I was walking home past Whole Foods today and had a chocolate craving, so I decided to go in and see what they had. I guess everyone has their own Belgian chocolates these days, and Whole Foods are no exception. It's not organic, which is a surprise, but it is Belgian chocolate.
I wasn't impressed. First I ignored all the hazelnut chocolates (sue me, I'm American and I hate hazelnuts. I read a great book about the Hersheys and the Mars family and how the Mars family has been trying to get hazelnuts in one of their chocolates but they never make it because Americans don't like hazelnuts. I'm patriotic that way.), but I did choose a couple that had coffee or mocha centers, and just plain ganache centers. I wasn't impressed.
I don't have one of those developed palates that can tell you the notes in the chocolate or what bean they come from, but I know what I like and I don't like these. Give me Target's Choxie any day.
I wasn't impressed. First I ignored all the hazelnut chocolates (sue me, I'm American and I hate hazelnuts. I read a great book about the Hersheys and the Mars family and how the Mars family has been trying to get hazelnuts in one of their chocolates but they never make it because Americans don't like hazelnuts. I'm patriotic that way.), but I did choose a couple that had coffee or mocha centers, and just plain ganache centers. I wasn't impressed.
I don't have one of those developed palates that can tell you the notes in the chocolate or what bean they come from, but I know what I like and I don't like these. Give me Target's Choxie any day.
This Bissinger's bark is heavenly! My DH bought it for me after we randomly sampled the dark chocolate version at our local upscale grocery store and I fell in love. Even in milk chocolate, it is delicious!
This is made with Bissinger's sweet milk chocolate, with tons of dried cranberries and pecans. The dark chocolate version is a bit better, since the milk chocolate is a bit sweet with the sweetened cranberries, but this version is also amazing! I'm impressed with the amount of mix ins, unlike other bars I've had that only have a bit. This is chock full of fruit and nuts. It's so good, you'll wish it wasn't seasonal!
This is made with Bissinger's sweet milk chocolate, with tons of dried cranberries and pecans. The dark chocolate version is a bit better, since the milk chocolate is a bit sweet with the sweetened cranberries, but this version is also amazing! I'm impressed with the amount of mix ins, unlike other bars I've had that only have a bit. This is chock full of fruit and nuts. It's so good, you'll wish it wasn't seasonal!
Look what my DH bought for me! (And this is only half ....) Bissinger's caramels! According to the website, this collection includes Salted Margarita Caramels, Chardonnay Salt Caramels, Vanilla Caramels, Blackberry Caramels, Raspberry Caramels and Bear Claws.
I started with the second row from the right (not knowing each row was different), with some salt caramels. I've never had salt caramels before and I'm not entirely sold on them. I think I may end up scraping off the salt and eating them plain. I also had a milk chocolate caramel which turned out to be one of the Bear Claws. It's basically a tiny turtle, and really good!
I also tried one of the dark chocolate caramels. At first I thought it was raspberry flavored, then cherry, now I don't know if it's raspberry or blackberry, since they offer both, but it's really interesting. It tastes like they flavor the chocolate with fruit flavor, and the caramel is vanilla. Very interesting.
ETA: It is definitely blackberry, because I tried the raspberry and it is a much more intense flavor. I really prefer the blackberry since it is such a light fruity flavor. I also tried the vanilla, which has a dark chocolate coating, and it's fine. So far my favorites are the Bear Claws and the Blackberry Caramels.
I'm a huge caramel fan, so this was just up my alley!
I started with the second row from the right (not knowing each row was different), with some salt caramels. I've never had salt caramels before and I'm not entirely sold on them. I think I may end up scraping off the salt and eating them plain. I also had a milk chocolate caramel which turned out to be one of the Bear Claws. It's basically a tiny turtle, and really good!
I also tried one of the dark chocolate caramels. At first I thought it was raspberry flavored, then cherry, now I don't know if it's raspberry or blackberry, since they offer both, but it's really interesting. It tastes like they flavor the chocolate with fruit flavor, and the caramel is vanilla. Very interesting.
ETA: It is definitely blackberry, because I tried the raspberry and it is a much more intense flavor. I really prefer the blackberry since it is such a light fruity flavor. I also tried the vanilla, which has a dark chocolate coating, and it's fine. So far my favorites are the Bear Claws and the Blackberry Caramels.
I'm a huge caramel fan, so this was just up my alley!
On my way out of Target today I finally decided to try some of their Choxie chocolate. It isn't cheap, which is usually what I'm looking for at Target, so I haven't tried their chocolates before, but the bar couldn't be too expensive (it was $2) so I figured why not.
I got the Choxie Espresso Truffle Bar and it was delicious! My husband likes more bittersweet chocolate and I like more sweet chocolate, but this must have been just the right amount because we both loved it! It was a mildly sweet (sweeter than chocolate chips I think) dark chocolate, with the flavor of espresso. The chocolate looked like it would be hard but it wasn't - it was truly like eating a truffle in a bar, because it was slightly soft when you bit into it.
