Cluizel Paris - Ourson Guimauve Orange & Cannelle Marshmallow Bear - June 7, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cluizel
Ourson Guimauve Orange & Cannelle Marshmallow Bear
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bear
Calories: 191 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bear
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bear
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Bears Theme Week. 

Today's Ourson Guimauve Orange & Cannelle (Orange & Cinnamon) Marshmallow Bear was from Cluizel (Paris, France).

This little French bear was last seen (in one piece) in my house in California this morning. By evening, only the memory of chocolate, bergamot orange and cinnamon remained. Quel dommage. (What a shame.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark chocolate coated marshmallow confection included: subtle dark chocolate, very slightly bitter (bergamot) orange and warm cinnamon and sweet marshmallow.

Texture: a thin layer of smooth dark chocolate surrounded a fluffy, very slightly chewy marshmallow filling 

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Bean, Water, Glucose Syrup, Inverted Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Setting Agent (bovine gelatin), Orange for decoration, Bergamot Powder, Emulsifier (rapeseed lecithin), Cinnamon, Bourbon Vanilla Pod. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of shelled tree nuts, milk, gluten"

Mayana Chocolate - Strawberry Rose - Strawberry Marshmallow, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Rose (bar)

Chocolate of the Day

Mayana Chocolate
Strawberry Rose
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.49 (estimate)
Purchased from: World Market, San Jose, CA  

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Strawberry Rose - Strawberry Marshmallow, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Crystallized Roses (bar) was from Mayana Chocolate (Spooner, WI).

Aroma and flavor notes for this high-end confection of a bar included: faint, tart-sweet, red berry (authentic strawberry), gelatin, caramel, faint vanilla and subtle dark chocolate. (I wasn't able to taste the rose.)

Texture: a generous layer of soft, cloud-like, marshmallow atop another generous layer of soft, slightly chewy caramel -- all covered with a layer of smooth dark chocolate

This bar was a fun blend of flavors, although this high-end, filled chocolate candy bar was a bit too sweet for me. Those who like marshmallow chocolates, or who have a sweet tooth will likely enjoy it. 

I appreciated the use of real strawberry (freeze-dried strawberry powder) rather than an artificial or "natural" flavor. That really made a difference; thank you.

Ingredients: Cocoa butter, sugar, cocoa liquor, soy lecithin, sugar, glucose, heavy cream, butter (cream, salt), vanilla bean, sea salt, marshmallow (sugar, glucose, gelatin, dextrose, vanilla bean), freeze-dried strawberry powder.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. Made in a facility that processes milk, eggs, wheat, soy, gluten, tree nuts, and peanuts

Ticket Chocolate - Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bomb - Mar. 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ticket Chocolate
Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bombs

Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.5 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) in total package of 2
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) in 1 serving (1 egg)
Cost: $12.99 for 1 package of 2 eggs
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week, featuring granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates and other outdoor-loving treats. 

Today's Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bombs were from Ticket Chocolate (Loomis, CA). This egg came nestled in some shiny green "grass"--a great tie-in with the greener-than-green (pre-Easter/Spring) grassy hills right now in northern California.

These were pretty (Belgian) chocolate eggs, decorated with very thin stripes of white chocolate and colored dot sprinkles. 

Aroma notes included: rich hot chocolate (cocoa), marshmallow and vanilla.

When put into a cup of hot water (and gently stirred), this egg "bomb" magically transformed into a cup of hot chocolate--with (voila!) a marshmallow floating on top--in seconds. (The marshmallow was inside the egg. And, when the outer chocolate egg shell melted, the generously-sized marshmallow bobbed up to the top.) 

The texture was smooth and creamy, and the marshmallow was fresh, soft, sweet and light.

Flavor notes included: pleasing, rich, smooth and creamy hot chocolate with marshmallow, and subtle warm vanilla.

I loved the Easter egg/spring holiday themed transformational (egg to hot chocolate) aspect. It was a well-executed, clever concept; and an attractive, sweet, creamy, cocoa winter warmer. (If you want to skip the artificial colors, you can scrape off the festive round candy confetti, before blending the chocolate egg with hot water.)

Ingredients: Milk & white couverture chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor), Vanilla marshmallow (cane sugar, invert sugar, water, brown rice syrup, gelatin, powdered sugar, rice starch and/or tapioca starch, natural vanilla flavor, vanilla extract, marshmallow flavor, salt, vanilla beans), Confetti sprinkles (sugar, rice flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn starch, cellulose gum, carrageenan, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, red 3, yellow 6, artificial flavor, blue 1), cocoa mix powder (sugar, whey, nonfat dry milk, cocoa powder [Dutch process], creamer [coconut oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate, dipotassium phosphate], natural flavors, guar gum, salt). 

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, coconut (and soy). "Crafted in facilities that also process wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame."

Maya Chocolates - S'mores 65% Dark Chocolate Marshmallow and GF Graham Cracker (bar) - Mar. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Maya Chocolates
S'mores - 65% Dark Chocolate Marshmallow and GF Graham Cracker (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.4 g.) in total bar
Calories: 341 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $4.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme. It's still too cold for a campfire to make old fashioned (original version) of s'mores; fortunately, this chocolate bar rendition of this childhood/camping favorite was on hand.

Today's S'mores Chocolate (bar) was from Maya Chocolates (Pinole, CA).

Aroma notes included: sweet dark chocolate, faint vanilla icing, and very faint nut/seed cookie.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate that broke with a snap, topped with soft, fluffy marshmallows, crunchy roasted almonds and light crumbly-crunchy graham cracker pieces.

Flavor notes included: authentic, rich and sweet dark chocolate--accented with vanilla, marshmallow and graham cracker flavors and textures.

This was a fun and slightly addicting bar. I appreciated the dark chocolate; and I found myself eating more to get to the marshmallows and larger sections of (gluten free) graham cracker--chasing childhood memories all the way. The sprinkling of roasted almond pieces were a nice addition, and complemented/balanced (the sweetness of) the classic s'mores flavor trio. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Butter (Milk), Soy Lecithin, Marshmallow, Ghram (sic) Cracker, Roasted Almonds

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk and other tree nuts."

Shekoh Confections - Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate - Feb. 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .6 oz. (16.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece/bear
Calories: 88 calories (estimate) for 1 bear
Cost: $4.50 for 1 bear 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate was created by Chef and chief chocolatier, Shekoh Moossavi, at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

This cute Teddy had appealing dark chocolate aroma and flavor notes. A thin, well crafted and flavorful chocolate shell contained a soft, light spongy honey marshmallow interior. 

It was an elegant, endearing chocolate novelty bear. Enjoyable by itself, I can also see this as a sweet addition to a birthday or dessert plate as well.

No information on ingredients or allergen-related information accompanied this "to go" item purchased in the Shekoh Confections retail shop. (Weight information and calorie amounts are only my estimates.)

  

Shekoh Confections - Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows - Feb. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows
Good +++
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $8.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows from Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA) was not your usual hot chocolate.

Ooh la la, this hot chocolate beverage was luxuriously thick, creamy and velvety. I found myself eating/drinking this with a spoon.

It tasted like there might be a healthy dose of real cream in this drinking chocolate. I experienced the same pleasure as eating chocolate ice cream. (Hot ice cream?) I also enjoyed the rich chocolate flavor.

Was it sweet with the honey marshmallow? Yes, it was. If given the choice, I'd probably have opted for a little less sugar; but this very special hot chocolate delivered a great tasting (and memorable textural) experience.

No information on ingredients or allergen-related information for this "to go" item purchased in the Shekoh Confections retail shop. I am assuming this hot chocolate contained dairy (milk/cream).

Happy Valentines Day! Go To Chocolate - filled chocolate assortment - Feb. 14, 2021

Valentines Day Chocolate(s)

Go To Chocolate
Valentines Day filled chocolate assortment
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) (estimate) in 3 piece box
Calories: 170 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Toni)
Purchased from: N/A - from Go To Chocolate, San Carlos, CA

Note: This holiday-related chocolate entry is a bonus entry, gratefully wedged into Chocolate and India Theme Week. 

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate! Heartfelt thanks to my friend and neighbor Toni for the gift of filled chocolates, in heart and flower form. A seasoned world traveler, she has contributed many new chocolates to Chocolate Banquet in the past decade. 

Today's 3-piece assortment in a petite, purple, heart-shaped box were from Go To Chocolate (San Carlos, CA). Chef and chocolatier Michael Hohenthal has been creating his own small-batch chocolates (filled chocolates and bars) since 2005, and sells them at local farmers markets (a good source for finding new chocolates).

Collectively, the three glossy pieces in this box had a sweet dark chocolate with a very faint coconut aroma. 

