Finding the perfect gift can be tricky. When in doubt, give chocolate. We’ve rounded up some great chocolate gift ideas for people who love to eat, drink, cook with, think, sniff and even wear chocolate. From decadent treats to chocolate diamonds, these are the best chocolate gifts (click here).
When you’re going to indulge in chocolate, you should really indulge. Make it sumptuous luxury chocolate. Life is too short for cheap, waxy imitations when the real thing is this good. These are the best treats you can buy without leaving your home (click here).
Of all the cookies on all the shelves at Trader Joe’s, those on the soft-baked side are few and far between. It’s understandable, as it’s difficult to achieve that gooey texture in a cookie meant to hang around for a few weeks or more—at least, not without using some pretty questionable artificial preservatives – until NOW! Check it out, here, and run to Trader Joe’s!
A serving of Nestlé’s Goodnight chocolates contains 70 milligrams of magnesium and 5 milligrams of casein protein, a slowly digested protein. Instructions say to “enjoy a full serving of three delicately delicious Goodnight pieces 30-45 minutes before you’d like to drift off to dreamland.” Social-media marketing has focused on segments including “worriers” (new parents, those with new jobs) and “sleep enthusiasts.” Good Day Chocolates contain 1 milligram of melatonin per piece and can be found in hotels, drugstores and grocery chains.
The Italian chocolate company Ferrero has announced that their famous Kinder Bueno bar—a favorite sweet treat in 60 countries across the world—will be arriving in the U.S. for the first time in November 2019, For those who have never experienced a Kinder Bueno bar, check out what it is, here.
We are all very familiar with the Italian chocolatier Ferrero’s iconic golden wrapped Ferrero Rocher, the addictive treat that consists of a whole roasted hazelnut, encased in a wafer shell, filled with hazelnut chocolate and finally covered in crunchy milk chocolate and hazelnut layer. Ferrero USA is stepping into a whole new chocolate space with the launch of Ferrero Golden Gallery Signature, a premium assortment of finely designed chocolates. Check it out, here.
The 80-year-old company raises its ethical standards with a new range of popular adult-beverage cordials: The Moscow Mule, dark chocolate cordials, boldly rolled with a spicy mix of sugar, ginger and mint and a vodka flavored center; Barrel Aged Bourbon, dark chocolate cordials decadently dusted with delicious rich cocoa and a barrel-aged bourbon flavored center. Check out other “On The Rocks” chocolates, here.
Take a look at the many choices you have to treat mom to dark chocolates, the perfect healthy indulgence for mom on Mother’s Day. From the Buddha collection of bonbons at French Broad Chocolates to Robbie Stout and Anna Davies’ bean-to-bar chocolate at Ritual Chocolate, check them out, and many more, here.
Stuffed Puffs is turning S’mores on their heads, or really inside out! Chocolate’s on the inside of marshmallow so the chocolate melts in the middle when roasting over the fire. Less items to buy, less mess, melted chocolate, better s’mores. Welcome to the s’mores revolution – Stuffed Puffs. Stuffed Puffs chocolate-filled vanilla marshmallows are made with real chocolate. Add graham crackers and enjoy! You can find them here.
When the beau’s away, it’s time to play, and to indulge like nobody is watching. Whether you fancy peanut butter or salted caramel straight out of the jar, stacks and stacks of saltine crackers or handfuls of pretzels, the salty-sweet punch of potato chips with strawberry ice cream, a bottle of red wine or the ease of cereal for supper, Miss Maude has combined your favorite Secret Single Behavior treats into one deliciously decadent chocolate bar. This “Secret Single Behavior Bar” holds eight squares, each with a different flavor, to give you the benefit of the flavors of a box of chocolates all in one compact bar! PEANUT BUTTER, CARAMELIZED SALTINES, STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM, POTATO CHIPS, RED WINE, PRETZELS, BUTTER CARAMEL, AND CARAMELIZED CHEERIOS ENROBED IN ORGANIC DARK ITALIAN CHOCOLATE. Buy Miss Maude’s Secret Single Behavior Bar here.
Named for the era when Ecuador was widely recognized as a major producer of cacao, 1892 Chocolate bars are made with single-origin organic cacao from Ecuador and comes in eight flavors, including mango, coffee bean, sea salt and hot chili. You can find 1892 Cacao Arriba Ecuador bars, on the website, 1892chocolate.com.
Caramelized white chocolate dinosaur bones (with cocoa nibs for extra crunch) are buried inside hot chocolate soil. Complete dinosaur skeleton in every box! This clever treat buries chocolate dinosaur “bones” in hot cocoa mix “dirt.” Handcrafted, this treat contains caramelized white-chocolate dinosaur bones infused with crunchy cocoa nibs buried in hot chocolate “soil.” There’s a complete T-rex or triceratops skeleton in every box. Excavate the (edible) bones and add your favorite milk to the “soil” to create rich cocoa with hints of cinnamon and vanilla bean. You can find this at Only Child Chocolate Co.
