Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/165618
candy counter Today's dietary-friendly sweets are a far cry from the second-tier products of yore. Here are 10 gift-worthy sweets that cater to a bevy of needs. Antidote Dark Chocolate. These chocolate bars, made with 50-50 raw and roasted cocoa from organic farms in Ecuador, include such pairings as newcomer coffee and cardamom in 77 percent dark, lavender and red salt (84 percent dark) and an unheard of 100 percent dark with cacao nibs. PHOTO: ANTIDOTE CHOCOLATE GIFTS FOR ANY DIET Organic, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, and no fillers or preservatives. antidotechoco.com Belgium's Chocolate Source Cavalier Chocolate with Stevia. Offering an alternative to sugar-laden products, the Cavalier line of Belgian chocolate uses stevia in its 2.9-ounce tablets and 1.5-ounce bars, available in such varieties as dark chocolate with berries and milk chocolate with caramel. Low glycemic index, and fair trade certified. belgiumschocolatesource.com Bequet Confections Salted Mocha Caramel. Organic tapioca syrup replaces corn syrup in this line of award-winning gourmet caramels. The newest addition, which debuted this year at the Summer Fancy Food Show, features a layer of salted chocolate caramel against a layer of espresso caramel. Bequet uses a nut-free production facility, and all caramels are certified gluten-free and kosher. No artificial colors or flavors, or preservatives. bequetconfections.com Chuao Chocolatier ChocoPod. Portion control is a favored method of health-conscious indulgence. Chuao's ChocoPods deliver sweet-tooth satisfaction in a pocketable, 0.39-ounce treat with only 50 to 60 calories. Available in nine varieties including new Orange-A-Go-Go and Pop Corn Pop. chuaochocolatier.com Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Bars. This dedicated gluten-free producer's foray into chocolate bars has resulted in three allergy-friendly bars that are dairy-, nut-, soy- and, of course, gluten-free. Available in dark chocolate, rice-milk chocolate and rice-milk crunch. Certified non-GMO and kosher. enjoylifefoods.com Fearless Chocolate. Rich chocolate derived from Brazilian cacao is cooked at low temperatures to retain its earthy aromas. Varieties include 70 percent bars in such flavors as green tea mint and coconut (with raw coconut flakes), 75 percent Dark as Midnight and 85 percent Deepest Dark (with a touch of gray sea salt). All bars are certified organic, kosher, dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Coming soon: vegan milk chocolate. fearlesschocolate.com Fran's Salted Caramels. This confection's claim to fame can't be beat: the Obamas love it. Its newly launched packaging makes the dark chocolate gray salt and milk chocolate smoked salt caramels instantly gift-ready. Made with organic sugar, cream and butter, these chocolate-dipped caramels, available in 3-piece and 7-piece packs, are gluten-free and non-GMO. franschocolates.com Hammond's Candies All Natural Corn Syrup Free Candy Canes. A classic confection gets an upgrade with Hammond's corn syrup–free candy canes. Sweetened with tapioca syrup and free of artificial colors and flavors, Hammond's candy canes are available in an array of colorful varieties, including holiday-friendly cinnamon, butterscotch, pumpkin pie and gingerbread. hammondscandies.com JJ's Sweets Chocolate-Covered Cocomels. Coconut milk is the secret ingredient in Cocomels. The chocolate-covered variety—in vanilla, espresso and chai spice—uses fair trade chocolate and organic ingredients whenever possible. The 20-piece bags are ideal for sharing, and the 4-piece boxes perfect for gifting. Dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free. jjssweets.com Matiz Pecado Chocolate & Fig Bar. The main ingredient in this 2013 sofi Finalist from Spanish producer Matiz España is fig. The naturally super-sweet fruit makes this bar taste more dangerously indulgent than it truly is. Gluten-free, non-GMO and only 94 calories per bar. matizespana.com PHOTO: FEARLESS CHOCOLATE 50 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com