They say everything is better with chocolate, but is it?
In honor of National Candy Month, we’re
sharing some oddly popular and some surprisingly tasty
pairings. We’ll leave it up to you to determine if they really are better with
chocolate.
Beef Jerky
This
salty, sweet and chewy combination is sure to stir some
excitement among jerky fans. Plus, with so many varieties of jerky
available the options are seemingly endless. We suggest adding another element
of texture by topping the chocolate coating with crushed nuts, candy pieces,
drizzled caramel, dried fruit or savory spices like smoked paprika or red
pepper flakes.
Cheetos®
If your customers love your chocolate-covered potato chips, this seems like a natural next step. As an added bonus, coating Cheetos in chocolate will help to avoid the dreaded orange Cheeto fingers.
Chickpeas
Packed
with protein and fiber, chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) are super popular
right now—see for yourself with a quick internet search. When chickpeas are
roasted, they take on a crunchy snack-like quality. Try coating them in
chocolate and sprinkling them with a little sea salt and you are bound to catch
the attention of chickpea enthusiasts with this nutritious sweet treat.
Chocolate-covered chili peppers—perhaps with a dash of
sea salt fall right in line with current flavor trends;
spicy-salty-sweet. From habaneros to jalapenos to sweet peppers and everything
in between, there’s so many varieties of peppers you decide how daring you want
to be. **Bonus points if you stuff peppers with peanut butter.
Corn Nuts
We
first learned about this addictive combo while touring the R&D department
at The Blommer Chocolate Company in 2017. We give this sweet and savory mix of
chocolate and toasted corn kernels two thumbs up. Try it for yourself and tell
us what you think.
Onions
Chocolate-covered
onions? It sounds like an April Fools’ Day joke. As the story goes, the idea
started as a prank. Today, RCI member Mueller Chocolate Co.’s chocolate-covered onion has
developed into a “cult favorite” for tourists and food bloggers visiting
Philadelphia. For the record, it is unanimous that the chocolate-covered onion
is as disgusting as it sounds.
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
If
you have combined chocolate with peanut butter and chocolate with pretzels, but
you’ve never tried the three together, you’re in for a treat.
Pickles
It’s
an annual tradition for Malley’s Chocolates of Cleveland to drench dill pickles
in chocolate for St. Patrick’s Day—some could say this is the ultimate salty,
sweet combination. Unlike the chocolate-covered onion, people seem to really
enjoy this wacky combination.
Quinoa
The
ancient grain, quinoa, brings along with it a healthy halo. Combine it with
dark chocolate and dried superfoods like blueberries—this treat is not only
packed with nutrients but it tastes good too. Rather than working with raw
quinoa (which might chip a tooth), puffed quinoa is a better medium for
coating in chocolate. Puffed quinoa is easy to make yourself (a lot like
stovetop popcorn—check out this recipe) or you can buy puffed quinoa (see here).
Wasabi Peas
If
you like the crunch of chocolate-covered Cheetos and the heat of chocolate
chili peppers, these little spheres of goodness are the best of both worlds.
Creativity
doesn’t have to stop here. You never know where your next creative culinary
confection will come from. So, keep experimenting and have fun! And don’t
forget to tell people about your next wacky combination on social media,
in-store and even through a press release. Creative, out-of-the-box thinking
may be just what you need to create buzz and get people to visit your store or
website so they don’t miss out on all the fun!
Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.
Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
