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chocolate

chocolate, Peanut Butter Candy

Your New Favorite Chocolate Covered Confections Are Here!

November 26, 2019 by

We love chocolate covered just about anything and are always looking to push the envelope when it comes to new taste sensations.  Not everything works but, when it does, you can rest assured that it ends up in our office candy jar. Old classics such as Bridge Mix and Malt Balls prevail, but we have a few new favorites worthy of introduction.

OK, we were going to introduce these chocolate covered delights as healthy snacks, which might be a stretch – after all, they are drenched in creamy milk chocolate – but let’s put that aside for now.

Chocolate Covered Banana Chips
Chocolate Covered Banana Chips

Our favorite is the Chocolate Covered Banana Chips. Generous in size, the combination of sweet with just a hint of salt combined with milk chocolate and the added crunch in every bite makes for perfect eating. There may not be a bunch in every bag – there are approximately 70 pieces per pound – but the two-pound bag is enough to keep you, family, and friends from going “bananas.” 

Chocolate Covered Cranberries
Chocolate Covered Cranberries

Next in the line up is the Chocolate Covered Cranberries. You don’t have to travel to New England to find a fresh cranberry, and their tartness is a perfect complement to the sweetness of the milk chocolate.  It is a refreshing fruity taste and one that is hard to stop eating.  The good news is that we sell them in 2-pound bags with approximately 170 pieces per pound.

Chocolate Covered Cashews
Chocolate Cashews

Chocolate Covered Cashews are destined to become a classic as the jumbo-sized nuts as freshly roasted and lightly salted, which enhances the sweetness of the chocolate. We sell them in hand-packed two-pound bags to ensure freshness, and with about 100 pieces per pound, there is more than enough to share assuming you get that far. Be forewarned; these are addictive!

Mini Sea Salt Caramels
Mini Sea Salt Chocolate Caramels

Our personal favorite is the Mini Sea Salt Caramels. Everything about the flavor combinations fits like a well-worn glove, and the sea salt enhances all flavors, both sweet and salty.  As these are mini, you get a generous serving of approximately 285 pieces per pound, and as we sell them in two-pound bags, you have enough to make it through a 2-hour movie assuming your willpower is strong.

Chocolate Chunkier Cluster
Chocolate Chunkier Clusters

Let’s move on to the Chocolate Chunkier Cluster. It pays tribute to its big brother better known as the Chunky Bar, but these clusters are unique in size, taste, and texture as each piece offers a well-balanced mix of chocolate, raisins, and peanuts in every bite.  Chunkier Clusters are oversized in size as well as taste, and there are approximately 23 Chunkier Clusters in every pound. Like the other items, pack them to order and sell them in two-pound bags.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Peanut Butter Buckeyes

Chocolate Buckeyes are a Western Pennsylvania classic, but the combination of chocolate and peanut butter in every bite makes them a favorite worldwide.  Small in size but abundant in taste, each two-pound bag has about 50 pieces, and the first bite is as delicious as the last.

Tri-colored Espresso Beans
Tri-Colored Chocolate Espresso Beans

Last but not least are the Milk Chocolate Coffee Beans and the Tri-Colored Espresso Beans. Perfect for a coffee fix any time of the day or night, we make ours with freshly roasted coffee beans and the highest quality chocolate blending the best of both worlds – bittersweet and sweet, There are approximately 150 pieces per pound sure to provide a pick me up.

While these chocolate-covered treats make for great eating, they are a perfect complement for baked goods such as cupcakes or on top of an ice cream sundae. The possibilities are endless, and we would love to hear your unique ideas

chocolate

Skinnygirl Chocolates: A 100 Calorie Guiltless Indulgence

January 30, 2017 by

When it comes to sweet treats, many people find themselves in a conundrum. While there are countless delicious options to choose from, they’re not always the most figure-friendly. So what’s a person to do?

In the past, your choices have been limited. You can either go with the candy that tastes good for you, but may not be good for you, or you can go with the candy that tastes just okay, but is probably better on your body.

Not a great place to be, right?

Well, we’re happy to say that those very limited days of candy choices are behind you. Now, thanks to the whole line of Skinnygirl products, you can actually enjoy your snack time, without worrying about the potentially unpronounceable ingredients or unhealthy quantities of sugar you’ve just consumed.

