic Chocolate, Dr Pepper has created an extra sweet new soda that’s available exclusively for the brand’s most loyal fans. Its release coincides with the introduction of its rewards program, appropriately dubbed “Pepper Perks.” Here’s how it works: You’ll have to first buy a regular Dr Pepper and show proof of purchase by scanning the QR code on the bottle. Then you’ll be prompted to create a “Pepper Perks” account. Once you nab a few points, you’ll get access to the exclusive new flavor while it’s available, that is. So you might want to start shopping now.
Shopping at the malls just got sweeter — literally. Swiss chocolatier Läderach (pronounced lae-der-ackh) has opened its first three locations, on Long Island, NY, replacing Godiva Chocolatier at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station and Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove. Nathanael Hausmann, the company’s president, said Läderach was expanding to Long Island brick-and-mortar shops after seeing strong interest from the region in its online sales. Läderach was launched in 1962 by Rudolf Läderach Jr. in Glarus, Switzerland. From its inception, the company has maintained complete control of the chocolate-making process, from harvesting cocoa straight to its creations. The Läderach family is in its third generation of operating the company, which has more than 100 stores worldwide, including two Manhattan locations.
You could say that Swiss Miss is the expert of hot chocolate. From Pumpkin Spice to Peppermint— and even a cake collaboration with Duncan Hines — the brand makes chilly nights more comforting. The upcoming fall and winter seasons will be even better, because they have the new Swiss Miss Salted Caramel to sip on. Beginning, well, right now, you can pop into your local grocery store and pick up the new salted caramel-flavored hot chocolate. The cocoa has the taste of decadent caramel and a hint of salt to bring it all together. The result is a sweet beverage that will remind you that chocolate goes with just about everything. The seasonal hot chocolate is arriving in stores, including Walmart and Target, right now. It’s available in an 8-count box for $2.59, which clearly means we’ll be having one every day of the week. The best part about all of this? It’s a permanent addition to Swiss Miss’ offerings!
Graeter’s Ice Cream has released its sixth bonus flavor of the summer: Dark Chocolate Sorbet. This is the sixth and final of Graeter’s bonus flavors this summer, which have been released in stores and online. Dark Chocolate Sorbet, which is available now, is an “indulgence of dark bittersweet chocolate blended into a smooth and creamy sorbet,” according to Graeter’s description. The flavor is dairy-free and vegan-friendly. Each bonus flavor is only available for a limited time, and once it is gone from shops and online, the flavor is retired for the year.
Famous Amos is being reimagined for today’s world with the release of three new cookie recipes featuring ingredients from around the world, including coconut from the Philippines, chocolate from Belgium, and hazelnuts from the Mediterranean. Famous Amos Wonders From the World cookies are being rolled out to grocery stores and retailers nationwide in 7-oz pantry bags for a suggested price of $4.49 per bag.
The Ferrero group is breaking new ground in entering the premium chocolate bar category with its Rocher and Raffaello brands for the first time in its long-established history. Having launched its Rocher brand in 1982 and subsequently the Raffaello in 1990, its original aim was to make quality patisserie specialties accessible to a much wider public, which the company believes has taken a significant further step in entering the bar market. According to Ferrero, its latest series has been developed over three years by a team of 50 specialists in seeking to refine the right recipe to meet the demands of its global customer base. The new bars have been designed with a creamy filling, covered with a top layer of chocolate mixed with crunchy pieces of hazelnuts or almonds. Among the seven flavors for the Rocher bars are milk, 55% dark and white chocolate combined with hazelnuts, almonds and salted caramel flavor, while the Raffaello ones are made of white chocolate blended with coconut, almonds and pineapple. The new Ferrero Rocher and Raffaello Bars will start to be available in the UK this month from August 2021 and will be progressively rolled out in several markets across Europe. They will also be available outside of Europe during 2022.
Calling all chocolate lovers! Enlightened has made another decadent keto-friendly ice cream! But this time, they went all in for their chocolate fans. Whether you’re looking for a new low-carb dessert or just love to dive spoon first into something sweet after dinner, this icy treat is for you. Introducing: Triple Chocolate Brownie Dough. Are you drooling over this ice cream? Don’t worry, Triple Chocolate Brownie Dough will be available at your local Whole Foods and Thrive Market this fall.
