Wolfgang Candies is an American, family-run business opened since 1921. (Don’t confuse these with restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s line of products.) Though they are lesser known than some of the big guys (Nestle, Hershey’s, and others), they have been perfecting their craft for four generations. And it shows in products like their Sweet Dark Chocolate Covered Candies. These are, in a word, delectable, and just what their name says they are. Think chocolate covered cherries gone wild! Now you have fresh fruits like blueberries, raspberries, and even cranberries packed into dark chocolate truffles and individually wrapped for freshness. These are not your typical Christmastime cherry cordials with the milky, creamy filling—these are crafted to perfection, with more fruit flavor in the filling than is typical with truffles.

These candies are regal in appearance, with shiny foil wrappers and the company logo emblazoned all around. The Wolfgang Company sells these in 5-ounce bags and 12-ounce gift boxes—and they would make a fantastic gift for the dark chocolate lover on your shopping list. Wolfgang chocolates also are always at home in your candy dish.
They are great to take to a party or to leave as a hostess gift, but they are most at home in your mouth. I didn’t want to stop eating the chocolate covered blueberries or raspberries (not a surprise, since I’m a huge dark chocolate fan), but the cranberries also pleasantly surprised me. They pair with chocolate in an unexpectedly tasty way. If you’re looking for something different to please your palate, try Wolfgang’s chocolate pretzel tins, peanut brittle, chocolate covered nuts, caramel, sugar-free candies, and holiday items like chocolate Santas and snowmen. The Wolfgang Company is also a friend to the community, manufacturing special seasonal products especially for churches, school groups, and other associations.

Tags: Wolfgang candy, chocolate covered, fruit candies, sweet chocolate, sweets

We know that companies are making a killing selling 100-calorie and individually wrapped snacks. In the health-crazed culture we live in, people don’t want to give up their favorite snacks entirely. That’s where Hershey’s York Peppermint Wafer Bar comes in. Tasting a bit like the chocolate and mint Grasshopper cookies by Keebler, these York bars are covered in milk chocolate and filled with minty goodness. Two 3-inch chocolate wafers round out the snack, which weighs in at only 6 grams of fat and 11 grams of carbs for those who are counting. I think these York Wafers taste great, with a crisp mint flavor peeking through a chocolate crunchy coating. In fact, I wasn’t expecting to get such a powerful minty taste from such a small package. My only complaint with this snack is that there’s not more to share. But the health-conscious crowd will really dig these new and improved York candy bars.

Since the 1920’s, The York Company (named after its headquarters in Pennsylvania) introduced its famous Peppermint Patty in 1940. After the demand grew for this minty chocolate treat, the company decided to focus on these exclusively and immediately shut off production of their other products, mainly ice cream cones. The York Patty was then sold to the Peter-Paul Company in the mid 1970’s, and was later acquired by Cadbury Schweppes. Hershey’s merged with Cadbury Schweppes in 1988, and the rest is candy history.

In recent years, York Peppermint Patties have mostly remained unchanged (why mess with a good thing?), but I’m quite impressed by the 100 Calorie Wafer Bar. It’s a tasty snack to take with you on the road, and the crunchy texture makes it feel more filling than the traditional peppermint patty. But it’s hard to get too filled by this low-calorie snack. Grab a couple when you’re feeling naughty.

Tags: York, Low calorie candy, wafer candy, mint chocolate, sweets

“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysteriously spooky….” No, these aren’t creepy, but they are Kandy Kookies (pronounced cookie, not kooky). Colorful, candy-coated drops about the size of a Junior Mint, Kandy Kookies are most similar to malted milk balls. But they also have a hint of chocolate chip cookie flavor to them. You could almost identify these bite-size treats as candy-coated Cookie Crisp cereal. Almost.

Available in five-pound bulk bags or smaller eight-ounce gift bags, these candies may be a taste worth acquiring. Here’s the concept: If you are craving a cookie, but don’t want to eat a whole one, you can just eat one of these Kandy Kookies. But I think you will be disappointed if you are expecting a fresh-from-the-oven Toll House cookie. If you come in expecting a piece of candy and not a cookie, you will be much better off, and more likely to walk away with a grin on your face. Note: These candies aren’t bad at all. Like sweet, crunchy M&M’s on steroids, they come in a mix of fun colors, though I can’t distinguish any difference in flavors between the various candy shells.

The Reno-based Kimmie Candy Company is the culprit behind Kandy Kookies. (Just try to say that sentence five times fast). Started only eight years ago, the company was the concept of agricultural worker Joe Dutra. He simply wanted to market his “Sunbursts” (sunflower seeds with layers of chocolate and candy coating) as a snack that is actually healthy to eat… or at least better for you than many other snacks. In less than a decade, the company burst into the scene, expanding nationwide and now distributed internationally. Their other products include Choco Rocks (candy-coated chocolate that really looks like pebbles!), Heart Tarts, Peanut Crunchers, Gold Nuggets, and Baby Dino Eggs among others. Pick up some Kandy Kookies for your candy jar, and don’t forget to share.

Tags: candy coated, candy cookies, chocolate, bite size candy, sweets

In June 2006, Hershey’s first rolled out its 100 Calorie Snacks like Reese’s Pieces mixed with multigrain cereal. Perhaps this was to go along with the trend already set in place by Nabisco with their 100 Calorie Packs of popular cookies and crackers. After all, 100 calories doesn’t sound like a lot for a snack. The average person burns off that many calories sleeping at night—right? In any case, the newest 100 Calorie bar from Hershey’s is the Reese’s Peanut Butter Wafer. At 6 grams of fat and 11 grams of carbs, this snack is surprisingly small and probably more satisfying to a bird than a human. But dieters will delight in this convenient .67-ounce wafer layered with peanut butter and covered in Hershey’s chocolate.

I opened this wrapper a little skeptically, the calorie content staring me back in the face. I was expecting something like a peanut butter granola bar, but what I got was more like a Little Debbie Nutty Bar with only a fraction of the guilt! Inside the wrapper were two very thin, 3-inch-long wafers. The first bite led me to an intense peanut butter and chocolate sensation. This did not taste like diet food—that’s for sure. It is just a smaller portion of the already delectable Reese’s peanut butter and Hershey’s chocolate combo. This wafer had more than a hint of great taste. It was more like an explosion of peanut butter.

Dieters, don’t be fooled into thinking this is good for you—there is no substantial nutritional value. You’d actually be better off eating one bite of the candy bar you are actually craving, but that takes a whole lot of willpower. This already packaged portion is great to pop in your purse or desk drawer and pull out when the craving hits. A hundred calories is a fair compromise for the amount of flavor packed into this little wafer that could.

Tags: Reese’s, peanut butter, chocolate wafer, low calorie snack, sweets

Who knows chocolate and peanut butter better than Reese’s? Since 1928, the Reese’s company, now owned by Hershey’s, has been rolling out the well-known and well-loved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup covered in pure milk chocolate. Reese’s Pieces, Fast Break, and NutRageous have since been introduced to the candy-loving public. Now the company is stepping into unknown territory to bring us a candy bar that will be lower in fat without losing any power-packed taste. The new Reese’s Whipps candy bar contains 2 ounces of chocolate-covered fluffy nougat flavored with Reese’s staple ingredient: peanut butter. The nougat center allows the candy bar to have almost 40 percent less fat than other Reese’s products, which are made with a true peanut butter center.

I liked this candy bar much more than I expected. For starters, it doesn’t have any whole peanuts, and my favorite nougat candy bar is Snickers. How could another candy fight for my attention with words like lower in fat, light, and fluffy? Regardless of my doubts, I sunk my teeth into a real dream with Reese’s Whipps. This was not at all like a Snickers or any other Reese’s product, for that matter. The peanut butter nougat is truly satisfying, though it feels light and airy going down. And it isn’t a bland peanut-butter flavor, but a flavor with true, punch-you-in-the-gut intensity.

If you are in the market for a low-fat candy bar that still makes your taste buds happy, this is a great option. For a real treat, throw a Reese’s Whipps candy bar in the freezer—you’ll enjoy a cool and chewy dessert in hours. And, although the grandeur and size may be self-defeating in the low-fat department, look for a king-size bar to appear on your favorite candy store’s shelves. You’ll likely love this candy bar if you give it a chance. Besides, when’s the last time Reese’s has disappointed us?

