Guess what, mamas? It’s American Chocolate Week! Or at least the end of it. The way we see it, you just have to suck it up and do your patriotic duty by gorging on chocolate, right?
If you love chocolate as much as we do, here are some of our favorite picks from the past for every occasion. Because we’re all about helping you celebrate the very important holidays of this world.
[don’t miss a deeeeelicious giveaway after the jump!]
For moms who want cocoa without the calories: Crio Bru
This “drink of the gods” brews up in your coffeemaker and will blow you away with taste, smell, and an antioxidant punch. It’s one of our favorite recent picks–and a reader favorite too.
For kids with allergies: Divvies
We’ve
long been fans of this dairy-free, nut-free, sometimes gluten-free
treat mecca run by parents with an allergic kid themselves. Right in
time for Easter, their allergy-free bunnies are now available for
cruelty-free munching.
For chocolate-loving foodies: Vosges
Whether
you want a delicious toffee bunny (shown at top), need some kosher
chocolate-covered Matzo, or even a chocolate-and-bacon specialty pancake
mix, Vosges is the place to get it. And their gourmet truffles? Curry
powder and paprika were never put to such good use.
For Do-It-Yourselfers: The Make Your Own Chocolate Kit
It’s
like an entire day at the museum. And bakery. Learn about geography,
economics, history, and ethnobotany, followed by a tasting session.
Smart way to justify eating chocolate with your kids.
For the socially conscious and eco-minded: Fine & Raw
Our
writers were bowled over by this amazing chocolate, hand-made in
Brooklyn from fair-trade cocoa then crafted to preserve as much health
and deliciousness as possible. It’s not your average movie-theater
chocolate bar.
If you want to learn more about the fabulous, antioxidant-filled treat that is chocolate, check out the new The Story of Chocolate website.
With facts, pictures, and videos, it’s actually pretty entertaining–
plus, it’s brought to you by the Chocolate Council of the National
Confectioners Association, which sounds like something Willy Wonka
might have made up. I started watching the video on how chocolate is
made, and my preschooler clung to my side, fascinated that the inside of
a cacao pod actually looks kinda like something you’d never eat. And yet…
Ahhh. –Delilah
Congratulations to Amanda V for winning a humongous chocolate gift pack, courtesy of the Chocolate Council of the National
Confectioners Association. Yum!
I LOVE chocolate! Would be very excited to win this 🙂 Thanks cool mom picks 🙂
Originally from the Chicago area, I have a passion for “Fannie May” chocolates. Pixies are great, but the “Haystacks” are HEAVENLY!
My favorite chocolate treat is the Godiva chocolate cake at Morton’s. It’s an ooey, gooey lava cake, and it’s AWESOME.
Nutella, for sure..on anything! Love the chocolate and hazelnut combination.
Yikes! What a prize! I might faint if I won! 🙂 But only in the best kind of way…
I love chocolate in (almost) all its forms, and I have for as long as I can remember. In college, I used to swoon as I drove through Hershey, PA on the way to class every day. The whole town smells like warm chocolate! While I do like chocolate in cakes, and ice cream, and just about anything else, my favorite way chocolate is a simple, super-dark bar of straight up chocolate (preferably fair-trade, and with a dry red wine.)
If I’m pairing the flavor of dark chocolate with anything, I’d say my favorite complement is bitter orange.
My favorite ever chocolate treat was my grandmother’s homemade fudge! I wish I could buy it somewhere…I miss that taste!
Hope I win this chocolate…I bet it’s delish!
Anything dark chocolate, i just love the flavor of a really good piece of dark chocolate. i also love dark chocolate coconut balls, a definitely weakness. Now I am hungry.
I love ANY chocolate but, for the easy to find and affordable stuff, I favor Hershey’s. Maybe because I grew up in PA and remember tourng their factory?
We lived in Geneva Switz for 4 years when I was a child. Chocolate (and snow skiing) just became part of my DNA because of this experience. I have many favorites so this is tough but if I was left on an island with some chocolate it would have to be the milk caramel chews found in this assortment: https://www.lindtusa.com/product-exec/product_id/263/category_id/20/nm/Lindt_Classics_4_4_oz_
It is just insanely good. I mean it is worth buying the whole box for just these chews.
Lake Champlain and Kinder would be in 2nd and 3rd position.
Nick 🙂
Yummmm Chocolate!!!! Seriously…I must have it! LOL!
I love dark chocolate! =)
I think my favorite chocolate right now is Trader Joe’s dark chocolate bar. I just need a square or two to satisfy my chocolate craving and it tastes wonderful!
My favorite chocolate treat? Homemade truffles! I make them every Christmas (and only at Christmas because I eat my weight in them every year)!
: )
My favorite chocolate treats are Easter treats from See’s candy shops. I think it’s because my grandmother always bought them for us & now I get them for my grandchildren.
My fave chocolate memory is getting Sees candy everytime we would visit my Grandma in California. I still smile everytime I see a box!
Oh, See’s candy, the mixed box! Yum!
chocolate is my weakness!! Godiva chocolate raspberry truffles are my all time fav!!
I’ve always liked chocolate but I use to be able to take it or leave it when it came to treats or chocolate in general until I was pregnant. A month before my son was born I CRAVED chocolate. I had to have it every day. So the birth of my son is my favorite chocolate memory. He is now 4 and I still crave chocolate after children then I ever did before children.
Favorite? Couldn’t possibly pick. However, the chocolate cupcake from Sprinkles with the sea salt on top is right up there!
there’s a great picture of me as a kid licking beaters covered with chocolate cake batter … i now fight with my kids over who gets to lick the bowl & beaters. i know i should let them win but it’s just so goooooood!
I love anything chocolate AND orange – especially truffles!
Chocolate fondue!!!! It lets me dip anything in chochie!! : )
I love milk chocolate. One of my favorite chocolates this time of year are the
Cadbury Mini Eggs! yum. Thank you for the chance.
I had no idea there was a National Confectioners association. I should have – isn’t’ there a national everything?
What’s not to like about chocolate (other than what it does to my waist line). My favorite kind is from the grocery story Aldi. It’s imported austrian, but only 1.29 a bar!
I think my favorite is chocolate covered caramels with sea salt – something about that sweet and salty combination. That Crio Bru sounds pretty amazing too!
My favorite has to be dark chocolate-covered almonds with sea salt. Yummmmmm. Great giveaway!
Easter candy season is just the best. Cadbury mini eggs. I eat half a bag in one day!
I love anything chocolate, but if I have to pick a favorite, I would pick a just a plain dark chocolate bar.
my fav chocolate? the kind with caramel and marshmellow!! it’s such a treat!!! 😀
I should totally win this – I’m pregnant & have had some MONSTER chocolate cravings. Confession: I ate half a jar of Nutella at 3am today.
Ah, how fun! My favorite chocolate treat is good old hot chocolate from scratch! Nothing is better on a cold day!
My very favorite chocolate treat is cocoa puro chocolate covered cacao beans. They’re made in Austin, TX and they’re just the best thing ever.
I love a RitterSport bar. Reminds me of those college days, backpacking through Europe. 🙂
In my world, the best chocolate treat is a piece of flourless chocolate torte. It is so rich and decadent. A little takes care of all my cravings.
Mmmmm, in Australia, I used to love a really simple drink called an “iced chocolate”. It was essentially a chocolate milk, with some ice cream dipped in, with fudge sauce drizzled over and around it, and a glob of whipped cream on top. SO GOOD.
megancrose at gmail dot com
My favorite chocolate treat is the dark chocolate Lindt Truffle. You take one bite and the soft center just oozes out, yum!
Chocolate with peanut butter is my favorite, but really I will take chocolate in pretty much any form
I like a plain Hershey bar – – best chocolate ever!
My favorite treat is the Flake chocolate bar — it’s all flaky and yummy. I like it because whenever I have one, I’m reminded of home in Canada (because they are originally from the UK, and hard to find in the USA).
Nutella – yummm
My favorite chocolate treat of all time is anything chocolate. Can’t go wrong with that!
My all-time favorite chocolate experience has to involve the Fleur de Sel Bar by Chocophilia.
https://chocophilia.ca/products/Chocophilia-Fleur-de-Sel-Bar.html
Mind you, anything she makes is amazing, but this bar has the perfect combo of melting & creaminess with a zing!
My favorite chocolate is a dark chocolate lindor truffle. The are so sweet and decadent, I only need a couple to be satisfied.
Godiva dark anything is my fav., because of its taste and texture. However, my dirty little secret is a pkg of ch chips that I dip into w/o the kids knowing. (Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet) A handful can cure just about anything.
My favorite chocolate is Cadbury.
mmmm chocolate! My favorite is something that I’ve only had once! A friend sent it to me from the UK…it was a holiday seasonal chocolate with pop rocks inside. OMG. I miss it. She hasn’t been able to find it since.
so generic, but I love the Ghiradelli caramel chocolate squares! So caramelly and the perfect size!!
I love BT McElrath’s truffles!
How do you choose just one chocolate? There are chocolate macaroons, chocolate peanut butter cups, chocolate chocolate, chocolate cakes with chocolate ganache covered in chocolate fondant… It’s too hard to choose!!! Love them all.
My favorite chocolate treat of all time? Hmmm, that could just do me in to have to pick just one. Besides, the pedestrian MilkDuds and Snickers Bars, or a Curly Whurly, I think it would have to be the Pecan Bears from Rocky Mountain Factory. Yum!
Now I’m hungry.
ugh, I can’t choose! For me, it’s a three way tie between the Sacher Torte I got as my birthday cake for years from The Swiss Cake bakery in Puerto Rico, any nut-free truffle from Moonstruck Chocolatier in Portland, or dark chocolate covered coconut macaroons… mmmm, I’m drooling now! Special mention goes to dark chocolate covered espresso beans as well as the Smitten Kitchen’s version of homemade oreos (https://smittenkitchen.com/2007/05/my-kingdom-for-a-glass-of-milk/), made with coconut oil instead of shortening. Um, did I mention that chocolate is one of my favorite foods? no?
Oh, and did we have to stick to sweets? Because if not, I think a well-made Mexican black mole sauce might trump all my other choices.
I think I need to go cook something now, with chocolate…
I love chocolate covered pretzels! Great combo of sweet and salty. Always a chocolate go to!!!
Yumm chocolate! My favorite chocolate of all time hmm would be Toberlone chocolates. I think just because they have those yummy crunchy things inside. Oh and truffles, those are delish! I haven’t ever had any fancy chocolate, but if I did it wasn’t that memorable!
One of my all time favorite chocolate treats would have to be molten chocolate cakes. The homemade kind with practically nothing more than egg, sugar & chocolate in it 🙂 The warm, gooey, chocolatey center with just a little bite of cake is divine! So worth every calorie 🙂 I think it is my favorite because nothing beats melted chocolate & the memory of making it for my grandmother & watching her enjoy it.
Love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. But I especially love Fannie Mae Mint Meltaways. Chocolate and mint are my favorite, but chocolate and peanut butter run a close second.
Ooh, chocolate anything is good but I loooooove dark chocolate most of all. I am currently obsessing over the Hershey’s Special Dark squares which are in grocery stores now, but my all-time favorite is dark chocolate covered cherries, preferably from Pierre’s Chocolates in New Hope PA!
My mom makes oreo truffles dipped in chocolate – seriously, the best chocolate treat on the face of the earth. really.
A local restaurant (Hyde Park Var & Grill) has a chocolate cake that is so moist and delectable; it’s my pick for a non-homemade birthday treat. I’ve also recently discovered the Dove Coconut Chocolate Egg, which is out just for Easter, and they are super-tasty (and bonus of no shredded coconut to be found inside)!
Pick just one?! I adore Vosges Goji Berry Exotic Chocolate bar. Anytime life has me down I head on over to the Armitage store & inhale the sweet chocolate scents & get a chocolate bar. Mmmm, and the Goji bar is the *perfect* combination of sweet & salt. I also lovelovelove Bahlsen biscuits. Dark chocolate: good. Butter biscuit: good. What’s not to love about these tasty cookies?!
Dark chocolate with sea salt or pepper. Something about the pairing of sweet and salty or sweet and spicy. . . .delicious.
dagoba makes great chocolate in awesomely decadent flavors- i love the lemon and ginger, and the rosehips one, and the nibs and chiles one…okay, they’re all delicious!
my favorite chocolate treats are the bon bons and truffles from Burdick Chocolates! i order them online as gifts for people all the time and they love them! they’re worth the money if you’re a true chocoholic!
I’m currently addicted to Vosges’ bacon chocolate bar. It’s so wrong, but soooo good. (Really, I’ll eat anything of theirs – I make my pilot husband pick it up at O’Hare because he gets a price break and no shipping. A definite perk!)
I am eyeballing that crio brio – my husband is trying to break me from soda to coffee (darn HFCS) and we’re wondering if that is the gateway drink?
My favorite chocolate treat of all time are See’s Mayfield Eggs. Yummy! The whole cherry and nut mixture with chocoloate wrapped around it. I’m so glad they make a hand dipped version for throughout the year.
A friend once brought me back a package of Neuhaus chocolates from Belguim – yum! But really, anything chocolate is delicious!
Chocolate fudge brownies.
mmmmm….. chocolate.
I have to admit, that at this time of year… my favorite Cadbury creme eggs are my favorite sweet. I think it’s partially because they’re only really available around Easter. And, well… because they’re disgustingly sweet and creamy. I hide them in our closet and don’t share them.
: )
I might have to go with a brownie…mostly because I love to bake, and it’s really hard to beat a still warm brownie. Plus, there are so many different recipe variations out there, I can further my love for baking by trying them all in a quest to find the most perfect one. 😉
Favorite chocolate: dark chocolate, melted a little, then mixed with roasted pecans and sprinkled with sea salt. But 30 years ago it was Cadbury Creme Eggs. 😉
pick a chocolate? That’s just not possible. I do enjoy the mix of sweet and salty, like peanut butter and chocolate or pretzels and chocolate, or a rare treat – bacon and chocolate
My all time favorite is the Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Butter Biscuit. It’s creamy, chocolatey, with a crunchy buttery biscuit in the middle, what more can you ask for?
Toblerone! When I was growing up, my auntie often traveled to Germany and always brought back a bar of Toblerone. It was such a treat and brings back fond memories.
A bar of Godiva Dark is still the best dark chocolate in my mind. LOVE it!
My favorite treat of all time is kinder eggs – I LOVED them as a kid (I grew up overseas) and collected the toys!
My favourit is Lindor.When my husband brings some home, if they survive the ride home, they definetly do not survive much longer at home!
mmm…chocolate!! Love it all, but can’t beat chocolate with peanut butter or caramel!!
My new favorite is the Spicy Chocolate flavor from “Nice Cream,” a small ice cream company here in Chicago. Sadly, I think this was a seasonal flavor and won’t be around this spring. I should stock up…
Kinder, Lindt, Hershey’s, Godiva, YOU NAME IT, I love them all!
Leonidas chocolates (from Brussels)- just so delicious. There is finally a store near us so we can get for special occasions!!!!
Dietz’s chocolates. Mmm… Used to get them in Bowling Green, Ohio, but don’t know if you still can. My cousin had Dietz’s chocolate covered pretzels as favors at her wedding–my favorite wedding favors ever!
My favorite are the Cadbury chocolate cream eggs – the ones that have the yolk inside. It’s because I lived in England for a few years and they are huge there – so now it reminds me of that time. And also cause they are SO good! Thanks!
Mmmmm. . . my favorite chocolate treat is probably a chocolate-dipped strawberry.
Mmmmmm, chocolate. One of my favorite chocolate treats is chocolate zucchini muffins with chocolate chips–a recipe I found from Penzeys. Takes some effort, but soooooo good. I’m also always on the hunt for PB Twix (the cookie bar itself is chocolate!) which for some reason are very hard to find.
dark chocolate covered, salted caramels are my favorite chocolate indulgence of all time. and, with a sweets-loving baby on the way, I’d LOVE to win!
I absolutely adore my local crazy artisan chocolatier, Northern Chocolate.
The owner makes two types of chocolates: antique poured molds (think Victorian Santas, Easter Bunnies, and wedding figures, in solid chocolate), and dried fruit or nuts covered in chocolate. Dried orange slices covered in dark chocolate are to die for.
He also reminds me — and everyone — of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi. He has a posted list of rules, like no fur coats, no cell phones ringing in the store, and if you violate one, he kicks you out. He also uses one of those antique phones with the separate cone for your ear and where you talk. Really.
He has no web site, but the reviews on Yahoo are hilarious and wonderful: https://local.yahoo.com/info-16741230-northern-chocolate-company-milwaukee
All chocolate! But right now, I am totally craving chocolate and orange combos (like homemade dark chocolate dipped orange rind…yum!)
favorite Chocolate treat? Minty brownies with crushed Girl Scout Thin Mints!
Favorite chocolate? I think it would have to be homemeade chocolate fudge…oh so good!!
sees milk chocolate buttercreams — oh my! Melt in your mouth most amazing coat your tongue with chocolately goodness ever! When I lost my taste buds a few months ago due to a cancer treatment the thought of never tasting chocolate again was a serious bummer
tvollowitz at aol dot com
One of my all time favorite ways to consume chocolate is in hot cocoa. I love the steamy, milky, spicy (from the bit of cayenne pepper I add) and chocolaty goodness that is hot cocoa.
One of my all time favorite ways to consume chocolate is in hot cocoa. I love the steamy, milky, spicy (from the bit of cayenne pepper I add) and chocolaty goodness that is hot cocoa.
I looooove chocolate! Would love to win the humongous gift pack, which I probably won’t share even with my husband 🙂
Wow – fun homework!!
I LOVE Vosges Fire Bar! Dark Choc w/ chilies and cinnamon, AMAZING warm loveliness in your mouth – their catalog makes me drool!
Also had a brief but passionate love affair with the almond bark bar that Trader Joes had out for the holidays, and my other favorite is Dark Choc cashew turtles… My 92 year old grandfather brings me some from Stutz Candies whenever he comes to visit me – hope he’s coming again soon!
p.s. quality Dark Chocolate is a key ingredient to a great sex life – so eat up!! xoxoxo, Stacy
The most memorable chocolate I ever had was something called “Christmas Chocolate” made by Lindt I think. It had coriander in it. Thanks for the great reviews!
It may sound corny and cheap – but just taking a hunk of Hersheys chocolate and dipping it in a jar of peanut butter…..simple satisfaction =)
I’ve been a choco-holic since I was a little girl! My favorite is dark chocolate, but I love chocolate in any size, shape and form. Thanks for doing such a fun giveaway!
I cannot keep a bag of Peanut Butter M&M’s in the house for any length of time, so I cannot keep a bag of Peanut M&M’s in the house! They go straight to the gut with no breaks in between. A HUGE downfall, but a wonderful treat! num num num num num!!!!
Sign me up! You can never have too much chocolate.
My favorite chocolate is nestle crunch candy. I just like the texture and they remind me of happy times when I was a kid.
I LOVE CHOCOLATE! If I won this the baby would be so happy!!! I crave chocolate everyday.
Favorite chocolate of all time? I always go back to Dove dark chocolate. I don’t know if I could name any one specific chocolate treat that was my favorite other than this…
We’re a family of chocoholics. 🙂
My son’s birthday is coming up and I’ll be making him a home made chocolate mousse cake (with home made chocolate mousse of course).
My personal favorite is dark chocolate because it is not only yummy but also good for you!
I love chocolate with nuts! It could be a Hershey’s chocolate with almond bar or Gertrude Hawk chocolate covered almonds or Lindt Hazelnut truffles!
Could I love this giveaway any more? Not possible!
While I love just about anything Godiva, M&Ms are my sentimental favorites… my husband proposed to me over 5 lbs of personalized M&Ms! Mmmmmm!
Yum! My life revolves around chocolate.
my favorite chocolate experience is a tie between a white chocolate caramel apple with cinnamon sugar because it is unbelievably good, and cadbury creme eggs because it reminds me of happy times at home and is just delicious and they tease you by only having them around in the spring.
I love chocolate of any kind!! Would love to win this!!
With Easter coming, I find myself craving Cadbury mini eggs–I love those things!
I love all chocolate, but I’m a huge fan of the almond M&M’s 🙂
Love ANYTHING chocolate, the darker the better! Usually have Dove promises around for my chocolate fix…
Chocoholic normally and 10x’s so since I’m pregnant. Anything from our local chocolate shop, Snook’s, it fantastic!
My Favorite is Ferrero Rocher’s Soft and Crunchy and Great Tasting it Has it all.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite would have to be chocolate-peanut butter cup. I have found delicious ones hand crafted at a local confectionary store, offered in both milk and dark chocolate….YUM!
