Archive for Chocolate

Top 3 Sexiest Chocolates for Valentine’s Day

By Dessert Darling · Comments (0)
Monday, February 13th, 2012

Last week I gave you a comprehensive Valentine’s guide for any and everyone in your life (post here). But if you really want to get down and dirty with aphrodisiacs, then allow me to share with you the Top 3 Sexiest Chocolates I know!

1. ChocolatiQue

With sinfully gooey centers, colorful designs, and exotic flavors like Madagascar Vanilla Cola, Rum Runner’s Raisin, and Burnt Caramel (full list here), these titillating chocolates will surely excite your sweetie with a sweet tooth. Note: avoid the “donut” chocolates. Those are no bueno.

2. Kee’s Chocolates in SoHo, NY

These refined truffles are made by hand with top secret recipes and exotic ingredients from around the world (Yuzu from Japan, Saffron from Spain, Sea Salt from France). Creative and sophisticated options like Balsamic, Cognac, Jasmine, and a Valentine favorite, Black Rose, will pleasure even the most discerning connoisseur.

3. K Chocolatier

K Chocolatier uses as little sugar as possible in their pure and luxurious chocolates. Their fudge like truffles with whipped centers were Jackie O’s favorites (pictured below), but the K Liquors (Vodka Shots, Tequlia Shots, and Scotch Hiballs) will surely intoxicate your lover the most.

Enjoy and have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

XOXO

 

 

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The Ultimate Gift Guide for Valentine’s Day

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, February 10th, 2012

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I have ALL your bases covered with this ULTIMATE Gift-Giving Guide! Have a sweet one :) xoxo

1. For Him:

Though it’s traditional for the lady to receive chocolates, our men need a little recognition too. John Kelly Chocolates makes the most delicious truffle fudge bites that quite literally melt in your mouth and send you to Heaven. John Kelly’s packaging is masculine and sleek, making it the perfect present to gift your guy.

2. For Her:

Gentleman, if you want to score some serious points with your lady this Valentine’s Day, invest in a gorgeous box of chocolates by K Chocolatier. Intoxicate her with the delicious vodka balls, or her delight her with the dark chocolate truffles that were once hand-made for Jackie O. When the chocolate’s all gone, the box with paper mache roses can be used for keepsakes for years to come.

3. For the Kids:

Teuscher Chocolates from Switzerland not only makes some of the most delectable chocolates, but also they boast the most whimsical and playful packaging. Treat your daughter to a small ladybug box, or your son to a lion box. But don’t forget to treat yourself to their famous, signature champagne truffles first! Totally divine.

4. For the Health Nut:

Not everyone is excited to sink their teeth into butter and sugar. Fear not, now health nuts can receive sweet love this Valentine’s day too with a box of Benchic Chocolates. These homemade, raw, organic, and vegan treats are made with only six simple ingredients that are all actually good for you! And the craziest part? The even taste extraordinary.

5.For Mom:

No one deserves a little TLC more than Mom. Honor her with these delicious and gorgeous gems of chocolates by Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates.

6. For Dad:

Let Dad know he’ll always be your first Prince Charming with some exquisite chocolates from La Maison du Chocolate. These fine treats are shipped in daily from France and come in these sweet and masculine book boxes.

 

7. For Your Girlfriends:

Whether your friends are in relationships or not, show that they are loved with darling, cellophane-wrapped baggies of these delicious mini-cookies by Baking Betty’s. Each treat is baked from scratch and made to order. Their signature cookies sport soft and sweet marshmallows that make them effortlessly light and totally enjoyable!


8. For Your Guy Friends:

Yes, even your platonic guy friend or brother can partake in this holiday thanks to your thoughtfulness. Be their hero with a box of Cookies By Joey. These massive cookies are legendary for their extreme deliciousness. Indeed, they may be the best cookies he’ll ever have. Make sure he shares though or his friend status will be seriously jeopardized.

9. For the Office:

There’s something for everyone in a box for Fairtytale Brownies. These individually wrapped gourmet, Belgium brownies are soft, rich, and divine. With flavors like peanut butter, mint, walnut, toffee, and more, you’re sure to have a happy ending.

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Edelweiss Chocolates, in Beverly Hills for 69 years..!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012


With Valentine’s day around the corner, ya best know what Chocolates you want to order from the universe…and which ones to avoid. (Sigh)That would be Edelweiss Chocolates in Beverly Hills. This small but packed confection shop has been around for 69 years and clearly, must be doing something right. However, I’m at a loss as to what that is. These chocolates are extremely sweet. I mean, powdered-sugar overload inside those truffles! I actually had to spit some bites out they so shocked my taste buds.

