The Best Chocolate Gifts for Any Occasion
Okay, the holidays are here, and that means getting ready to eat a lot of chocolate, and maybe give her a chocolate treat.
But here's the thing: valentine’s day chocolate gifts aren't just the best during the winter holidays or Valentine's Day.
They are the best gifts for any occasion, regardless of the season, the relationship dynamics between you and the recipient, or your position in life. Need something to wear to your new boyfriend's parents' first date?
How about a newcomer gift for a friend who recently moved abroad? A Christmas present for someone you barely know? A gift for your boss? Chocolate is always, always the answer.
Below, I've compiled a list of some of our favorite American chocolate makers. All of these boxes can be purchased and shipped online. All you have to do is decide what kind of chocolate lover your lover is.
The Best Chocolates for Caramel Lovers: Fran's
Fran's makes a lot of great chocolates as gifts. Take a look at Exhibit A. But my favorite thing about Fran's products is her signature smoked salted caramels and gray salt.
The smoked version is just barely smoky, just enough to add complexity but far from overwhelming, and it's covered in creamy milk chocolate.
The gray salty version is covered in delicious dark chocolate. Both versions are softened with a fine caramel that won't keep you chewing all day but will leave you completely satisfied.
The Best Chocolates for Art Lovers: Kate Weiser and Compartes
Simply put, Kate Weiser makes some of the most beautiful chocolate made today. Each chocolate bar goes through a six-day process of hand painting, filling and polishing so that each box looks like edible pollock.
But they are not only beautiful. Featuring classic flavors alongside modern combinations like dark chocolate and yuzu, milk chocolate ganache with sweet potato and cognac, and gianduja peanut butter with a creamy crunch, the pralines taste great too.
Deluxe box containing 15 different candies, two chocolate bars (eg block of almonds and apricots with white chocolate caramel, almond oil and dried apricots; or Milk n' Cookies bar with rich ganache, gianduja cookie and biscuit with sea salt sliced chocolate chips) and caramel pods.
The Best Chocolates for Choosing Your Own Adventure: Xocolatl and Olive & Sinclair
Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolates produces bean-to-bar chocolate using cacao-derived beans. And they did very, very well. What that means is that your gift is an expertly crafted confection with an incredibly complex flavor.
Add flavors to your bar, such as Kissed Mermaids (deep coconut milk chocolate with sea salt, saturated with vanilla and crunchy cocoa beans), Soul Rebel (deep spiced coconut milk chocolate), and Wide Eyed (dark chocolate with coffee crushed and espresso, which is always smart as well as delicious.
Although they offer several gift boxes, we love that you can choose the stem you want and then choose a gift box if you want to make it a little more interesting. By the way: the packaging is resealable, so if your gift can't eat the whole bar at once, the chocolate is still protected.
Browse Other Gift Ideas - Some Amazing Valentine’s Day Gifting Ideas
The Best Chocolate for Someone Who Want Something Just a Little Bit Different: John & Kira's
Dried Spanish figs are filled with dark chocolate ganache, soaked in whiskey, and dipped in 62% dark chocolate. That's what you get when you choose this charming yet sophisticated gift.
Both Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey have made it their favorite article, and you can add me to the list. The chewy texture and sweet flavor of the dried fruit meld beautifully with the creamy ganache bitters and whiskey caramel accents to complete the bite with a heady aroma.
This is a game of taste unlike any other on the market.
The Best Chocolate for Milk Chocolate Lovers: Recchiuti
Many of these elegant plaids are associated with dark chocolate. The problem is that not everyone wants dark chocolate. Enter Recchiuti Confections' signature "Dark Milk Chocolate," which combines the luscious taste of creamy milk chocolate with the subtle sophistication of modern truffles.
This box contains nine truffles, each made entirely with this exclusive chocolate, but each expressing its own individuality with flavors such as sesame nougat, star anise and pink pepper, Piedmont hazelnut and Irish caramel.