Good Hope Bakery - Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Brownie - Apr. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Good Hope Bakery
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Chocolate Brownie
Good ++
Weight: 2.89 oz. (82 g.) in 1 brownie
Calories: 330 calories in 1 brownie
Cost: N/A - sample provided. ($4.00 for 1 brownie)*
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Gluten-Free Good Hope Bakery

Welcome to Day #1 of a Baked Goods With Chocolate Series.

Today's Gluten Free and Dairy Free Chocolate Brownie was from Good Hope Bakery (Springvale, UT).

The company specializes in gluten free cookies, brownies and other treats, that are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Their offerings can be ordered online and shipped nationwide (anywhere in the U.S.). (The individually-wrapped brownies were well-sealed.)

Aroma notes for today's individually-wrapped chocolate brownie included: chocolate-y (brownie); very faint vanilla; and other delicate wafts of other baked goods (freshly baked chocolate chip cookie; very faint, fig (cookie) and chocolate souffle).

Texture: An appealing blend of a relatively light, cake-like brownie interspersed with firmer, chocolate-y chips/pieces with a rich melt. This hearty brownie landed squarely in the "Goldilocks" zone for me: not too gooey, not too dry. Just right.

Flavor notes included: chocolate-y (brownie), chocolate chips, and faint cocoa with vanilla accented with a pinch of salt that helped balance the sweetness. It was made with oat flour; there was no "oat-y" taste (a good thing in my book when it comes to certain chocolate items.)

Each generously-sized brownie contained 6 grams of protein; and 50 grams of carbohydrates. I ate this brownie with some California walnuts and almonds, and plenty of water, before a hike outdoors; and it provided satisfying taste (and fuel) for the day.

Ingredients: Granulated Sugar, Certified Gluten Free Oat Flour, Dairy Free Chocolate Chips, Eggs, Canola Oil, Cocoa, Water, Vanilla Extract, Salt, Baking Powder.

Allergen-related information:  Contains Egg. Gluten Free (Made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.) Dairy Free. 

*Pricing for multi-packs is also available. Five-brownie packs are currently $18.50 and packages of 10 are $35.00. Check with Good Hope Bakery/website for most up-to-date information. At the time of this writing, the company provided both online order and pickup options.

The Grenada Chocolate Co. - Nib-A-Licious bar - March 4, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Grenada Chocolate Company

Organic Dark Chocolate Nib-A-Licious nibs in 60% chocolate bar

Good +++ - Very Good

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 220 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Nib-A-Licious crispy cocoa nibs in 60% chocolate bar was made by The Grenada Chocolate Company (Hermitage, St. Patrick, Grenada).

The company's tagline printed on the label for this bar was "The Original Tree-to-Bar Cooperative." A fair claim.

The company, founded in 1999,* was a pioneer in organic and sustainable, bean-to-bar production. Their chocolate bars serve as a great example of chocolate being made "in-country," this is, manufactured in the same country where the cacao was grown. 

This thick, dairy-, gluten-, and nut-free bar was laden with true chocolate flavor (brownies, fudge) and pleasant cacao fruitiness. Crunchy nibs added extra texture and pure chocolate flavor depth.

*Mott Green founded The Grenada Chocolate Company in 1999. Unfortunately, Green died in 2013; but, happily for us, and for Green's legacy, the chocolate lives on.

The GFB - Gluten Free Bites - Chocolate Cherry Almond - Feb. 1, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

West Thomas Partners LLC

The GFB - Gluten Free Bites - Chocolate Cherry Almond

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package

Calories: 150 calories in 3 bites/pieces

Cost: $5.29 for 3 pieces

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the last day of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

It's February in California, and the hills are turning green. In a matter of weeks, cherry and almond trees will start blooming. This is the start of our short green season in the arid west and we love it.

Today's Chocolate Cherry Almond Gluten Free Bites were from West Thomas Partners LLC (Grand Rapids, MI). The company was founded by two brothers, Marshall and Elliott, who "got along well with each other, but not with gluten." 

The brothers' Certified B Corporation* has created several certified gluten-free snacks, including today's vegan, organic, gluten, dairy and soy-free ball-shaped bites. 

While containing some organic cane sugar (and agave syrup), these naturally tasting bites with a soft chew, were refreshingly natural tasting and not too sweet (thank you!)—allowing the Montmorency cherries, California almonds and dark chocolate to speak for themselves in an organic way.  Two or three bites were very satisfying. 

The Bites were Certified Gluten Free and Non-GMO Project Verified.

*A B Corporation, or benefit corporation, is a legally recognized for-profit entity, that also operates with goals that are designed to have a positive impact on society.

Moo Free Chocolates Minty Moo bar; NibMor Mint Squares - Feb. 25, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moo Free Chocolates
Lily-Lu Lemur
Minty Moo Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .812 oz. (23 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.50 for 1 box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of LMNOPQR Theme Week. Today the letter "M" is featured with two chocolate and mint offerings.

There are many different mints that might be blended with chocolate. However, the most popular seems to be peppermint (especially around the holidays). My guess is that, while not specified, one or both of today's mint chocolates do contain some peppermint.

