Tag: candy

Truffle Hunting

Truffles are as old as dirt, at least when referring to the prized fungus known worldwide for its heady umami aroma. Chocolate truffles, fashioned after this rare prize, are a relatively recent innovation. Legend has it that the rich confections we know and love were originally created by accident, sometime between 1890 and 1920. French chef Auguste Escoffier is often credited as the first to mistakenly pour hot cream over chocolate chunks instead of sugar and eggs, intending to make a classic pastry cream. Personally, I have my doubts about the veracity of this claim, but his renowned patisserie certainly did kick-start their astronomic rise in popularity.

The word “truffle” comes from a Latin word tūber or the Vulgar Latin tufera, meaning “swelling” or “lump.” Especially when rolled in cocoa powder, evoking a fresh coating of dirt, their striking likeness to mushrooms easily explains the name. While I’ve previously worked to bridge the gap between candy and spore, I now have a new secret ingredient in my arsenal: Sugimoto Shiitake Powder.

Foraging for Flavor

As autumn paints the world with its warm hues and Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to forage for mushrooms and indulge in sweet treats alike. Bringing together the richness of chocolate, the nuttiness of walnuts, the earthy sweetness of dates, and the unique umami notes of shiitake powder, these mushroom-shaped truffles are the epitome of fall charm, both in taste and presentation.

Sweet, Salt, and Savory

At the heart of these exquisite truffles lies Sugimoto Shiitake Powder, a secret ingredient that elevates the flavors to a new level. Made from carefully selected shiitake mushrooms, this powder infuses the truffles with a subtle umami taste, without inherent mushroom-y flavor, adding depth and complexity that’s both surprising and pleasing to the palate. It harmonizes with the delicate touch of miso paste, lending a subtly salty finish, punctuating the whole mouthful with a bold flourish.

Easy and Adaptable

While the novelty of having a mushroom-shaped chocolate truffle is a large part of the visual appeal, you could certainly keep it simple and make traditional, stemless rounds instead. What’s more, you can use this basic formula as your palate to paint with a wide range of complimentary flavors, such as:

  • Orange zest
  • Mint extract
  • Pumpkin spice
  • Instant coffee powder
  • Powdered raspberries

To infuse your truffles with a touch of fall and Halloween spirit, consider lightly dusting the mushroom caps with cinnamon or powdered sugar. These subtle additions evoke the essence of autumn leaves and festive celebrations.

Smarter Sweets for Halloween

These wholesome treats aren’t just a delicious indulgence; they’re also a healthier alternative to store-bought Halloween candy. Perfect for serving at parties, these truffles are bound to bewitch the taste buds while keeping sugar in check.

Each little bite packs in immense chocolate flavor, with the caramel-sweetness of dates for body. They’re easy to sink your teeth into thanks to their genuinely fudgy texture, set off by a satisfying crunch from your “stem” of choice. Both elegant and whimsical, decadent and wholesome, umami truffles are the best of all worlds, sweet, savory, and salty alike.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)7 Comments

Great GATSBY

Dark chocolate is indisputably in the running for the single most perfect food. When done right, it’s sweet but not sugary, bitter but not harsh, snappy yet creamy, intense but not overwhelming. Simply put, it’s everything good and nothing bad. How could anyone possibly improve on perfection? Try slashing the calories by over 50% so you can eat even more of it.

How Is Low Calorie Dark Chocolate Made?

Dark chocolate is already the healthiest version of this indulgent treat, containing the highest percentage of antioxidant and flavonoid-filled cacao beans.

Sugar is the primary culprit that turns this virtuous food into a diet destroyer, spiking blood sugar and wreaking havoc on your heart, nerves, mood, and more. In GATSBY chocolate, allulose replaces the bulk of the granulated sweetener for an experience that provides the same balance and body, without all the downsides to the indulgence.

Fat is the other source of contention. This one is more troubling to replace; cocoa butter is arguably the core component that makes chocolate, chocolate. Somehow, through magic and science, a combination of plant-based oil, palm oil, and corn fiber coalesce into a convincing dupe. Bringing the rich cocoa powder flavor to the fore, you get the added benefit of a considerable serving of fiber, too.

What Does GATSBY Chocolate Taste Like?

Impressive nutritional stats are one thing, but tasting is believing. GATSBY offers two dark chocolate bars: Sea Salt Extra Dark and Almond Dark. Also available for vegans and dairy-free eaters, you can choose from Oat Milk Salted Almond and Oat Milk Crunch Bars, in case your cravings skew a bit lighter and more milky. After one bite of the Almond Dark chocolate, I knew I’d have to hunt down the rest.

Imagine a thick slab of chocolate bark, riddled with tiny chopped almond pieces all the way through. Crisp, toasted nuts fill every mouthful with a comforting sort of warmth, as the cloak of cacao enshrouding them melts away. The initial bite is softer than conventional chocolate, a bit fudgy rather than snappy, but I wouldn’t call that a flaw. Rather, it’s primed to liquefy almost on impact with your tongue. If you’ve ever stolen a spoonful of solidified ganache from the cooled double boiler, this is it in bar format.

Dark chocolate of all forms will forever be an essential staple of my diet. It’s certainly nice to have an innovative option that allows for healthier hedonism.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with Moms Meet and GATSBY Chocolate. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

Rock Out with Your Guac Out

There is no such thing as too many avocados. There is, however, such thing as overzealous purchasing leading to a glut of of avocados all ripening at the same time. Try as I might, it’s impossible to resist a good sale, which is how I ended up with 14 of the green gems on my kitchen counter. One per day is my usual rate of consumption, but even that couldn’t compare to the embarrassment of riches now at my disposal.