I have to admit I have a weakness for Voseges chocolate! Yum! But I have also been known to grab a cadbury egg around this time as well as swipe a godiva truffle! Yum!
My favorite chocolate treat is the original Hersheys bar. It is just the right size, not too thick and has a delicious taste. Budget wise, it is an easy choice.
My favorite kind of chocolate is dark chocolate of any kind and my favorite treat are York Peppermint Patties. The combination of dark chocolate and mint is my favorite!
There are very few chocolates I don’t like, but I’d have to say kinder eggs are my favorite. I was a military brat in Germany and grew up loving them, and was pretty heartbroken when I found out they’re banned from the US. More incentive to travel, I guess!
My favorite chocolate treat of all times is a dessert call “Chocolate Mousse for two” at Cedric’s Tavern in Asheville, NC. A layer of chocolate brownie…topped with a layer of chocolate mousse…topped with a layer of creme brulee’…topped off with raspberries and caramel sauce. WHAT?!?!?! slap yo’ mama!
It’s hard to pick just one form of chocolate, but I love chocolate-frosted brownies. Yum!
Hm, is there really bad chocolate? And why should I choose just one? 🙂 Godiva’s white chocolate oysters with hazelnut praline are my all time favorite…
frango mints!!!
because they melt in your mouth and remind me of marshall fields.
seriously, a hot chocolate at Ghirardellis in San Francisco…absolute heaven truly!!
I recently had an amazing chocolate dessert from Payard; the Louvre. It was this fabulous semi-circular creation with dark chocolate on the outside and hazelnut filling. I can’t really explain exactly why, but it was the most amazing thing I may have ever eaten! Creamy, rich, elegantly presented, but not too heavy or overpowering. It was simply perfect!
I recently had an amazing chocolate dessert from Payard; the Louvre. It was this fabulous semi-circular creation with dark chocolate on the outside and hazelnut filling. I can’t really explain exactly why, but it was the most amazing thing I may have ever eaten! Creamy, rich, elegantly presented, but not too heavy or overpowering. It was simply perfect!
Don’t think the entry from my phone went through so trying again…
Love chocolate of most kinds, but things that stick out are… dark chocolate mixed with hazlenuts… warm gooey brownies topped with vanilla ice cream (Bluebell!) … any type of melted center chocolate cake… yum.
I definitely prefer dark now adays though still love me some semi-sweet as well.
My favorite chocolate treat of all time is my grandmother’s pb balls that she dipped in chocolate. I love them and I now make them for my family since she has passed away. It brings back memories of my childhood and her making these for us.
My most favorite chocolate of all time is (was) the Perugina banana chocolate candy. I believe it’s been discontinued but I promise, every year when my dad gave my mom a box of Perugina chocolate for Valentine’s Day my favorite part was when she let me have one (just one!) of the banana ones…they were the tastiest chocolates ever!
I just love cadbury mini eggs! and glad they are only around for the easter season! Otherwise, i might not be able to control myself!
Some chocolate favorites: Trader Joes dark chocolate covered edamame beans, Cadbury Flake bars, and Texas Sheet Cake!
Cadbury chocolate eggs!!
My favorite chocolate is See’s chocolate covered caramels. Delicious! I discovered them just recently and they are decadent. They were so yummy, I hated to eat the last one!
How can I possibly choose just one favorite chocolate? At this time of year, though, my fave is the Cadbury creme egg, probably just because it’s only available for a few short weeks…
Oh it’s so hard to choose. I have a few faves, for sure. Despite that it’s not organic, one of my all-time favorite chocolate companies is See’s. I grew up (mostly) in California, and we used to go to the mall and try their samples, and get their marshmallow Christmas trees every single year. I miss the icing they used to put on them though – all growing up my favorite part was the hard sugar decorations on the outside of the tree. 😉
Currently my favorite single chocolate treat though is this incredible fudge bar thing at our local coffee shop. It is so rich and smooth and thick and covered in a rich chocolate ganache with chocolate shavings. It’s incredible.
My favorite would have to be truffles from the many shops I stopped at in Belgium. Bought a bunch as gifts, but they never made it back to the US. 🙂