Christmas Chocolates: What to Buy, Give and Keep Cool

Chocolate is the easiest Christmas gift there is. Almost everyone likes it, it suits every budget, and a good box looks generous under the tree. The trick is choosing something a little better than the supermarket aisle, and keeping it in one piece through an Australian summer.

Chocolates to share on Christmas Day

A box of assorted chocolates is the one to pass around after lunch. The Chocolatier Christmas Milk Stars Bon Bon holds 18 milk and dark chocolates made in Melbourne, in a Christmas bon bon you can put on the table.

Truffles are the classic after-dinner chocolate. The Cocoa Emporium Belgian Dusted Truffles are Belgian truffles dusted in cocoa, and very good with coffee.

Chocolates for the grown-ups

Chocolate-dipped fruit and nuts feel a little more grown up, and they pair well with a glass of red or a dessert wine.

• Forest Feast Belgian Dark Chocolate Figs are sun-dried figs dipped in 60% cocoa dark chocolate.
• Forest Feast Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds are for anyone who likes salt with their sweet.
• Milk and White Chocolate Raspberries are raspberry jellies covered in milk and white chocolate. A retro favourite.

Chocolate stocking fillers

Small, flat and under $15 is the stocking-filler sweet spot.

• Danny's Snacking Chocolate Thins Honeycomb and Mint are thin, snappable and easy to share.
• Milk Chocolate Pretzels: crunchy, salty and sweet at once.
• A chocolate gingerbread man for the smallest stockings.

A chocolate hamper

For a real chocolate lover, put it all in one box. The Chocolate Lovers Hamper is packed with Belgian truffles, chocolate macarons, chocolate-coated marshmallows and chocolate fudge.

How to choose good chocolate

• Read the ingredients. Cocoa butter should be the fat. Vegetable fat or palm oil is a sign of cheaper chocolate.
• Check the cocoa percentage on dark chocolate. Around 60 to 70% is rich without being bitter.
• Look at the finish. Good chocolate is glossy and snaps cleanly.

Keeping chocolate safe in an Australian summer

Chocolate starts to soften at around 28°C, and a car or a letterbox in December gets far hotter than that.

• Store it cool and dark, ideally between 15°C and 18°C. A cupboard away from the oven is better than a sunny bench.
• Use the fridge only if you must. Seal the chocolate in a container first so it does not pick up smells, then let it come back to room temperature before opening, or it will sweat.
• Never leave it in the car. Not even for the length of a shop.
• White marks are not mould. They are fat or sugar bloom from temperature changes. The chocolate is safe to eat. We explain why in why chocolate turns white in summer.

Make your own chocolate gifts

Melted chocolate, a tray and a few toppings make a quick homemade gift. Spread dark chocolate thinly, scatter with chopped nuts, dried cranberries and broken candy canes, set in the fridge and snap into shards. More ideas in our homemade Christmas food gifts.

Browse all of our gourmet chocolate, or the Chocolatier, The Cocoa Emporium and Forest Feast ranges.