• The first heart-shaped filled chocolate had a light, fluffy marshmallow filling with a light citrus-sweet tang.
• The second (also heart-shaped) piece contained a sweet, dark chocolate ganache filling with fudge brownie flavor notes.
• The third, flower shaped, filled chocolate had an intriguing caramelized flavor, with very light floral and fruit notes.

Ingredients: unknown (gift box was not labeled) 

SmashMallow - Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry - June 30, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

SmashMallow, LLC
Smash Mallow Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 4.5 oz. (128 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving (4 pieces)
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Red Fruits Theme Week.

Today's package of Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry (marshmallows) was produced for SmashMallow, LLC (Sonoma, CA).

If one is going to have a sugary snack, then make it a good one. This slightly healthier (gluten free, Organic/GMO-free cane sugar) version of a marshmallow was light and lofty, velvety and delicious. Having grown up tasting half-stale, hot cocoa-ready marshmallows, it's always a revelation to taste the fresh, home-made or artisan variety.*

As the package was opened, a natural raspberry aroma wafted out. The partial dark chocolate dip/coat added rich flavor and balanced nicely with the sweet marshmallows--that had an impossibly light, pillowy texture. These seemed to vanish in one's mouth after chewing, leaving a clean finish, with less sugary residue than I feared. 

They might make a tasty filling for a summer campfire s'more.

However, like many sugary sweets, these could invite over-indulgence that you'd regret. So beware. (The company's suggested 4-piece serving is plenty; and the package was resealable.)

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, tapioca syrup, invert sugar, dark chocolate (chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla), (Kosher) gelatin, water, natural raspberry flavor, fruit and vegetable juice for color, sea salt, tapioca starch. (Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa.)

*Marshmallows were once made with a flowering plant from the mallow family that grew near marshes, thus the name marshmallow. Mallows (used medicinally by many cultures) have a naturally occurring, slightly gooey (some would say slimy) texture, which can be whipped up with sugars. 

According to the Wikipedia page for marshmallow, this confection's history may date as far back in 2,000 B.C. with the Egyptians. Early recipes might have included boiled marshmallow root and honey.

Modern day marshmallows are created with sugar, syrup, gelatin and precision machinery. Not much left to offer in the medicinal/nutritional department, but they'll satisfy a sweet tooth.

Lula's Chocolates - Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate Valentine heart

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lula's Chocolates

Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate (Valentine Heart )

Good +

Weight: unknown

Calories: unknown 

Cost: $6.50 for 1 package/heart

Purchased from: Lula's Chocolates, Crossroads Shopping Center, Carmel, CA

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate!

Today's heart-shaped, marshmallow-filled dark chocolate beauty, from Lula's Chocolates (Monterey, CA), was a perfect way to celebrate.

A fluffy, fresh-tasting marshmallow filling was encased in a generously-sized, dark chocolate heart decorated with pink decorative sugar icing. All this was wrapped in a clear wrapper with a red ribbon bow. 

Vanuato Kakaw - Milk Chocolate bar - July 28, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Continental Best
Vanuato Kakaw
Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 4 squares of bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Stars USA, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Vanuato Kakaw 36% cacao Milk Chocolate bar was made in Mexico City, Mexico, and imported into the U.S.

It was smooth, chocolatey, creamy, and had a hint of fruit (cherry, plum).

The description on the back of today's milk chocolate bar included information about the historical significance of cacao in Mexico.

"...The Olmec people who lived in Mexico and Mesoamerica cultivated cacao..." (thousands of years ago). "They enjoyed a beverage with ground cacao beans, mixed with water and garnished with spices, peppers and herbs...Cacao was a symbol of abundance and was used in religious ceremonies "dedicated to Quetzacoatl—and Chak Ek Chuah, the Mayan patron god of cacao."

This chocolate was paired with a Cinnamon Churro (Smash Mallow) marshmallow. Both were heated. The roasted marshmallow was dipped into the melted milk chocolate.

Baru - Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bars - Nov. 3, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Baru NV

Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bar
Dark Chocolate and Nutty Sea Salt Caramel
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bar
Milk Chocolate and Chai Latte
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #6 of Trick or Treat Theme Week.

Is it possible to have a high-end candy bar? There are several candy bars that cater to more sophisticated palettes.

Today's two Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bars were from Baru NV (Diepenbeek, Belgium). One was covered with dark chocolate and lightly flavored with sea salt and caramel. And the second was coated with milk chocolate and flavored with a hint of chai seasonings.

These candy bars was quite sweet (as marshmallows are), but would make a nice addition to any Halloween candy collection, or as sophisticated treats.

Just Born - Cherry Flavored Marshmallow Peeps - Mar. 3, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Just Born Candy Company
(Just Born, Inc.)
Peeps - Cherry
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories for 3 Cherry Peeps
Cost: $0.50 for 1 package (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Cherry and Raspberry Week.

It was pre-Easter candy season, and the cherry trees were in blossom outside. My thoughts turned to chocolate bunnies, eggs, and...marshmallow Peeps.

The Just Born Candy Company (Bethlehem, PA), a family owned business, has been cranking out iconic Easter marshmallow confections for many years. The company was founded in 1923.

Just Born has diversified far beyond the original yellow chick-shaped Peep to bunnies, and other animals and items. They were available in an array of bright colors and flavors, and the line-up included some with chocolate.

I picked up today's Cherry Peeps in a bargain bin at a local grocery store some time ago; and I recently re-discovered them in my chocolate vault.

They're likely a few years old, but they have a long shelf life, and didn't seem stale at all. I don't really want to know how they keep so forever-young, but they seemed fresh and fluffy, and the chocolate base was good.

And though I shall be shunned by my dark chocolate brethren, here's to you Peeps! If you grew up in the U.S. decades ago, hunting for Easter eggs in day-glo colored baskets with lined with green plastic "grass" and filled with colorful plastic eggs, and foil-wrapped candy, you may still have fond residual memories of Peeps, even if you now prefer more "natural" treats.

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

Vosges - Alderwood Smoked Salt Caramel Marshmallows - Dec. 27, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vosges
Alderwood Smoked Salt Caramel Marshmallows 45% cacao
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.9 g.) in 1 package of 5 pieces
Calories: 300 calories in 1 package
Cost: $4.29 for 1 package of 5 pieces
Purchased from: Lunardi's, Belmont, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Smoke and Fire Theme Week.

Today's sweet 45 percent cacao chocolate-covered squares—filled with chocolate, caramel and marshmallow—were from Vosges (Chicago, IL).

Topped with a sprinkle of alderwood smoked salt, these chocolates contained a tasty balance between sweet and savory (umami/smoked) flavors.

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

2nd St. Creamery - Truck Stop Fudge - Mar. 17, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

2nd Street Creamery
(Wells Enterprises, Inc., aka Wells' Dairy)
Truck Stop Fudge ice cream
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (105 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 cup ice cream
Cost: $1.49 (sale) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate Surprise Week.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all who celebrate in the U.S., and beyond.

The closest I came to the Emerald Isle (Ireland) was imagining the green pastures of a dairy farm, dotted with cows, in the midwest, near a place called the 2nd Street Creamery*.

Surprise. We're pulling over for some Truck Stop Fudge ice cream from 2nd Street Creamery. (I couldn't find the company's Limerick Cherry Chocolate ice cream -- that would've offered a fun Irish twist.)

The Truck Stop related name was unusual enough I hit the brakes when I saw it in the freezer section. Plus that cute drawing of the cow riding a bicycle-milk cart sucked me in.

Made of rich chocolate ice cream, marshmallow cream and fudge sauce, this 2nd Street Truck Stop Fudge flavor was worth stopping for.

*Wells Enterprises, Inc., aka Wells' Dairy, is likely the largest, privately held, family owned ice cream maker in the U.S. They're also the owners of the 2nd Street Creamery and Blue Bunny ice cream brands. I was surprised to learn that Wells produces more than 150 million gallons of ice cream annually.

Truffettes de France - Orange Mallows - Oct. 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocmod USA
Trufettes de France
Orange Mallows Dipped in Dark Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7 oz. (200 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 3-piece serving
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package/box
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

Truffettes de France brand products come from Chocmod Chocolatier Confiseur (Roncq, France).


These Orange Mallows Dipped in Dark Chocolate had a very sweet filling comprised of a fluffy marshmallow layer topped with an "orange jam" layer. (The company also makes Cherry Mallows and Pear Mallows.)

Tomorrow is Halloween in the U.S., a holiday known for chocolates and candy for trick-or-treaters and spooky things. In keeping with these traditions, I tried something a little scary. I toned down the sweetness a bit by giving these mallows a sprinkle of black pepper and salt -- and it wasn't bad. 