Peppermint may have originated in the Middle East and Europe, but it's grown deep roots here in North America.*

Moo Free Mint

Today's Minty Moo bar was part of a holiday assortment package (of 4 different bars) from Moo Free Ltd./Moo Free Chocolates (Reading, UK).**

The Minty Moo bar was sweet, creamy (fooled me; I thought it contained dairy); and it had a natural minty flavor throughout. Pieces of crisp rice were perched around the border.

This bar was dairy free, gluten free, vegan and made without genetically modified (GM) ingredients.

And now on to the second mint chocolate of the day...

NibMor
Mint - Daily Dose of Dark
Good ++
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) / 2.45 oz. (70 g.) in box of 7 squares
Calories: 50 calories for 1 packet
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 7 packets
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

These Mint Daily Dose of Dark, individually-wrapped squares were manufactured for NibMor Inc. (Great Neck, NY). The individually-wrapped squares were, in fact, a perfect and portable daily dose of dark chocolate.

The chocolate was well balanced (the right amount of mint, not too sweet), with crunchy texture from cacao nibs (a treat). (There was no mention if the organic mint was peppermint and/or spearmint.) The dark chocolate was, from what I could tell under the mint, smooth, dark and balanced; and nothing seemed amiss.

These 72% Cacao chocolates were made from USDA Organic, ethically traded, and Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao. They also were Non GMO Project Verified.

*Re: overall mint production in the U.S.: Oregon and Washington supply much of the mint and mint oil on the Western U.S., with Washington claiming the largest number of mint growers (150+ in 2012) and the largest quantity mint oil produced. Oregon claims approximately 35% of U.S. production. 

Michigan claims it has the most acres in production in the U.S. And it also grows in the NE from Indiana to New York, and into Southern Canada.

** Re: UK -- The English fancy their peppermint oil to be some of the best there is. (You'll often hear references that most of what is grown in the U.S. is "black" peppermint. And the "white" peppermint oil from the UK and France is superior. I can't comment; but I'm inspired to do a side-by-side tasting in the future.

Moo Free Chocolates - Cheeky Orange - Feb. 8, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moo Free Chocolates
Merry Moos Selection Box
Cheeky Orange
Good
Weight: .813 oz. (23 g.) / 3.6 oz. (103 g.) in total package of 4 bars
Calories: 130 calories (estimate per label) in 1 bar
Cost: $5.50 for 1 package of 4 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Orange Series.

Today's Cheeky Orange bar was from Moo Free Chocolates (Reading, UK).

The individually-wrapped, snack-size bar was made of orange-flavored, sweet (45% cocoa solids) chocolate with some rice crunchy bits. Only it wasn't traditional milk chocolate. It was entirely "moo free."

Part of a 4-bar Merry Moos holiday assortment, this Cheeky Orange bar (and the three other bar flavors in the package) were made with rice milk instead of cow's milk. The bars were dairy free, gluten free, vegan, and with contained "no GM" (ingredients).

In addition to the company's serious ingredient choices and omissions, they managed to capture the spirit of fun. Each of the 4 Merry Moos (bars) were named after various animals. Today's Cheeky Orange bar was represented by a Cheeky Monkey "mascot" named Cheeky Chops. 

Endorfin Foods - Dark Mylk Chocolate with Coffee and Cardamom - June 16, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Endorfin Foods
Dark Mylk Chocolate with Coffee and Cardamom bar
Good +
Weight: .93 oz. (26.4 g.) / 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 2/3 bar
Cost: $5.00 (1 of 9 bar box)
Purchased from: Endorfin Foods

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and India Theme Week.

As a follow-up to yesterday's India-inspired Cardamom and Rose Petals bar from Moonstruck, I enjoyed a mix of similar flavors today, starting with a Dark Mylk Chocolate with Coffee and Cardamom bar from Endorfin Foods (Oakland, CA).

Later in the day, I also happened upon the best Rose Petal ice cream (with a generous helping of real red rose petals) that I'd ever tasted. But, I digress.

Today's smooth "mylk" 60% cacao chocolate was made with unroasted cacao, cocoa butter and coconut (and no dairy or refined sugar). The lightly sweetened* spicy coffee and cardamom bar paired well with savory, Indian-themed "Bombay Spices" garbanzo/chickpea beans from Saffron Road.

While not certified organic, all individual ingredients listed in the bar were organic, and, as far as I could tell, in addition to being dairy free, there was no gluten, soy or GMOs.

Thank you again to Endorfin founder and maker, Brian Wallace for great flavor combinations.

*sweetened with coconut sugar

NadaMoo - Banana for PB and Chocolate - Jan. 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

NadaMoo!
Banana for PB and Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (71 g.) /1 Pint (473 mL) for 1 container
Calories: 120 calories for 1/2 cup
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

Today's Bananas for PB and Chocolate from NadaMoo! (Austin, TX) was a non-dairy, frozen dessert made with organic coconut milk and agave nectar vs. traditional cream/milk and sugar.

The coconut milk helped give today's dessert a nice creamy melt and texture (giving it a richer taste than its 120 calories for 1/2 cup would suggest). Small pieces of real, frozen banana surfaced every few bites in a sea of chocolate. The peanut butter flavor was subtle.