WE ALL REGRESS a little in summertime, don’t we? When it comes to entertaining, give us barefoot gatherings around picnic tables. And the dessert most likely to elicit uninhibited glee from dinner guests is also the simplest, most sentimental and least labor-intensive: ice cream sandwiches. Stack them on a silver tray if you must, but elegant nonchalance is really what we’re going for here. Choose the archetypal brick of vanilla pressed between chocolate wafers or go for something a little more unexpected. Either way, the message is the same: Enjoy yourself. Forget about forks. Extra points if a delicious dribble of melted ice cream runs right down to your elbow. For the full article and many ice cream sandwich choices that can be bought online, click, HERE.
Who couldn’t use a little extra chocolate in their lives? Adding chocolate sunflowers to your garden is a guilt-free way to do so. Plus, the rich, velvety, statuesque flowers will add a gorgeously dark and dramatic flair to your landscape. As a bonus, like other sunflower varieties, chocolate sunflowers are easy to come by and simple to grow. For more info, click, here.
Believe it or not, it’s not too early to start talking holiday varieties, and Dove has unveiled its new Milk Chocolate Toffee Almond Crunch. The limited-edition bite is made of silky-smooth milk chocolate and is filled with crunchy almond toffee pieces. The idea was to embrace the flavors of the season, and this chocolate certainly embodies that without going the classic peppermint route. You’ll be able to snag these new Dove Milk Chocolate Promises beginning in September 2021, a PR rep confirmed to Best Products. The chocolate will be available in a 7.94-ounce Laydown Bag for a limited time. Just look for the blue bag that features reindeer, ornaments, and “Merry & Bright.”
NuttZo, makers of the original multi-nut and seed butter, has launched a new keto-friendly offering this summer. The Chocolate Keto Seven Nut and Seed Butter is a new, sweet spin on NuttZo’s best-selling product, Original Keto butter. It features the brand’s trademark blend of nutrient-packed nuts and seeds so that fans ‘can expect a crunchy, rich chocolate blend with hints of rich pecan and nutty coconut, making it the perfect addition to toasts, fruit, baking recipes and smoothies’. Chocolate Keto is made paleo, Whole30, vegan and Kosher. It is an excellent source of protein (five grams per serving), fibre (three grams per serving), and healthy fats. It boasts just four grams of carbohydrates per serving and one gram of sugar per serving while remaining free of palm oil, gluten, soy, dairy and GMOs. Fans of Keto butter can ‘expect a crunchy, rich chocolate blend with hints of rich pecan and nutty coconut, making it the perfect addition to toasts, fruit, baking recipes and smoothies’. The product retails at $10.99 and is available in 12 oz. jars at Safeway. It is also available online at NuttZo.com, Thrive and Amazon. As part of giving back to the community, NuttZo donates portions of each sale to its sister nonprofit Project Left Behind, which benefits orphaned and underprivileged children worldwide.
While Russell Stover is a legend in the chocolate world, this new chocolate offering is a first for the company. Joy Bites is its first ever “no sugar added” treat. Described as “no added sugar chocolate bars with fillings,” these candies are perfect for people who are looking to reduce sugar, follow a keto-friendly lifestyle or just are looking for a different chocolate option. The Russell Stover Joy Bites are available in the following flavors, Caramel in Chocolate, Peanut Butter in Chocolate. Smooth Creamy Chocolate. Sea Salt Caramel in Dark Chocolate, and Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate. Russel Stover Joy Bites are available at various retailers, including Albertson’s, Safeway, Kroger, Meijer, and more retailers coming in the fall. The chocolate is also available at RussellStover.com.
When it comes to selecting gifts for your wedding party, there are so many options available. Sure, you could go with something monogrammed, but in terms of sheer enjoyment, consumables win the day. Enter the chocolate subscription box (also known as monthly bliss). There are tons of subscription boxes to choose from but this research team choose the best chocolate subscription boxes of 2021. These all offer variety, easy shipping, and variable terms depending on your budget and will surely bring a smile to any sweet tooth’s face. Click, here, to see them all.
Mars Wrigley offers fans a sneak peek at a new festive candy flavor for the upcoming 2021 holiday season: M&M’s White Chocolate Pretzel Snowballs. Limited-edition M&M’S White Chocolate Pretzel Snowballs feature a balance of salty and sweet flavors by combining a rich, white chocolate shell with a crunchy, pretzel-filled center. Developed exclusively for the 2021 holiday season, the newest M&M’s variety will be available in a Single 1.14 oz. size as well as a 2.83-oz Share Size, and 7.44-oz Laydown Bag.