If this is a good example of the quality of Target's Choxie chocolates, I'm definitely a fan!!!
I got the Choxie Espresso Truffle Bar and it was delicious! My husband likes more bittersweet chocolate and I like more sweet chocolate, but this must have been just the right amount because we both loved it! It was a mildly sweet (sweeter than chocolate chips I think) dark chocolate, with the flavor of espresso. The chocolate looked like it would be hard but it wasn't - it was truly like eating a truffle in a bar, because it was slightly soft when you bit into it.
If this is a good example of the quality of Target's Choxie chocolates, I'm definitely a fan!!!
I was at the mall Christmas shopping and See's was really crowded, while Godiva only had a couple of customers so I figured I'd stop in. I've tried Godiva in the past and never really liked them, but I really like chocolate so I figured I'd try them again.
First problem - the staff at my local store were awful. They didn't take us in order, and I had to wait forever to get three chocolates. Second problem - they don't weigh the candy, it's by the piece. So the truffles are the same cost as the other chocolates, which are smaller. These three chocolates, two truffles and a regular chocolate, were $5. $5!!!
I'm no stranger to expensive chocolate, but this company is owned by Kraft, so the cost seemed a bit much. I think See's chocolates are 50 cents each, or maybe a little bit more.
Anyway, first up was the Milk Ganache Bliss, the smaller chocolate on the right. I didn't like it. To quote the movie Sixteen Candles, "It's not ugly, it's just void." I didn't think it was worth the calories, so I didn't bother finishing it.
Next up was the Extra Dark Chocolate Truffle. This felt like there was some sort of crunchy thing inside, but there wasn't that I could see. However, it was delicious. Not too bitter and not too sweet dark chocolate with just the right thickness of chocolate coating and a light layer of dusted cocoa. I would definitely get this again.
Finally, the Cappuccino Truffle, For some reason I remembered this as being a coffee truffle, so I was surprised at how sweet the center was. It was a soft center, with a more latte flavored ganache. It was also delicious. It was like a cup of very sweet, creamy coffee, with just the right thickness of dark chocolate coating. I would also get this again.
Just not in my local store.
First problem - the staff at my local store were awful. They didn't take us in order, and I had to wait forever to get three chocolates. Second problem - they don't weigh the candy, it's by the piece. So the truffles are the same cost as the other chocolates, which are smaller. These three chocolates, two truffles and a regular chocolate, were $5. $5!!!
I'm no stranger to expensive chocolate, but this company is owned by Kraft, so the cost seemed a bit much. I think See's chocolates are 50 cents each, or maybe a little bit more.
Anyway, first up was the Milk Ganache Bliss, the smaller chocolate on the right. I didn't like it. To quote the movie Sixteen Candles, "It's not ugly, it's just void." I didn't think it was worth the calories, so I didn't bother finishing it.
Next up was the Extra Dark Chocolate Truffle. This felt like there was some sort of crunchy thing inside, but there wasn't that I could see. However, it was delicious. Not too bitter and not too sweet dark chocolate with just the right thickness of chocolate coating and a light layer of dusted cocoa. I would definitely get this again.
Finally, the Cappuccino Truffle, For some reason I remembered this as being a coffee truffle, so I was surprised at how sweet the center was. It was a soft center, with a more latte flavored ganache. It was also delicious. It was like a cup of very sweet, creamy coffee, with just the right thickness of dark chocolate coating. I would also get this again.
Just not in my local store.
My kids and I made the first batch of Christmas cookies yesterday - peanut butter blossoms, according to the Pillsbury Book of Baking. They're those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's Kisses added after baking. You might have noticed that I ran out of Kisses halfway, so I used some chocolate chips, which made an interesting addition to a traditionally milk chocolate and peanut butter cookie. Great fun!
I've been getting back into making cookies lately, and when I was in
the supermarket buying chocolate chips I thought I might try these
Heath Bites, strictly for cookies, of course. But then on my way home
I happened to open the bag, and happened to eat quite a few on the way
home. Actually, my first thought was that they were too sweet and I
wasn't going to finish them at all, but I never did get rid of them.
They never did make it into cookies, either.
I loved when Hershey's made Soft and Crunchy Heath. That was my favorite. I also am a huge sucker for good toffee. I am not, however, a huge Heath fan, and the bites are even worse than the actual bar. They just have too much chocolate and not enough toffee, and the chocolate is too sweet. Basically I'd say if you want toffee, try another brand, or at least the regular sized bar.
I loved when Hershey's made Soft and Crunchy Heath. That was my favorite. I also am a huge sucker for good toffee. I am not, however, a huge Heath fan, and the bites are even worse than the actual bar. They just have too much chocolate and not enough toffee, and the chocolate is too sweet. Basically I'd say if you want toffee, try another brand, or at least the regular sized bar.