One could easily make a "milkshake" with this NadaMoo dessert, by just adding a fresh banana and a splash of water in a blender.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Endorfin Foods - Dark Mylk Chocolate Ginger Rose bar - Jan. 3, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Endorfin Foods
Dark Mylk Chocolate with Ginger and Rose bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $5.00 (price per bar in 9-pack of bars)
Purchased from: Endorfin Foods, Oakland, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Dark Mylk Chocolate Ginger and Rose bar from Endorfin Foods (Oakland, CA), was part of a 9-bar (community supported subscription) box that I picked up recently that contained both single origin and flavored bars.

Endorfin Foods is the creation of Brian Wallace ("founder/maker/alchemist"), who offers a beautifully designed and packaged line of dairy-free chocolate "mylk" bars* made with unroasted cacao. Brian's attention to detail shows in his offerings.

Why not just call these "raw" (vs. unroasted) cacao bars? Technically you can have unroasted cacao chocolate—that preserves certain antioxidants and flavors—where temperatures may have exceeded a certain degree range during the making process, e.g., during conching and/or tempering.

Ginger and Rose
Ginger is a wonderfully warming flavor in winter, and can stand up to chocolate in a delightfully robust and complementary way. I wondered: Would the ginger overwhelm the rose? Thankfully both flavors were artfully layered in this bar.

This 56% cacao "Passion" bar had a spicy ginger aroma and was smooth, with a fairly creamy melt. An initial pleasing ginger taste gave way to an enjoyable authentic rose floral flavor. And the bar finished with a nice ginger kick.

Ingredients list: organic cacao, organic coconut sugar, organic coconut, organic cocoa butter, and organic essential oils of ginger and rose.

*What is Mylk?
"Mylk is the New Dark" the packaging read. Endorfin's dark "mylk" formulation is a non-milk (or "filk") chocolate, that has the creaminess of a milk chocolate, but without the dairy.

I've used the term fake milk or "filk" to describe various nut, coconut, soy and other milk substitutes. This term is not meant to be derogatory; it was the shortest contraction I could think of when faced with a dazzling, expanding array of "milk" alternatives several years ago. There have been, e.g., some terrific, smooth and creamy coconut milk bars in the last several years that prove you can make great "milk" chocolate without animal milk.

Endorfin bars are crafted with "No Dairy, Soy, Gluten, GMO, or Refined Sugar," and with organic, ethically traded cacao.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Steve's Ice Cream - Chocolate Salty Caramel - Aug. 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Steve's Ice Cream
Chocolate Salty Caramel - Dairy Free Ice Cream
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (53 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 135 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week.

Steve's Ice Cream (Brooklyn, NY) has produced several rich, creamy ice creams. This was the first Steve's offering I've tried that wasn't technically ice cream.

Today's Chocolate Salty Caramel dairy-free, frozen dessert was made with organic cane sugar and coconut cream, as well as organic cocoa.

Swirls of flowing, salty caramel ran through this light cocoa-colored "ice cream" -- the salt was part of a relationship with Jacobsen Salt Co. and Steve's pursuit of unique, quality mix-ins.

This frozen dessert was relatively free of allergens. It was gluten free, egg free, soy free -- and GMO free. Hats off to Steve's Ice Cream for creating some good alternatives.

The only ingredient that wasn't a favorite for me in this frozen dessert was pea protein. It has a fairly strong, distinctive flavor. Granted, if you remove dairy, soy and nut options, the Non-GMO protein possibilities are limited.  

Mocha Almond Fudge bars - August 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Turtle Mountain, LLC
So Delicious - Minis (box of 4 bars)
Mocha Almond Fudge bars
Good - Good +
Weight: 4.6 fl. oz. (136 mL) in 2 bars / 9.2 fl. oz. (272 mL) in total box
Calories: 300 calories in 2 bars
Cost: $4.23 total box of 4 (sale price)
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Frozen desserts, popsicles and ice cream were perfectly designed for hot summer days. I enjoyed every bite of today's (two) frozen, "So Delicious" Mocha Almond Fudge Minis (bars) from Turtle Mountain, LLC (Eugene, OR).

These cool treats on a wooden stick were good considering that they were almond "milk" based. They had elements of fudge ribbon sweetness, but weren't too sweet. I carefully ate each frozen mini, bite by bite, in the back yard, until I had to run inside and lean over the sink, to prevent shards of frosty chocolate coating from calving onto my shirt. (Just the way I remember eating similar frozen treats when I was young.)

These non-dairy frozen dessert bars were also gluten free, soy free and vegan. (The So Delicious line of products also included dairy-free ice cream and yogurt.)

ChocolateBet: February 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

Go Max Go Foods, LLC
Twilight (candy bar)
Good +
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I ate this vegan, dairy-free Twilight bar with a handful of almonds. While I think this bar might have been a little less sweet than many bars (a good thing), at more than 2 oz., some raw nuts and water helped to balance out the sugary taste.

Note: This is a delayed post due to an all-day power outage in my neighborhood yesterday.