Halo Top Ice Cream co-founder Doug Bouton has launched Gatsby Chocolate, a line of better-for-you chocolate bars made with Epogee’s EPG fat alternative ingredient. Epogee claims that its GMO-free, plant-based EPG can reduce up to 92% of calories from fat without affecting taste or eating experience. Gatsby’s chocolate bars, available in milk and dark chocolate styles, have less than half the calories of regular chocolate bars and roughly one-quarter of the sugar content, according to the company. The bars are launching at over 1,500 retail locations nationwide and are available online.
Queen Elizabeth’s favorites. Need we say more?! Find them on Amazon.com.
Known for its all-in-one soaps, Dr. Bronner’s new Magic All-One Chocolate line comes in six decadent flavors and supports regenerative agriculture and the livelihood of small farmers. The organic candy bars are made with fair-trade chocolate and will be available in six flavors: nut-accented bars Roasted Whole Hazelnuts and Salted Whole Almonds; nut-butter filled Crunchy Hazelnut Butter and Salted Almond Butter, and Smooth Coconut Praline (filled with a sweet praline made from coconuts). The new chocolate bars are made with 70 percent dark chocolate sourced from regenerative organic cocoa beans and sweetened with coconut sugar.
From cicada tattoos to sculptures and now chocolate, a Maryland candy company is finding success with the Brood X cicada invasion. While tons of cicadas are buzzing around outside, inside Chouquette Chocolates in Gaithersburg, cicadas are being air-fried and dipped in chocolate. If you want the chocolate-covered cicadas, you’ll have to special order them online. Click, HERE, for chocolate delicacies.
These almonds are simply dusted with a light cocoa powder, making them different than those chocolate-coated almonds that come in boxes near the checkout line at the grocery store. While those are delicious, they’re really more chocolate than almond. Blue Diamond’s dark chocolate almonds, on the other hand, actually just taste like almonds with a light cocoa taste. They’re great for people who don’t have much of a sweet tooth but occasionally want just a bit of chocolate. They also feel less like a dessert and more acceptable as a mid-day (or morning, or night) snack. They’re versatile. While good alone, they also make a light, crunchy add-on to a lot of favorite foods. They taste amazing chopped up in some yogurt and granola, or on top of ice cream or tossed into oatmeal. Not only are these filling—just a small handful staves away late-afternoon cravings—but they’re also incredibly satisfying. They have a tiny bit of sea salt sprinkled on them, so the sweet-salty taste gives the same satisfaction that chocolate covered pretzels do.
The best chocolate cake is not at your local bakery. You can find it in a carton of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Chocolate Sheet Cake Ice Cream arrives in stores now. Chocolate Sheet Cake contains Blue Bell Milk Chocolate Ice Cream combined with delicious chocolate sheet cake pieces, chopped pecans and a chocolate icing swirl. “A sheet cake is simple, but so delicious,” said Sara Schramm, marketing brand manager for Blue Bell. “It is the perfect cake to combine with our Milk Chocolate Ice Cream. Sprinkle in pecans, add a swirl of chocolate icing and you have one great-tasting new flavor.” In Texas, the home state of Blue Bell Ice Cream, a chocolate sheet cake is often referred to as a Texas Sheet Cake. “No one knows exactly why we have our own name for the cake in Texas,” Schramm said. “Some say it is because the cake is baked in a pan that is larger than normal, and well, we often say everything is bigger in Texas. You will notice on our Chocolate Sheet Cake cartons, just below the flavor description, we have added, “Inspired by a favorite Texas dessert”!” Chocolate Sheet Cake is available in the half gallon and pint sizes for a limited time.
If you can’t get enough of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you’re in luck. Mega fans of the classic candy can now customize the treats by cramming tasty add-ins into a massive one-pound version. Reese’s Stuff Your Cup, a new seasonal experience at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Pennsylvania, lets guests cram a giant peanut butter cup with more goodies. (Hershey’s Chocolate World)
This 6-inch chocolate cake is completely vegan and made with a handful of ingredients: oat milk, dark chocolate, vanilla paste, applesauce, flour, plant-based butter, sugar and salt. Pro tip: serve it with raspberry compote or fresh raspberries for a nice zing to balance the rich chocolate flavor. Buy it plantanationwide.com for $20.
Choose from a dozen different flavors to build your 4-pack of mini 4-inch pies, with chocolatey options including Petee’s signature Salty Chocolate Chess Chocolate and Coconut Chess. If you’re having trouble narrowing it down to just four flavors, they’re also selling 8- and 12-packs. Buy it, here, for $49 for a 4-pack.