Tags: Reese’s, peanut butter, low fat candy, milk chocolate, sweets

Switzerland-born Nestle arrived on the chocolate scene in 1866. Their century and a half of candy experience has given them an edge over the competition and established their brand name worldwide—but did you know that Nestle also creates baby food, powdered drink mix, and bottled water? As their product line has become more diverse, it’s still chocolate that they are most associated with.

Nestle Treasures are among the best filled chocolates on the market. If you haven’t tried these yet, get out to your supermarket and buy a bag—or four. Twelve-ounce bags are filled with individually foil-wrapped, chocolate nuggets that look like mini bars of gold. For bonafide chocolate lovers, that’s not too far off from what they actually are. Unwrapping the royal-purple wrapper, you can feel the inner majesty of the candy begin to surface and alert your senses to one fact: you are about to taste something amazing. Biting into the chocolate chunk, you unearth a creamy caramel fountain. This candy brings a milky sweetness that is the perfect ending to any meal. You can get by on just one—but you won’t want to stop there.

Part of Nestle’s Signatures brand, Treasures also come in full-size candy bars. They are also excellent for baking delicious cookies and brownies, and are available in flavors like chocolate crème, peanut butter, and the new dark chocolate caramel. Your best bet is to just buy the assorted bag and enjoy all of the varieties because you won’t want to miss any of them. I’ve sampled all of the filling flavors and would enthusiastically award peanut butter First Place. Caramel gets the Second Place ribbon, and chocolate crème comes in a close Third. All in all, these candies are the most appropriately named candies out there. Does a Snickers really taste like a “Snicker?” Who knows. But these are most definitely, as the name suggests, treasures to be uncovered.

Tags: Nestle, caramel candy, milk chocolate, bite size candy , sweets

“Name Something That Melts in Your Mouth, But Not in Your Hand.” The M&M brand has been around since 1941, and its corner on today’s candy market is substantial. The first chocolate candy that comes to mind for many—in fact, I think you’d find it as the Number One Answer if you were asked on Family Feud to name the best-selling chocolate candy.

Traditional M&M’s just got a little scarier. Popularized by an Addams Family advertising campaign, Dark Chocolate M&M’s are just another twist on the candy-coated chocolates the world has grown to love. Each colorful candy is printed with the famous, white-printed “m” logo with the word “dark” just below. The same candy crunch is there, but the chocolate is richer, darker, and more satisfying—just as dark chocolate fans would expect. Imagine eating a bag of candy-coated semisweet chocolate chips. That’s what you can expect in this product.

You can buy M&M’s pretty much anywhere candy is sold, but you may have to look a little harder for the dark chocolate variety. Use their handy product locater on the Web at http://us.mms.com to find specialty M&M’s near you. Other varieties you may need to try (or try again!) are dark-chocolate-peanut, peanut butter, almond, and M&M baking bits.

I bought a small bag at a gas station and expected to have the thing completely gone by the by the end of my commute home from work. Instead, I had some to share and a handful to save for later—and I felt completely satisfied of my chocolate craving. Not many milk chocolate products can attain such excellent results, but Dark M&M’s really knocked that craving out of the ballpark. The only complaint about these candies is that they seemed a bit small, though I’m sure they are the same size as normal M&M’s. It may be that I’m just spoiled on the peanut-filled ones.

Tags: M&M, dark chocolate, candy coated, bite size candy, sweets

Housed under parent company Hershey’s, the Reese’s brand is synonymous with peanut butter. The original Reese cup has been available since 1928—almost a century. H.B. Reese invented the popular chocolate shell with peanut butter filling. It has changed a great deal over the years with countless variations on the original. But the fame the Reese’s brand attained in the candy marketplace is due to this original success story: the peanut butter cup that changed the world.

How could the company branch out from their signature Reese’s Pieces and Peanut Butter Cup and tempt the public in new ways? Could they pack chocolate and peanut butter into a candy bar in a way that would be inventive enough and tasty enough to grab the public’s attention? Packing in fresh roasted peanuts seemed to be the ticket. But they didn’t stop there. Caramel and peanut butter round out the innards of the candy log. Milk chocolate coats the delicious invention. Wrap it all up in the classic orange-colored label with a bright blue nameplate, and you have NutRageous. Candy consumers have been buying up this bar since it was unleashed on the public in 1994. If you haven’t tried it–where have you been?

I love the NutRageous bar. It’s crunchy and truly satisfying, like a Snickers. In fact, I’d place it in line just behind Reese cups to meet my cravings for peanut buttery goodness. What makes this bar so all-the-rage? Definitely the rich peanut butter. You just can’t go wrong with peanut-creaminess and milk chocolate. In fact, I didn’t realize caramel was also one of the dominant ingredients until I read the packaging. If this candy-combo sounds up your alley, you’ll most likely buy NutRageous again and again. This is a genuine favorite candy bar of many connoisseurs, so you will be in good company if you find yourself adding the word “nutrageous” to your vocabulary—and your shopping list.

Tags: Reeses, milk chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, sweets

“Kum-Ba-Yah my Lord . . . Kum-Ba-Yah.” If you find yourself with the strange urge to sing campfire songs when you eat this candy, you won’t be alone. Hershey’s S’mores candy bar was born in 2003. The “snack size” 1.65-ounce treat is the one you’re most likely to find on display in grocery store aisles. The new candy bar was met with such success that a king-size bar rolled off production lines the next year.

Whatever size you choose, you’ll fine a new creation in Hershey’s S’mores. Unlike the traditional s’more eaten over a campfire, the graham cracker here is on the inside. Hershey’s chocolate gets wrapped around a layer of graham cracker bits topped with marshmallow. So bundle up in a sweater, cozy up by the fire, and rip open this candy bar! The ghost stories can wait until you’re done. And you don’t even need to nuke it in the microwave. Just to clarify, please don’t microwave this s’more, or you’ll find yourself with a big mess to clean up!

I think the Hershey’s S’mores bar offers enough variation from a plain chocolate bar to sell on the market. But marshmallow isn’t at the top of most consumers’ top tastes—probably right up there with coconut, which is a kind of love it or hate it flavor for most people. Graham cracker is a brilliant yet overlooked candy bar component—many more candy companies choose some type of wafer, nougat, or crisped rice for their chocolate complement. But it’s the combination of chocolate with these two unlikely ingredients—graham cracker and marshmallow—that makes this bar stand apart in the market. I’m prone to eating other s’mores flavored products, like Quaker Chewy Granola bars, but Hershey’s knows how to put out an even more tasty indulgence. Overcome the temptation to pick up your staple candy bar and give Hershey’s S’mores a shot.

Tags: Hershey, milk chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker , sweets

If Cadbury Eggs were sold year-round, all of our wallets would be in trouble. Strong seasonal sales have only encouraged England’s Cadbury corporation to release tasty temptations all year long. An expert in filled chocolates since the 1800s, Cadbury produces the United Kingdom’s current-best-selling chocolate, Cadbury Dairy Milk. In order to bring Cadbury over to the United States, Hershey’s gained the rights to make and sell Cadbury products nationwide. Americans picked up on the trend—they love Cadbury candies like the Royal Dark bar, Roasted Almond Bar, Fruit & Nut Bar, Crème Eggs, Caramel Eggs, and Caramello Bars.

The 1.6-ounce Caramello is a staple in many grocery and convenience store checkout aisles, and you can buy larger 4-ounce bars in movie theaters. Although each bar is filled with smooth, dripping caramel, each candy bar comes in sections (chocolate “pockets”) that are easy to break off and share without the filling oozing out. Though, once you sink your teeth into this delectable chocolate bar, sharing will probably be the last thing on your mind.

I’ve always loved Caramello bars, because there is really nothing like them outside of the Cadbury brand. The quality of chocolate is top notch. The caramel is so creamy and silky, and the bar has an undeniable melt-in-your-mouth quality. It’s like staring at uncharted lands or watching the ocean waves roll forward and backward. Eating this candy bar isn’t like going to the mall or going to a movie. It’s more rare and unique—like going on vacation. And you wouldn’t truly appreciate a vacation if you went all the time—right? It’s the same with a candy that you eat it all the time. Saving it for a special occasion makes it all the more special. Make Caramello bars your “vacation” candy—the one you eat to really get away from the “daily grind” and escape to a land of milk and cocoa.

Tags: Caramello, milk chocolate, caramel candy, Cadbury, sweets