Edelweiss Chocolates are more like candy, in the vein of Milkyways and Reeces bars, than they are classy truffles. These treats have a lot of marshmallow options, which you don’t see in more refined chocolatiers. Indeed, Edelweiss Chocolates seem to be a hodge-podge, poor man’s take on See’s Candie’s, which was founded in 1921- A true LA landmark! Hmmm, if you’re on Canon, walk a few block’s south to Madam Chocolat, your sophisticated palette will be glad you did.

Edelweiss

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xo

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Organic Chocolates by Lake Champlain Chocolates

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, February 3rd, 2012

MMmmm! Yummy! Lake Champlain Chocolates are a sturdy chocolate with firm shells that break with a crunch. While they don’t have a thin-shell that simply melts in your mouth, the smooth fillings are so tasty and fresh with their fine and quality ingredients, that I don’t begrudge the crunch. Instead of immediately melting away, they do a sultry Cha Cha with my taste buds and I like it!

These delicious, organic, and Kosher chocolates from Vermont can be found in specialty stores like Whole Foods or ordered online at their site. :)

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For more info on Lake Champlain Chocolates, click here.

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Shari’s Berries, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for a Special Treat

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Monday, January 30th, 2012

With Valentine’s day around the corner, I thought I’d try some chocolate dipped Shari’s Berries. These treats impressed me with their juicy, high quality strawberries and equally delicious chocolate coating. The stark white chocolate made me nervous at first, since chocolate that blanched can taste like toxic wax. However, this white chocolate was simply sweet and delicious. The only gripe from my book club friends was that Shari’s is a bit heavy-handed on the chocolate. They would have preferred a more delicate treatment. I for one, am never one to complain about too much chocolate, but if you’re looking for a healthy substitute to chocolate truffles, these berries are probably not it. Overall, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are tricky treats to pull off well and Shari’s does an excellent job.

For more info on Shari’s Berries, click here.

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Elaine’s Toffee Company makes Seriously Addicting Toffee

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, January 13th, 2012

CRIKIES, is this CRACK!? A twitter friend sent me some seriously addicting toffee by Elaine’s Toffee Company and I CANNOT stop eating it. I think I have to march myself to the garbage can right Now and throw it away before I consume all 8 servings. Yikes, what to do?! It’s so yummy, crunchy, fresh and homemade. Can you blame me?! Ok, I’m wrapping up this post to hop on the elliptical machine. I’ve been indulging in way too much yumminess!

For more info on Elaine’s Toffee Company, click here!

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The 2011 GOLDEN CHERRY AWARDS!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (5)
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Another great year of sumptuous desserts has come to a conclusion. While these new-comers stood out as clear and worthy winners, some honorees from years past had no competition to knock them off their Golden Cherry standing (old winners not shown). Without further ado and a little drumroll please……….

BEST CAKE BALL:  95th Street Bakery

With high quality dark chocolate shells, creative flavors, and rich centers, 95th Street Bakery wins this year’s Golden Cherry for best cake ball! Unfortunately, these treats are only available in the S. California region and don’t have a Golden Cherry shelf-life (they drop to 4 cherries after refrigeration) so get them fresh!

BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE :  Baking Betty’s.

These dainty chocolate chip cookies with sweet mini marshmallows just beat out the much heartier Cookies By Joey for the Golden Cherry. When nearly every wedding guest raved about these cookies that we stuffed into our Welcome Bags, I knew they were a sure a crowd-pleaser and this year’s winner.

BEST MACARON:  ‘Lette Macarons 

Formally known as Paulette Macarons, these colorful confections just beat out Mad Mac NY Macarons for two reasons: 1) greater variety with prettier design and 2) the Mad Mac pastry chef is a total snoot on Cupcake Wars. Lette’s haut couture macarons boast unique flavors like violet cassis and caramel, melt in your mouth, and got my husbands enthusiastic thumbs up (he never likes sweets). These naturally low-fat cookies make the perfect gift or personal indulgence for any time of year.


BEST BROWNIE SUNDAE:  The Farm of Beverly Hills  

With a freshly baked and piping hot brownie under a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream, this decadent dessert is a party on a plate. I recommend celebrating this masterpiece with a friend!

BEST BREAD PUDDING:  Huckleberry 

The heavenly Caramel Chocolate Bread Pudding at Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica is an ooey gooey bowl of buttery sin that I want to swim laps in. For those who prefer more dry and traditional bread puddings though, this custardy option isn’t for you (try the muffin version at the Larchmont Bungalow instead).