The babka from Breads Bakery in New York City is legendary, and for good reason. They bake them all day, every day, using French cultured butter, Nutella and Belgian dark chocolate chips. These are shipped via Goldbelly just a few hours after they’re taken out of the oven, so that they arrive fresh. This 3-pack ensures you’ll have enough to gift at the family brunch and save one for yourself. Buy it, here, for $49.95 for a 3-pack.
Show someone special how much you love them, with this heart-shaped chocolate cake. The fluffy cake comes unfrosted with a spatula and a bag of rich chocolate frosting, so you can pop on the frosting, put it on a nice plate and no one will know you didn’t actually bake it yourself. Buy it at portillos.com for $43.99.
Need I say more? This boozy chocolatey, nutty pie from a gourmet pie shop in Norwalk, Connecticut is a National Pie Championship award winner. It has a flaky crust and a bourbon chocolate filling topped with chopped pecans held together with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips. Buy it, here, at $64.
This beautiful chocolate cake is gluten-free and dairy-free and can also be made vegan. Pinewood Kitchen is all about health-conscious, allergy friendly food that tastes delicious. This cake is made with PW flour, a gluten-free house flour that Pinewood uses in their baked goods. Find it at Pinewood Kitchen for $65.
This decadent dessert is a traditional specialty from Engadine, Switzerland. It’s made with roasted pecans and creamy caramel, which are baked between layers of buttery sugar dough. The torte is then sliced and covered in Swiss milk or dark chocolate. It’s a dessert that’s not commonly found in dessert shops in the U.S., and the version from André’s is definitely worth a try. Find it at Andreschocolates.com for $58.
Maman’s Nutty Chocolate Chip cookies are some of the best out there (gooey, chocolatey, delicious), and you can enjoy them straight out of the oven with this cookie dough set. You get two dough logs per package (enough to make 20-24 cookies) and you have the option to mix and match flavors like Nutty Chocolate Chip, Salted Nutella Crunch and Brown Butter Coconut Oatmeal. The cookie dough is made to order and this gift comes packaged in a cute blue and white box tied with twine. You can find it at mamannyc.com for $49.
Treat yourself to a brownie tasting that you can enjoy in the comfort of your home. The gift set includes four different single origin brownies, a bamboo tasting board and a tasting guide. The brownies are made with single origin, organic milk and dark chocolate from the Esmeraldas and Manabí provinces in Ecuador. Find them at KokakChocolates.com for $50.
Family-owned Guittard Chocolate Company, the San Francisco-based premium chocolate company with a more than 150-year history of crafting exceptional chocolate and cocoa, announces the launch of its new Beyond Sugar chocolate—a line designed to unite the artistry of chocolate making with evolving dietary awareness. The keto- and paleo-friendly line includes a new innovative baking chip sweetened with organic coconut sugar, in addition to a reimagined Guittard 100% cacao chocolate chip that celebrates cacao’s naturally bold character. Guittard’s Beyond Sugar line will be available for purchase directly through guittard.com beginning March 2021 and at Whole Foods Market stores and other retailers nationwide beginning this summer.
Spangler Candy Company announced today the return of the iconic Necco Chocolate Wafer Roll, available online and in-store this spring. An established fan-favorite since 1847, Necco Wafers have stood the test of time as one of the oldest candy brands in existence. While the Original rolls offer eight different flavors and colors, when consumers unwrap the Chocolate Roll, they will delight in finding 40 all-chocolate wafers for their enjoyment. Since their inception, Necco Wafers have been enjoyed by fans of all ages. They were even carried by soldiers during the Civil War and also sustained explorers on expeditions to the North and South Poles in the early 1900s. During World War II, the U.S. government requisitioned a major portion of Necco Wafers production for morale boosting. The candy was perfect for shipping to troops overseas since it doesn’t melt and is easy to carry. Today, the Chocolate Rolls are available for purchase in single rolls or 24 count trays online at SpanglerCandy.com and will be available at select retailers this spring.
Baileys Irish Cream is a staple of the springtime and these chocolates include the familiar rich taste of the drink. The mini eggs come in nine-count boxes and feature a dusting of gold on the outer chocolate shell to make them look just as festive as the foil-wrapped chocolates you know and love. Similar to a chocolate truffle, these eggs have a hard outer shell and a creamy center that is flavored with Baileys. Of course, the inclusion of Irish Cream means these chocolates are meant for those 21 and older and the box itself labels them as a “grown-up treat.” You can buy boxes of these chocolates from Carrolls Irish Gifts for for $12. For those that want something even more special, the site also sells a Baileys Salted Caramel Chocolate Egg that weighs in at almost half a pound.