There’s nothing like a relaxing, warm beverage. And there’s really nothing like a cup of Chocolate Hazelnut Black Tea from Stash for warming you up and calming you down at the end of a long day. This decaffeinated tea is flavored with natural cocoa, hazelnut, and vanilla extracts, and makes a delightful hot beverage with just a few minutes of steeping. When served over ice, it’s an invigorating drink that will pep you up sans sugar or caffeine. You can find it on .
Just because a person can’t eat chocolate every minute of the day doesn’t mean he or she can’t enjoy its essence at all times. With a large 13-ounce hot chocolate-scented candle from Our Own Candle Company, the home (or office or spa) will be filled with the luscious aroma of chocolate for hours on end. In fact, this candle has a 100-hour burn time, so it can last for weeks even if burned for an hour or two daily. Find it on .
This Too Faced makeup palette that’s shaped like a chocolate bar looks and smells like the real deal. That’s in large part because the eyeshadows are pigmented with pure, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. You can find this at Ulta.com.
The Brits are known for some fine candies, and many of their finest can be found in this Great British Treats box from Cadbury. In it, you will get candy bars including a Flake, a Twirl, a Crunchie, and other sweets beloved in the UK but harder to find on the American side of the pond. You can buy this on .
For a perfect cup of hot chocolate, try Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Gourmet Powder. Mixed into warmed milk, it makes a heavenly beverage, but this sweet stuff can also be used in baking or to decorate confections. You can find this on .
With so many companies making great chocolate bars, it’s hard to choose one to recommend. Here’s a suggestion… Alter Eco Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate Bar. What sets this company apart is how they make their sweets. Alter Eco products are made with cacao exclusively harvested in Ecuador from sustainable, Fair Trade farms, and all of their chocolate is gluten free, non-GMO, and vegan, and purchases help direct funds to reforestation. Look for these on .
When it comes to hot chocolate add-ins, nothing beats traditional marshmallows or whipped cream. But what else comes to mind? Check out 9 other options here.
The new confectionary shop on the Bay Harbor Islands is aptly named Bon Chocolatier. The truffles vegan and kosher certified, they are non-dairy, no preservatives, no hydrogenated oil, no artificial flavor, no corn syrup, no palm oil. Bon is good! Owners Yoann and Deborah Andreu are from Paris where they learned chocolate-making skills from master chocolatiers in France and Belgium. The couture chocolates can be customized with personal greetings or corporate logos. Visit their website, BonChocolatier.com
Big, wild Arizona views? Check. Cozy romantic seating perfect for snuggling? Check. Delicious beverages to suit all tastes? Check. Mated bald eagles soaring overhead? You bet. What could make Valentine’s Day even better? Perhaps something sweet … and lots of it. Let’s start with flowing fountains of chocolate, filling a vintage train car with a heavenly scent synonymous with love. Verde Canyon Railroad’s popular Chocolate Lover’s Special whisks lovebirds away on a journey of the senses, February 14, 15 and 16, 2019. And what better place to spend Valentine’s Day than in Arizona, “The Valentine State”, which became the 48th, and last state added in the contiguous U.S., on February 14, 1912. For more info on this excursion, click here.
Lonohana Estate Chocolate is located on the island of Oahu and is the result of two families’ dream to create a vertically integrated chocolate company in the United States. By controlling the entire product cycle, starting with their own Hawaii-grown cacao all the way through crafting small batches of world-class chocolate bars in Honolulu, they hope to share where this beloved food comes from and how it is grown and made. As well as pure chocolate bars, they produce an ever-changing array of bars that incorporate organic Hawaii-grown inclusions. These vary from coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao nibs, sea salts, fruits and spices. While the list will change based on the season, they always aim for 100% Hawaii-grown ingredients. Check out their products at Lonohana.com.
Devine Chocolate – the name says it all! And, from the first taste, “devine” it is! There are no artificial flavors, all natural ingredients, 100% pure cocoa butter, no palm oil or soy, and the cocoa farmers who grow this fine quality cocoa for the chocolate also own 44% of the company and share in the profits. Check out Devine Chocolate’s website for more info on their chocolate bar selection, recipes and more at Devine Chocolate.com.
If you live in NYC or nearby, you’re in luck! You can visit Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house – since 1923. And if you’re not nearby, visit their website. Take it from one who knows, it’s certainly worth the tasting experience! Their chocolate factory is in Brooklyn, NY, where you can look in through oversize windows and see chocolate-making in action. There are 5 locations (soon to be 6) in the NYC area. Visit their website to purchase gourmet chocolates and for more info: Li-LacChocolates.com.