BEST BAKLAVA: Bakluvit 

While I’m not normally a Baklava fan, Bakluvit makes sweet and flakey bars that revolutionized the treat for me. With original, chocolate, butterscotch, and seasonal flavors, these perfectly balanced Baklava squares make a surprisingly wonderful alternative to more traditional party treats.

BEST CHOCOLATE:  Christopher Elbow Chocolates

These gorgeous, chocolate gems melt in your mouth with outstanding textures, intriguing flavors, and the finest ingredients, making the steep price-tag of $2 a piece worth the indulgence.

BEST CAKE:  Cake and Art

While these cakes might not be as polished for weddings (like NancyKay’s Confections or Hansen’s) they are incredibly tasty, affordable, and can be made into any creation that you could possibly imagine. From a life-sized car made of cake to Rob Pattinson’s head, Cake and Art has done it all! Including my birthday cake last year. :)
Mmmmmm! I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for me! Thank you so much for an incredible year!!!!
XOXO
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Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box from Williams-Sonoma. Divine~

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Mmmmmm- dreamy, heavenly, delightful. These thoughts ring through my head every time I pass by the Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box on my kitchen counter. I’ve been working my way through this box for days now and have finally polished off the last luxurious confection (sniff). These delicate but decadent truffles boast deep chocolate shells with silky, smooth ganache fillings infused with Shiraz and Champagne. These handsome truffles would be the perfect treat for that special someone in your life.

For more on the Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box purchased at Williams-Sonoma, click here.

XOXO

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Cherry Cordial M&Ms and Cinnamon M&Ms – Ho Ho Holiday M&M time!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Friday, December 16th, 2011

I teased some of you on Twitter about this post and you were all chomping at the bit. So without further ado… My reviews on this season’s m&m flavors!

CHERRY CORDIAL M&Ms:

These solid milk chocolate m&ms tasted freakishly like real cherry cordials… but, you know, without the cherries. Lately I’ve been extra weary of Franken-foods, so I’m torn on my reaction to these treats. They’re Tasty! Like florescent-red-popsicle-cherry-flavor in a milk chocolate form Tasty!

Additionally, these are Large m&ms.  (Cherry Cordial vs. regular below)

This greater size makes for a more chocolatey and enjoyable experience. Though, I can’t say much for the red and maroon color combination. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing scheme to pour into your crystal candy bowl. Not that I have any brilliant suggestions, but that IS the point of buying a large bag of seasonal m&ms around the holidays, right? To decorate your house with colorful bowls of candies?

CINNAMON M&Ms: 

While the Cinnamon m&ms were far more subtle in flavor, they were the same monster size of solid milk chocolate as the Cherry Cordials. I’ve never been a huge fan of Mexican Chocolate (the cinnamon- chocolate combo), so I can’t say I leapt for joy over this holiday rendition. The color-combo, though, was a little more exciting with a third shade of brown to spruce things up.

Overall, I can’t say I’ll be going back for more. I enjoyed the larger portion of milk chocolate in each candy treat, but neither of these holiday flavors with their blah color schemes will be making it into my candy bowls.

How about you? What’s your favorite m&m flavor? Do you fill your bowls with m&ms?!

To see past reviews on other m&m flavors, click here for the index!

XOXO

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The Top 5 BEST CHOCOLATES to Gift for the Holidays

By Dessert Darling · Comments (7)
Monday, December 12th, 2011

According to this poll, chocolates are your second favorite treat to receive this holiday season, just behind cookies.  Below are my TOP 5 Best Chocolates to gift (and receive!) this magical season.

1) K Chocolatier not only makes some of the highest quality chocolates, like the truffles that Jacky O loved, and the Vodka Balls that I love, but also they package them in the most beautiful boxes with paper mache roses.  I still have a box from years ago that I use for keep-sakes.

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2) John Kelly Chocolates won the Golden Cherry last year and with one luscious bite, you’ll see why. These truffle-fudge bites melt in your mouth and will send you directly to heaven. You’ll hear angels singing.

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3) La Maison du Chocolat gets their chocolates shipped in from France daily, which explains their European sophistication. These graceful treats are simple yet divine.

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4) Sprüngly makes some of the most delicate and delicious chocolates that I’ve ever had.  Small in stature, but large in experience, these treats would make the perfect stocking stuffer for that special someone.

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5) ChocolatiQue If you like gooey centers, colorful designs and exotic flavors (Madagascar Vanilla Cola anyone?!), then ChocolatiQue is for you. These delightful morsels are a must-try.~

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I hope this guide helped you! I’d love to know if you’ve had any of these chocolates before and what your thoughts are!

best,

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