Wowza Bar, Nespresso Mousse - Sept. 13, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Zingerman's Candy
ZZang! Candy Bars
Wowza - Raspberry
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (41 g.) / 3 oz. (82 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: N/A - friend bought in Ann Arbor, MI

Thanks to a friend's recent trip to Michigan, today I was able to sample a WowZa bar from Zingerman's (deli/store in Ann Arbor, MI). The bar contained layers of raspberry chocolate ganache, raspberry preserves, and fresh raspberry marshmallow nougat, and was covered in dark chocolate. The dark chocolate helped tone down the cotton-candy level sweetness a bit.

Nestle Nespresso - San Francisco, CA

Later in the day I drove into San Francisco. The America's Cup (sailing) races were still in progress on San Francisco Bay this week/month, and Nespresso (Nestle) has been a major sponsor.

I had lunch at a Nespresso boutique and bar near Union Square, and taste-tested (for a future chocolate of the day) a duo of diminutive chocolate mousses -- one with raspberry and chocolate layers, the second mousse incorporated white chocolate and milk chocolate -- and a small shot of coffee over vanilla ice cream. The smaller portion sizes made it possible to enjoy these lovely flavor combinations without suffering from sugar overload. I'll be back.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Berry Theme Week.

Neo Cocoa Espresso Truffles - March 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Neo Cocoa
Espresso Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Truffles
Very Good
Weight: .625 (17.75 g.) in 2 truffles / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in box of 8 truffles
Calories: 87 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 for 1 box of 8 truffles
Purchased from: Neo Cocoa

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Vanilla Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Espresso Theme Week.

Earlier today I visited the Lookout Cafe at Land's End in San Francisco with a friend. In addition to a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, I was buoyed up by a decaf mocha latte with a shot of vanilla syrup. And even though the espresso in this drink was decaffeinated, I felt pretty wired. (Why I'm so coffee sensitive, when I can eat all the chocolate I want, is a puzzle.)

So, I waited a few hours before opening a box of today's chocolates with espresso. These Espresso Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Truffles from Neo Cocoa (Belmont, CA) were wonderful.

Neo Cocoa founder, Christine Doerr, began to create her "hearts of chocolate truffles" several years ago. (I first featured them here on ChocolateBanquet.com in 2009.) Her silky smooth truffle centers, or hearts, stand on their own without a hard chocolate shell to surround them.

These soft creamy chocolates were assembled with great care. Sandwiched in the middle of dark chocolate espresso ganache layers, was a vanilla bean flavored marshmallow strata. And the finished product was dusted with cocoa powder. You will never go wrong serving these for dessert.

ChocolateBet: March 25, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 package
Just Born, Inc.
Peeps - Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Peep
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.)
Calories: 120 calories
Cost: $0.75
Purchased from: Walgreens, in San Pablo, CA

Peeps! A springtime tradition. Walgreens was stocked with rows of little pink, green and blue marshmallow chicks. Today's Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow treat was filled with sweet, yellow marshmallow chick filling. 

ChocolateBet: December 29, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Just Born, Inc.
Peeps

1.) Chocolate Mousse flavored Marshmallow Reindeer
Good+
Weight: .39 oz. (11.16 g.) in 1 reindeer/ 2 3/8 oz. (67 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 40 calories in 1 reindeer
Cost: $1.39 total package of 6
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Milk Chocolate Covered Mint flavored Marshmallow
OK+
Weight: .10 oz. (2.8 g.) in 1 package/tree
Calories: 11 calories in 1 bite

3.) Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Pumpkin
OK+
Weight: .10 oz. (2.8 g.) in 1 package/pumpkin
Calories: 12 calories in 1 bite

Peeps! Who can argue with Just Born, Inc.'s famous marshmallow
Peeps, especially chocolate flavored and chocolate covered ones.

Today is Day #7 of Chocolate and Something Different Theme Week. I would have done a full Peeps theme week in 2010, but I couldn't find seven different kinds with chocolate.

My favorite was the reindeer. It could easily imagine this Peep lolling around in a large mug of hot chocolate.

ChocolateBet: December 26, 2008

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1 item/snowman
Russell Stover
Chocolate Marshmallow Snowman
Good; a bit too sweet for me, but it might be nice dunked in some hot chocolate
Weight: 7/8 oz. (25 grams)
Calories: 100 calories for one snowman
Cost: $0.41
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

2.) 1 piece of Cheescake Factory flourless Peppermint (Chocolate) Cheesecake
topped with whipped cream and bits of peppermint candy - not counting this on my spreadsheet, but I will come back and try the other flourless varieties in the future.

Another two-fisted chocolate day this holiday week. I'm going to have to work hard at the gym this weekend - meaning more than my usual 15-minute workout.