The Skinnygirl candies offer you a little something different for your sweet tooth. All of the candies are packed in 100-calorie bags, so you know just how much you’re eating, without any guesswork.

We have options like Belgian Milk Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt Toffee, Belgian Dark Chocolate Bars with Pistachio Caramel, Belgian Milk Chocolate Bars with Almond Nougat and Belgian Dark Chocolate Truffles with Almonds.

The ingredients are all clear and easy to understand–like organic coconut milk and Belgian chocolate–so you never have to worry or wonder about what’s inside. And frankly, we doubt you’ll realize that they’re only 100 calories! These sweets taste just as good (if not better) than anything else you’ve eaten lately.

Add to that the fact there are no preservatives or trans fats in sight, and we think all of your candy lovers will be very happy campers.

So, if you’re looking for something a little different to add to your candy routine, then look no further! We’re excited to offer this new, delicious line to you. And, after one taste, we think you might be Skinnygirl converts, too.

Candy Bar Reviews, Candy Reviews, chocolate

Krackel: The old school crunch in a new school size

August 15, 2014 by

 

krackel-bar-2

“Krackel is dope, it has an old school kind of crunch.”

Classroom/Movie Munchability: 8

Melt Measure: 8

Novelty: 6

Sharability: 7

It might not be the simplest candy to spell correctly, but this Hershey’s bar shows simplicity with style. It is the classic milk chocolate bar with a little crisped rice crunch to keep you paying attention.

When Krackels was originally introduced in 1938 as a full size candy bar, it had almonds and crisped rice in the formula. Soon after, peanuts were added to the party. In 1941, while war was at large on the other side of the globe, Krackel became a crisped rice, and crisped rice only, chocolate bar. In the late 90s, Krackel availability shrunk, in physical size. For almost 20 years, the Krackel bar has only been available in the miniature fun size bar, and now, the bar the people have been asking for is back. Catch up with the Krackel full size! It’s a blast from the past, the old school krunch in its old school/new school size!

Sources:

http://chocolate.wikia.com/wiki/Krackel

chocolate, Easter Candy

Vintage Gourmet Easter Chocolates

March 13, 2012 by

When I was growing up, the one thing that outlasted anything else from my Easter basket was that one bunny. It was always the biggest, most solid bunny, and it always had round, sugary eyes. Most of the time, there was even an element of colored chocolate. Weeks after Easter, I’d finally start pulling that guy out of the freezer.

First I’d break off the ears (and the eyes, of course). Next time, I’d hit it on the counter or drop it on the floor, hoping the base would break off. Then the middle part would provide two or three more moments of chocolatey bliss. This ritual somehow managed to extend the Easter experience (an underdog of a holiday if there ever was one) beyond the duration of more candy-centric holidays like Halloween.

Back in the Day…

My chocolate Easter bunnies came from the 80’s, and I totally enjoyed them. But it turns out that history has brought us bunnies and peeps that were even more special — vintage ones. In  the 50’s and 60’s, Easter centerpieces were veritable sculptures made from intricately detailed high-quality chocolate. These treats were enjoyed by the whole family. People made memories about and around them. And the natural ingredients were as beautiful as the final product. I’m willing to bet that some families even admired their chocolate bunnies for so long that their ears turned white (the bunnies’, not the families’).

Great Easter Presents — in the Present

This Spring, CandyFavorites.com brings you a line of Easter chocolates that has all the goodness of old-fashioned favorites. Great chocolates of the past had two things going for them in the quality department — form and formula. Our gourmet Easter treats deliver both of these.

They’re all created for us by a local chocolatier that uses only traditional methods for making chocolate. The finest natural ingredients are hand-poured into authentic vintage chocolate molds from the 1950’s. These incredible confections will give you the chance this Easter season to enjoy the simpler things in life.

Bring back memories or create new ones with our hand-crafted vintage chocolates. They’ll give everyone in your family a chance to savor a piece of that bunny…or hen…or rooster…or cowboy.

Candy News, chocolate

Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs

October 13, 2011 by

I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting some reps from Jelly Belly a few days ago. What wonderful people! And they left behind a single Harry Potter Chocolate Frog for my own personal enjoyment.

It’s the Crispy One, Not the Giant One

I’ve of course been incredibly curious about these. The giant version available at Honeydukes at Universal Studios has gotten a lot of coverage. But those reviews have been mixed — raving about the packaging and size of the frog, but mostly meh on the flavor and quality of the chocolate. Well, I don’t know who makes those, but it’s not Jelly Belly. Fortunately, the Chocolate Frogs available to the rest of us are more reasonably priced and more reasonable in size. It seems that what these lack in heft, they make up for in taste.

Nutrition and Whatnot

Now, I’m a label nerd, so the first thing I look at is nutrition facts. I like to enjoy my treats responsibly. The Harry Potter Milk Chocolate Frog with Crisped Rice is totally doable at 80 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. The other thing that struck me is that there are relatively few ingredients. This is real chocolate, complete with the cocoa butter you’d expect. For the gluten avoiders out there, you’ll unfortunately have to steer clear. The crisp rice is made with barley malt (scourge of foods that would otherwise be edible!)

The Magic Pack

So, the Chocolate Frog is wrapped in pretty purple foil packaging. It’s nothing you’re going to save forever. However, I was totally impressed with the way the important part — the collectible wizard card — is included. It’s enclosed in its own plastic sleeve that’s attached to the top of the wrapper. This suspends the card in the middle of the package, so it’s less likely to get bent or otherwise messed up before it gets to you, or in a backpack or what have you. It also prevents the chocolate from making contact with the card. So even if your frog melts, your card will survive unscathed. I’m sure that plenty of people will just keep the plastic on and build their collections in mint condition. I didn’t realize that the cards were holographic, either, which is a nice touch.

First Impressions

When you open the pack, you get a fragrance that’s chocolate plus a little bit more. Which is fitting, since that’s exactly what you’re about to eat. The chocolate frog itself is cute. It’s not lifelike, but I wasn’t particularly imagining or hoping that it would be. The little frog arms and legs (this guy is all knees) make it clear that you should start by biting off all the extremities.

A Crisped Rice Runs Through It

Since this is chocolate with crunchies (technically known as “crisped rice), I thought it important to compare with other crunchy chocolates. So I broke out a Nestle Crunch and a Krackle. I have memories of absolutely loving Crunch bars, so I didn’t expect the Chocolate Frog to fare very well in a head-to-head. Shockingly, it turned out to be my favorite of the three. The color of our Chocolate Frog matches Nestle Crunch almost exactly, and is a bit lighter than the Krackle. The frog has the fewest obvious crunchies and looks as though it’ll be the creamiest.

Flavor and More Flavor

I started with the Krackle, which built to an almost acidic bitter flavor that kind of turned me off. The Crunch was better, but also finished on an unpleasant note. It’s more appropriate for moments of “I want something crunchy” than “I want some chocolate.” The chocolate in the Frog turned out to be very creamy and not your typical candy-bar fare. It has a consistent, mellow flavor and a mild finish that’s completely devoid of yuckiness. The crisped rice in the Chocolate Frog is far more subtle than in the other bars. As expected, the texture of Krackle is quite a bit granier than the frog, and even leaves a grainy residue on your hands. Nestle Crunch places the emphasis on the crunchies, making it almost a different beast than the frog. In my frog, most of the rice was at the bottom, adding a nice layer of texture without taking over the whole show.

The Verdict

All in all, I was totally surprised by my Chocolate Frog. It includes a nice, quality collectible bonus, which legitimizes the Harry Potter branding. And it’s a genuinely good piece of milk chocolate. I can definitely envision parents eating the frogs and giving the cards to their kids. You can order these now at CandyFavorites.com!

Candy History, chocolate, Easter Candy

History of the Chocolate Bunny and Where to Start Eating

April 13, 2011 by

Chocolate bunny - April 12According to Gourmet Live, the first American chocolate bunny was made in the mid-1840s by Whitman, but the fad did not catch on until they were mass-produced and marketed in 1916 by Bortz. The tradition of chocolate bunnies started in Germany in the early 1800s, though. Probably they were more like sinewy, gangly hares than soft cute bunnies, though.

Whatever the history, you can’t deny that they are an Easter classic. How do you eat them? Ears first or feet first? Back in the day when I worked at NCA we had quite a lively office debate on the topic. I still eat them feet first. You don’t want the little guy scampering off. But tell us your method and reasoning. I think of the ears as a perfect handle to get the cute little feet taken care of but some say that’s the wrong way.