Alexia Castellon, Entertainment Editor on NW The Website, asked around which brand of chocolate mint cookies people ate. The most common ones are: Girl Scouts Thin Mints, Oreo Thins Mint Flavor Creme and Keebler Grasshopper Mint & Fudge. After that, she put together a team of cookie enthusiasts and rated the cookies on a scale of 1-5 based on taste, texture, appearance and overall cookie experience. Click, HERE, for the results!
Ghirardelli has launched two new better-for-you baking chips. The 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips are now made with 50% less sugar and the 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Chips have no sugar. “Now, consumers can enjoy premium chocolate while reducing or adjusting the overall sugar in any recipe to control their desired sweetness,” the company said. Ghirardelli said the 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Chips “are made with high quality cocoa beans, real vanilla and 50% less sugar than Ghirardelli’s popular semi-sweet baking chips. With no sugar added, the 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Chips are a true blank canvas for a baking creation.”
The famous chocolate company of central Pennsylvania is unveiling options that allow nearly every chocolate lover to enjoy. Hershey’s announced the sale of organic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey Bars. “The Reese’s brand is quite literally finding ways for everyone to enjoy that same sought-after taste only achieved with a true and unmatched Reese’s chocolate and peanut butter combination,” the Hershey Company said in a release. They’ll be available in milk and dark chocolate, and certified organic by the U.S.D.A. The organic sweet treats will not contain any genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well.
Nestle SA is adding its first vegan milk chocolate to its products as the world’s biggest food company expands beyond meat alternatives. The Swiss food giant will start offering plant-based KitKat bars this year, called KitKat V, according to Alexander von Maillot, head of Nestle’s confectionery business. The product will be for sale online and at selected stores in a handful of markets including the U.K. as a test run before a possible wider rollout. The bar, which uses a rice-based formula as a milk substitute, took about two years to develop. The main challenge in making alternatives to milk chocolate is ensuring it blends well with cocoa and sugar for a creamy texture. Other substitutes, such as soy or almond formulas, can create off-notes, von Maillot said.
Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day. That said, not all chocolate is created equal, and when it comes to impressing your loved one why wouldn’t you want to get them the best? Presentation is a big one for this day of romance, so surprise your significant other with a box of chocolates that’s not only delicious and indulgent, but also handcrafted and artfully designed. Click HERE to see a selection of high quality chocolates that are as tasty as they are visually appealing — guaranteed show stoppers.
Move over, Cupid, Baskin-Robbins’ sweet February offerings, including the new Box of Chocolates Cake and the Flavor of the Month, Love Potion #31®, are sure to win hearts this Valentine’s Day. The only thing better than a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day is Baskin-Robbins’ adorable new Box of Chocolates Cake. Designed to look just like a classic heart-shaped candy box – complete with real milk chocolate candies – this customizable cake can be easily mistaken for the real thing. But don’t let the design fool you, it’s made-to-order with your favorite ice cream flavor, topped with a layer of rich fudge and adorned with an assortment of milk chocolate candies. Baskin-Robbins is also bringing back a Valentine’s Day favorite flavor, Love Potion #31®. Featuring raspberry-filled chocolate-flavored hearts and chocolate-flavored chips, swirled with a raspberry ribbon in a white chocolate and raspberry ice cream, February’s Flavor of the Month is a Valentine’s Day classic. Delicious in a scoop, cone or milkshake, this beloved flavor can be added to the new Box of Chocolates Cake or returning cake designs, like the Valentine’s Day Unicorn Cake or Valentine’s Day Heart Cone Cake.
When it comes to candy making, two Buffalo chocolatiers want to do more than satisfy your sweet tooth – they want to create individual works of art, too. Blue Table Chocolates and the Sweet Whisk create artisanal chocolates defined by their hard-shell exterior, hand-painted designs and carefully curated ganache or jelly fillings. Some call them truffles, others, bonbons – most would agree to call them delicious. Blue Table Chocolates is known for its out-there combinations like blueberry-sake, raspberry jasmine and cashew cardamom thanks to owner Ben Johnson interest in going beyond the ordinary. Husband and wife team Amanda Page and Kenny Williams founded their boutique chocolate and pastry shop the Sweet Whisk after they were inspired by a trip to Paris where they “fell in love with all the pastries, and chocolate, and everything over there,” Page said. Check out their websites at TheSweetWhiskBoutique.com and at BlueTableChocolates.com.
