Uncovering Unconventional and Exquisite Chocolate Confections

A symphony of flavor, chocolate transcends taste to elicit emotion. Try unconventional candy combinations that push the boundaries of confectionery.

The wholesome options here are ideal for children and those who prefer to eat their chocolate in bite-size pieces. See’s Candies offers a wide variety of nut-celebrating sweets such as the CA Crunch, flakey brittle with peanuts and cashews enrobed in white chocolate.

1. Almond Roches

Crafted with lush, single-origin cocoa and roasted whole California almonds, this vegan dark chocolate rocher is rich, smooth and indulgent. Each bite is an enchanting experience and will take you on a sublime taste journey.

Make this nutty and delightfully crunchy confection at home. It’s a perfect holiday treat to share with friends and family. This recipe also makes a great gift!

Turning sugar into toffee and caramel requires a fair amount of skill. This recipe is a good way to practice your candy making skills. It’s also a fun dessert to bring to your next party.

2. Peanut Butter Cups

The classic peanut butter cup is a molded chocolate confection with a creamy peanut butter filling. It is one of the most popular kinds of candy in America and it is also a staple for many regional and independent candymakers.

Homemade peanut butter cups are relatively easy to make. To prepare them, you simply pour melted chocolate into small paper-lined cups (such as mini muffin cups). Next, you spoon in the peanut butter mixture and then top with additional melted chocolate. When finished, you place the pan in the fridge and let it set. It only takes about 20 minutes. Then enjoy! You can also store the chocolates in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze them for up to a month.

3. Cognac & Preserved Ginger

Chocolate is one of those mood-boosting, endorphin releasing ingredients that can be paired with almost anything. While Willy Wonka may have pushed the boundaries of his chocolate inventions, many chefs and home cooks are experimenting with unconventional candy flavors.

Cognac and preserved ginger are the inspiration behind these pretty little chocolate treats. Polished molds conceal a smooth and creamy mixture of chocolate, cognac, and ginger syrup. The recipe for these scrumptious little confections can be found in the book, Chocolate Ecstacy by Christine France. Preparation starts the night before with peeling and cutting of the ginger into 1 inch thick pieces. Place in the freezer overnight.

4. Meltaways

Chocolate meltaways, also known as velvets or melting candies, are a unique confection with an interesting texture that begins to dissolve as soon as it hits the tongue. This is made possible by combining chocolate with another fat that differs in molecular structure, but not significantly in melting temperature, from cocoa butter that’s already present in the chocolate itself.

This recipe adapted from the Culinary Institute of America uses vegetable palm shortening to achieve this effect. It requires no tempering and is easy to make, but it does contain raw eggs and should be refrigerated until ready to serve.

Enjoy this elegant chocolate mint meltaway during the holidays or any time of year. Velvety smooth milk or dark chocolate accompanies a fresh, mint-infused center.

5. Cinnamon Almonds

A versatile snack and treat, these cinnamon-coated almonds are a great complement to dark chocolate. They can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a custom trail mix blend. Whether decking the halls or sharing special moments with friends and family, this candy makes for an ideal companion.

The size of these chocolates—almost too large to eat in one bite—was a major drawback, and the fillings weren’t much better. Perry found a raspberry-flavored confection to taste like cough syrup and Laura thought that a coffee-flavored chocolate resembled the sludge at the bottom of a frappuccino.

The company’s workshop-boutique combines chocolate, pastry and design in speckled hand-painted bonbon bars filled with ingredients like sea buckthorn and caramelized white chocolate or blackberry and Tasmanian pepper.

6. Fudge

Fudge is a soft, dense confection that can be made with or without chocolate. It gained popularity during the late 19th century as a homemade sweet that fell between expensive candies and the cheapest desserts.

Most recipes are simple, and can be flavored with almost anything. Vanilla is a classic, but other flavors are popular as well. The trick to making a successful batch is cooking the mixture to the right temperature, which requires the use of a candy thermometer. Once cooked, it needs to be whipped to achieve the desirable fine texture. A small variation in temperature or ingredients can cause the fudge to harden, crystalize or fall apart.