Bunny by dearbarbie.

chocolate

For the Love of Candy

April 5, 2011 by

SnickersI recently shared a mango drink with a coworker and we got on the subject of sweet treats, talking about what we like as an occasional snack. She said her favorite was Snickers, one of my favorites as well. One thing I loved about working in the candy industry was the passion people have for their favorite sweets. It’s not just a preference, but a real love. My friend who was talking about Snickers rolled her eyes up as she talked about it, as if she were looking into the gates of heaven itself. Her joy, even from the discussion, was plain to see.

Candy makes us happy. It gives us a little sweetness for our day, a little joy that either picks us up or amplifies our good vibes. Because candy is so pleasing, the sensation gets stored in part of our brains that processes emotions, or at least seems to. Don’t believe me about that connection? Go talk to someone about their favorite candy. I’m no psychologist; I just know people and candy.

Snickers by Leonid Mamchenkov.

Candy Memories, chocolate, Easter Candy

Easter Chocolates: Not Just for Easter Breakfast

March 23, 2011 by

Little known fact: Easter candy consumed while no one is looking contains zero calories.When I was a kid my brother and I ate almost nothing but candy, especially the yummy Easter chocolates probably until about mid-afternoon when our mother made us put down the sweet stuff in exchange for a plate of ham or something. Really? Trade chocolate for ham? Who wants to do that? One thing I always wanted to see in my Easter basket was one of those giant chocolate bunnies like the woman in the photo has. I practically dreamt of devouring one of those, eating it feet first so it couldn’t hop away.

That would have been awesome. Maybe Mom will read this and know what to send me. Despite my age, I would still accept an Easter basket if anyone offered. Yes, that’s a hint. Maybe Jon will send me some candy.

Photo by Theresa Thompson.

Candy Reviews, chocolate, Easter Candy

The Extended Eating Possibilities of the Cadbury Mini Eggs

March 3, 2011 by

Cadbury Mini Eggs are tasty and this posting explores the many different ways that they can be enjoyed

 

Denture Danger: 4

Convenience: 8

Novelty: 9

Overall: 10

The Cadbury Mini Egg facebook page is filled with self-proclaimed addicts of this “solid milk chocolate with crisp sugar shell” novelty. Though I thought these eggs would be inadequate because of their solid nature, thus lacking the inner gloop that makes Cadbury’s Caramel Egg and Cadbury’s Crème Egg so fun, I was creating an unnecessary expectation.

Don’t let the lack of filling let you think that the mini eggs have less possibilities of variable eatability; creativity is always an option if you allow it to be.

You can suck on the mini egg until the sweet shell dissolves into the melty smooth milk chocolate, you can chew it up for a cruncharific chocolate experience, you can do your best to try and eat the shell off of the egg (though this is difficult to do cleanly without biting chunks out of the egg), and you can go for the mouthful of mini eggs for a mess of egg shell and milk chocolate mixing together like compost decomposing in the warmth of your mouth.

All of these are fun and none of them leave out any of the tastiness to be had by the miniature eggs; but don’t let me ruin the fun by telling you all the ways to eat these eggs, I bet you can think of a unique and personalized miniature egg eating style. 

There may not be any goo to release in these mini eggs, but this product presents you with the opportunity to play the Easter bunny and give to the chocolate egg cravers in your community.

Sources:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cadbury-Mini-Eggs/10250622622

Bulk Candy Reviews, Candy Reviews, chocolate

Sno Caps of Milk Chocolate Non Pareils are “without equal”!

August 30, 2010 by

Sno Caps or mini milk chocolate nonpareils are mini mountains of chocolate!

Sno Caps or mini milk chocolate nonpareils are mini mountains of chocolate guaranteed to please!

Sharability: 9

Denture Danger: 2

Convenience: 3

Novelty: 5

Overall: 7

 This dark chocolate dome shaped candy with little white beads of sugar coating the top is known by many as, the snowcap. The snowflakes of sugar and starch are what are called non pareils, in French meaning, “Without Equal.”

The Non Pareils really make this simple disc of chocolate into a marketable product. Just like every kid pumps adrenaline for sprinkles on his/her ice cream, people love sugar sprinkle beads on their chocolate.

 For such a simple generic chocolate candy that I really can’t whip up much to write about, it is pretty darn popular and garsh darn, just as tasty. The Snowcap is one of those candies where the bag empties itself before you had a chance to even consider wrapping it up for later, in which case you can pour a good bite of purely Non Pareils (that have shed from Snowcaps) into your mouth.