If you’ve ever had that feeling of looking at a Christmas ornament and thinking, “That’s so pretty. I want…to eat it,” you’re in luck. Trader Joe’s is now selling milk chocolate ornaments for the holidays. They come in an 11-ounce container with 26 chocolate ornaments, wrapped in a variety of colors and shapes. Each chocolate ornament has a sparkly string so you can actual hang them from your tree. You can get your hands on a set for $6.99 while supplies lasts.
“Look no more!” Chocolatier Cathy Brand-Beere thinks inside the box, outside the box, and about the box! Her repertoire of fine chocolates includes a truffle collection of dark chocolate, key lime pecan, caramel, coconut, peanut butter, mocha, macadamia hazelnut, raspberry, almond, milk chocolate, deluxe nut, black and white luscious caramels, all-natural fruit creams, and distinctive truffle combinations bursting with flavors. But that’s not all! She designs edible boxes made out of chocolate! And they taste as delicious as they look. All artisan Art Boxes are handmade and therefore no two will be identical. You can find these truffle-filled, Chocolate Art Boxes, at TheGrommet.com.
For anyone with a “sweet tooth”, particularly chocolate!, check out 11 Chocolate Advent Calendars, and where you can get them, at Bustle.com.
Looking for kosher chocolate gifts for Hanukkah? Check out these websites (click on “Hanukkah’s Coming” for website URLs):
Godiva Kosher Chocolates
Oh Nuts Inc.
Neuhaus Kosher Chocolates
Li-Lac Chocolates
Nuts.com
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Lindt Kosher Chocolates
See’s Candies
CandyStore.com
“Crazy about chocolate, serious about people”! With incredibility tasty chocolate, (I speak from “experience”!) Tony’s Chocolonely leads by example to show the world chocolate can be made differently in taste, packaging and the way we treat cocoa farmers. Tony’s Chocolonely’s mission? To make 100% slave-free the norm in chocolate! Experience Tony’s Chocolonely’s chocolate bars including Almond Sea Salt, Chocolate Hazelnut, Caramel Sea Salt, Pecan Coconut, as well as Milk and Dark Chocolate and, with your purchase, you will be helping support Tony’s Chocolonely’s goal – to make 100% slave-free chocolate, not just Tony’s chocolate, but all chocolate worldwide. For more info, visit the website, Tony’s Chocolonely.
Would you like to tour a chocolate factory, experiencing the entire process of making chocolate starting with harvesting cocoa beans! Here’s your chance, visiting the Grenada Chocolate Factory – without visiting Grenada! Just “visit” Grenada, online, and experience the virtual tour, of making chocolate, at Grenada Chocolate Factory Tour.
Finest, freshest hand-made chocolates, Turtle Alley uses natural ingredients, finest grades of chocolate, real butter, fresh cream, imported nuts and spices, and handcraft small batches for the freshest taste experience available anywhere! To order, visit Turtle Alley.
Repurposed Pod’s 100% Cacao Juice is sustainable, all natural and deliciously sweet. Cacao Juice delivers polyphenol antioxidants, energizing B vitamins, magnesium and potassium. Drink it cold when you need a pure pick-me-up, add it to your smoothie, or your favorite spirit. Most importantly, each bottle helps improve the livelihoods of cacao farming families! Visit Repurposed Pod for more info.
Get your 8-year old started on becoming a “Chocoholic”! Make Your Own Chocolate From Scratch Kit is easy and fun to make and fun to eat the “end result”! The Kit contains organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder, confectioner’s sugar, starter crystals, a temperature indicator, paper candy liners, instructions and the story of chocolate. Instructions are easy (with adult supervision) and kids over 8 will have so fun not only making their own chocolate but “sampling” it too! You also get some cacao beans – to taste them. You can find the kit on Amazon.
Need a quick chocolate brownie “fix”? Ghirardelli has just the “fix” for you! New, from Ghirardelli, those great makers of chocolate, comes 4 different choices for a “Brownie in a Mug” – Dark Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, Salted Caramel Premium Brownie Mix, Chocolate Peanut Butter Premium Brownie Mix. Just add water, stir, microwave in a mug for about a minute – and you’ve got your “quick chocolate fix”! Take it from one who knows – they’re great!!!
Theodent has given us chocolate lovers something to smile about! Theodent toothpaste contains Rennou™, a naturally occurring cacao extract. Human clinical trials show that this cacao extract is more effective for rebuilding tooth enamel than fluoride and it is completely nontoxic. Rennou™ has been shown to restore and repair enamel and occludes dentinal tubules, ultimately eliminating dental hypersensitivity. It doesn’t actually taste like chocolate – it comes in a “crystal mint” flavor. It is sold online or can be found in Whole Food stores. For more info, visit www.theodent.com.