Most normal people would turn to guacamole, which is a solid answer to mashing down 3 or 4 avocados into a single serving (as far as I’m concerned.) That said, how many times can I spare so many of these savory treasures at once? This calls for something more exciting.

Fudge all your preconceived notions about such a classic confection; fudge is more than just chocolate. Rich and creamy not from butter, but from the glorious green flesh of avocados, this unconventional approach highlights the versatility of the beloved fruit. Creamy and custard-like, each small square melts in your mouth, leaving behind only a lingering, subtle sweetness. Hints of vanilla and lime accentuate the complex nuances for a delicate but well-balanced flavor.

Rather than the pure sugary rush of conventional fudge, this one has real substance with style. Don’t forget, these are all good fats, so you can pretty much write this one off as health food. It really is more satisfying than your average treat!

If ever you’re faced with the decision of how many avocados to buy, remember this. Too much is never enough.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Better Than Butterfinger

Gather ’round and don’t be scared now. Conventional candy bars do have many frightful ingredients, reading like a chemistry experiment gone terribly wrong. Tempting with bewitching spells cast from sugar and corn syrup, even the strongest hero have occasionally fallen for their evil tricks. It’s time we beat those monsters back once and for all.

Butterfingers were original unleashed upon the world almost one hundred years ago and continue haunting hapless shoppers at checkout stands to this day. Escape from that dangerous trap because back in the safety of your home, we can make a real treat together.

Resoundingly crunchy, crisp throughout, and packed with deeply toasted nutty flavor, this recipe is more than just a resurrection of a past favorite, but a complete revival and revamp. Cloaked in devilishly dark chocolate, these rich, intense flavors would utterly slay the old phantom.

Originally featured in my now defunct eBook Wicked Treats, it seemed a same to let this gem meet such an timely end. If there’s only one treat you plan on making for Halloween, make it this one!

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Hannah (BitterSweet)8 Comments

The Naked Truth

Whether you’re trying to woo over a new crush or romancing your soul mate, the best valentines are given naked.

No, wait, don’t take that statement literally. DON’T strip down to your birthday suit without a clear invitation, and ideally, in private, please! What I meant to say is that you should give your lover your bare, unvarnished feelings, fully exposed and vulnerable. The greatest gift is the simple truth, which also happens to be what you’ll find within the powdered peanut butter from Naked Nutrition.

Naked PB has only one ingredient: Powdered peanut butter made from slow-roasted, non-GMO, US-grown peanuts. It’s touted primarily as a lower calorie, higher protein alternative to the traditional spread, but that emphasis on quality makes it a superlative inclusion in truly decadent treats.

Pure and to the point, you could reconstitute it with a touch of water for tremendous sandwich schmear. Unlike other, lesser peanut butter powders, Naked PB mixes smoothly without clumps. Slap it on bread with some jam for an upgrade on the common sandwich. Loosen it with more liquid to use it as a dip with apples, strawberries, or even celery, if you’re feeling so bold.

Proving that there’s no need to sacrifice flavor for health, these triple chocolate peanut truffles layer on bold, nutty flavor without refined sugar or artificial additives. In fact, the nutritional stats could rival that of the better energy bars on the market, minus the overblown wholesome hype. These are dark, decadent, full-bodied chocolate treats, that just happen to be better for you.

Starting with a foundation of soft, chewy nougat, you can leave the candy thermometers behind and get straight to the good stuff. Naked PB joins forces with crunchy peanut butter and maple syrup for a toothsome, irresistible texture. Thick, sticky date-based caramel stacks the deck in your favor, towering over any store-bought sweets that might otherwise beckon. Seal the deal with some skinny dipping in dark chocolate, because even when it’s enrobed, it’s still boldly unvarnished.

Even if it’s not for Valentine’s Day, or not for anyone but yourself, get naked this year. It just feels better to be au naturel.

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Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Dynamic Duo

Can true harmony be found in a single sweet bite? That’s the theory behind Sweetduet, touted as “a luscious duo of chocolate and fruit for the mindful snacker.” Treading the fine line between decadent and dietetic, the results make no compromises on either side. While the packaging reads like health food, the taste is pure indulgence.

Dates are at the heart of this dulcet symphony, and not just when dipped in dark chocolate. Date nectar is actually the sweetener of choice, imparting notes of amber caramel, a touch of malt, and a hint of macerated fruit. Beneficial trace vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B, iron, magnesium, potassium, give it an extra boost that straight sugar can only dream of. This superfood infusion is exactly what makes it such a great choice for anyone on your gift list.

Better than your average box of chocolates, there are no duds that get left behind in this assortment. Soft, fudgy, unsulfured dried fruits offer style and substance, seamlessly blending smarts with satisfaction. Dates, mangoes, apricots, and pineapples take center stage as the curtain of cacao drops away slowly. Together, they dance for a fleeting moment of bliss, as the initial hit of intense chocolate melts, allowing the fruit to then take the lead.

The love of chocolate is nearly universal. Bridge that final gap by finding that sweet spot where the nutritious choice is also the most delicious. Sweetduet has you [and those naturally nectarous fruits] covered.

Sweetduet can be purchased online for local Los Angeles pickup or nationwide next-day shipping. Treat yourself, or your loved ones near and far, for a sweeter, healthier holiday.

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments