If you want to give something a little out of the ordinary (and I can think of a few brothers-in-law who wouldn’t even think twice about it), you could try your hand at some chocolate covered bacon, which, truth be told, is actually quite delicious. If you’re packaging it up, make sure you put parchment paper between the layers so the chocolate doesn’t all stick together.

There’s also always the old standby of chocolate covered strawberries, though these might do best as something to serve at a party as opposed to packaging up for gift giving.

And who says the whole chocolate covered treat had to be edible? Try these chocolate dipped spoons for a great and easy stir-in for coffee or hot chocolate — the chocolate melts into the hot liquid with no muss, no fuss, and they’re great for gift giving with a tin of hot chocolate and some cute mugs.

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

~ Dark Chocolate Coconut Macaroons at Brownies for Dinner

~ Chocolate Chipotle Brownies from The Dog’s Breakfast

~ Chocolate Caramel Pecan Bars at Savory Sweet Life

~ Peppermint Patty Cocktail from Life’s Ambrosia

~ Rocky-Road Brownies at The Novice Chef

~ Chocolate Pecan Tarts from Whitney in Chicago

~ Chewy Coconut Chocolate Pinwheels at Blue Ridge Baker

~ Homemade Pocky from Wild Yeast

~ Gingerbread Blondie S’mores Panini at Panini Happy

~ Chocolate Christmas Mince Pies from Pease Pudding

~ Rolo Pretzel Bites at The Girl Who Ate Everything

~ Chocolate Meringue Mushrooms from East Village Kitchen

~ Chocolate and Candy Cane Cookies at Spicy Ice Cream

~ Dark Chocolate Drizzled Mints from Gimme Some Oven

~ Chocolate-Glazed Mocha Fans at No Fear Entertaining

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

Mochachino Chocolate Brownies

Brownies:
1/2 cup butter
4 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur, or cold coffee
cinnamon

~ Melt butter and chocolate together. Add coffee powder. Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt, mix well.

~ Add flour and stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

~ Pour into a greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for about 40 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

~ Frosting: In a small bowl beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in icing sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Beat in liqueur to combine.

~ Spread frosting over the cooled brownies. Sprinkle cinnamon over top. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

A box of Leonidas Belgian Chocolates comes in 1 lb, 1.5 lb and 2 lb sizes. The pretty box already comes wrapped and with a bow!

If this Chocolate Gift Basket were the only thing under the tree for me this year, I would be one happy camper! It comes complete with Ghirardelli chocolates, truffles and truffle cookies, hot chocolates and candies.

Produced by Scharffen Berger, the Essence of Chocolate cookbook would be a fun addition to any chocolate lover’s cookbook collection.

One of my most favorite movies, Chocolat starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche is one I never get tired of watching. Check out the novel, too.

Who wouldn’t love a box of candy bars? This package of 30 bars from M&M’s/Mars could be divvied up for stocking stuffers or just wrapped and put under the tree!

Timothy’s has a box of White Hot Chocolate made specifically for the Keurig coffee brewer. The two-pack comes with 22 K-cups each.

Chocolate-covered pomagranate seeds would make a perfect stocking stuffer. I didn’t even know these existed but it’s been added to my wishlist!

I could totally make room on my counter for a hot chocolate maker. I’ve already got an electric kettle, though, so I don’t know if I could justify another similar appliance!

You don’t have to drink chocolate to keep warm! How about a Snuggie in chocolate brown microfiber?

Every day can be delicious, even if you’re kicking off 2010 with a diet! This 2010 wall calendar features a decadent chocolate treat for every month.

[images: amazon]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

~ Holiday Fudge Ring at Dinosaur Dishes

~ Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies from The Girl Who Ate Everything

~ French Chocolate Cake at Happee Monkee

~ Chocolate and Green Tea Truffles from Diet, Dessert and Dogs

~ Caramelized Almonds Dipped in Chocolate at Eddy Van Damme

~ Chocolate Covered Coffee Toffee from Moje Wypieki

~ Nutella Swirl Poundcake at The Cutting Edge of Ordinary

~ S’mores Cookie Bars from Beantown Baker

~ Candy Cane Mint Chocolate Fudge at Cookin’ Canuck

~ Chili Con Carne with Chocolate from The Winter Guest

~ Chocolate Dipped Florentine Shortbreads at Food People Want

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

~ Chunky Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle from Kacey’s Kitchen

~ Egg-Free Double Chocolate Chip Cookies at Art of Dessert

~ Toffee S’mores Candy Cup from Timeless Gourmet

~ Cocoa Meringue Cookies at Inn Cuisine

~ Nanaimo Bars from Playing House

~ Just Fudge at Inside the Kaganoff Kitchen

~ Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte from Pennies on a Platter

~ Spicy Chocolate Bacon at Culinary Escapade

~ Tart Chocolat from Fresh New England

~ Chocolate and Candied Ginger Cake at Flagrante Delicia

~ Chili-Choco Sweets from Green Kitchen Stories

~ Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake at Mike Lesiuk

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

Why not break tradition and try one of the delicious goodies below with fudge or cookies or fun crafty things to do with kids. If you don’t feel like shaking things up that much, put a chocolaty treat beside the pumpkin pie so your guests can choose.

~ Oreo Turkeys from Cookies and Cups

~ How to Frost a (Beautiful) Cake Tutorial at Savory Sweet Life

~ S’more Cupcakes from Annie’s Eats

~ Butter Toffee Crunch at Blue Ridge Baker

~ Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa from Wasabimon

~ Nutella and Dark Chocolate Truffles at Sunita’s World

~ Chocolate Whoopie Pies from Comfy Belly

~ Chocolate Pretzels at Zoom Yummy

~ Homemade Belgian Truffles from Eddy Van Damme

~ Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle at Piece of Cake

~ Irish Creme Hershey Kisses from Candy Blog

~ Chocolate Caramel Bars at Delicously Organic

~ Individual Mocha Brownie Tarts from The Naptime Chef

~ Chocolate Waffles Cookies at The Merline Menu

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

From now until Friday, November 27th, you’ve got a shot to win a $25 gift card from See’s Candies. Use it on yourself, or use it to buy someone else a very tasty holiday treat. It also fits quite nicely in a stocking (I should know, my awesome husband puts a card in mine every year!).

(Don’t forget to check out their great Thanksgiving candies, too!)

To Enter:

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment here telling me what your favorite part of the holiday season is. The music? The gifts (both giving and receiving!)? The family and friends coming together? Or how about the food and yummy treats? There is no wrong answer!

….

~ Contest ends Friday, November 27 at 5:00pm PST. One winner will be randomly drawn and notified by email, and will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

~ Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

~ One winner will receive one $25 See’s gift card.

[images used with permission from See's Candies]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I found these at Crepes of Wrath, and since I always have the supplies on hand to make chocolate chip cookies, I printed out the recipe and headed straight for the kitchen. They were easy enough to make, though the dough is a little different that what you’d normally be used to because the olive oil is liquid as opposed to the more solid butter, so there’s no creamed butter/sugar mix.

I have to say, it does make a very pretty cookie! The taste at first was a little underwhelming, but you can definitely tell they’re a bit different than a standard chocolate chip cookie, a little caramely, almost. They actually taste better the next day, and they stayed nice and chewy as well!

These would be great with a white chocolate chip, macadamia nut and craisin makeover, too!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

~ Cinnamon Churros with Real Hot Chocolate at Almost Bourdain

~ Cocoa Brownies from Lemonpi

~ Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons at Piece of Cake

~ Dove’s Peppermint Bark Review from Candy Blog

~ Chocolate and Cookies Loaf Cake at Food & Cook

~ Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Savoring Time in the Kitchen

~ Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bundt Cake at The Food Librarian

~ Pear and Dark Chocolate Jam from Flagrante Delicia

~ How to Make English Toffee at Eddy Van Damme

~ Oreo Balls from Peace of Cake

~ Black Bean Brownies at Every Food Fits

~ Cocoa and Chili Rubbed Pork Chops from Gimme Some Oven

~ Banana Split Pie at Big Red Kitchen

~ Chocolate Cookies with Cranberries and Pistachios from Trissalicious

~ Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt Cake at Raccoon and Lobster

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes