Chocolate is frequently used as an ingredient in desserts, brownies, cakes, and ice creams. It’s no stranger to delicious treats; however, did you know it goes both ways? Many chocolate makers create dessert-inspired chocolates, trying to recreate a dessert’s charm and flavour in a different medium, while also keeping it first and foremost chocolate. Here is our breakdown of the finest dessert-inspired chocolates.
1. New York Cheesecake — Gnaw
Cheesecake has been around since ancient Greece, though it’s had more than its fair share of iterations since then. One of the most notable versions, at least in modern times, is the New York cheesecake. What sets this one apart is that it is usually baked to create a firmer texture on the exterior, but it also uses sour cream as part of the filling, making the texture dense and fluffy with extra tang.
Gnaw have transformed this cheesecake into a milk chocolate bar, complete with biscuit crumbles and strong caramelised vanilla flavours, creating a delicious, creamy bar.
2. Eton Mess — Kernow
Eton mess’ history is complicated, and dare we say 'messy', with multiple origins being shared and many of them disproven. The most likely tale, strawberry pavlova was made during a cricket game between Eton and Harrow College, in which it was dropped and the meringue was served in bits as Eton mess. Regardless of the truth behind this tale, the dessert is delicious. Featuring shards of meringue, strawberries and cream, the dessert is true to its name and a bit messy.
Cornish chocolate maker Kernow has recreated this dessert in a white chocolate bar, featuring meringue pieces and chewy strawberry and raspberry jelly bits to bring all components together.
3. Dundee Cake — Quirky
A much-adored Scottish dessert, a Dundee cake is a fruit cake baked with flaked almonds, sultanas, cherries, and mixed zest. This cake, like many of the others on this list, has a complicated history.
One origin has it being baked for Mary Queen of Scots due to her dislike of glace cherries, ending up with almonds used throughout the cake, but the more likely origin has the cake baked by Janet Keiller in Dundee, her family known for their marmalade business. Regardless, the humble taste is delicious, and each ingredient brings a unique flavour to the cake.
4. Key Lime Pie — Stateside
Again, like the other desserts on this list, Key lime pie has several disputed origins; however, all sources agree it was created in the Florida Keys. The most popular origin has the pie being invented by Aunt Sally, who adapted the recipe from local fishermen's recipes. The pie uses condensed milk and key limes (a sweeter lime flavour than the more popular Persian limes) to create a creamy, citrussy taste.
Stateside have used chewy lime pieces and lime oil to get this distinct flavour in this dark chocolate bar, with the deep cacao flavour complementing the tart lime flavours.
5. Pecan Pie — Stateside
Pecan pie is a common centrepiece at American Thanksgiving celebrations and throughout the autumn season. Pecan pie is absolutely loaded with pecans, warm spices and brown sugar, creating a comforting, nutty and deep sweetness that pairs well with the seasonal atmosphere.
Stateside have once again bottled this flavour and put it inside their chocolate, with this dark chocolate bar featuring crunchy pecan pieces sprinkled throughout the bar. A texture masterpiece and delicious chocolate.
6. Banoffee Pie — Kernow
Banoffee pie is a traditional British dessert enjoyed since 1971 and was created by two chefs in East Sussex, after augmenting an American toffee pie recipe that was unreliable. This dessert features a biscuit base, ripe banana slices layered atop, covered with condensed milk caramel and topped with whipped cream.
Sweet and hearty, this dessert has been turned into a chocolate bar by Kernow. Featuring milk chocolate, honeycomb pieces for that caramel punch, alongside banana flavouring. Definitely one of our favourites.
7. Cranachan — Chocolate Tree
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert. A lot like a trifle, it features layers of cream, raspberries, a dash of whisky and oatmeal. This robust dessert has been enjoyed for a very long time, originally made from crowdie, a type of cheese. The incorporation of raspberries is to celebrate the harvest season.
Chocolate Tree’s white chocolate bar features freeze-dried raspberries and oats, alongside honey to create a bar with all the complete cranachan elements.
8. Cinnamon Swirl — Ocelot
Cinnamon swirls originate from Northern Europe, likely Sweden, with Swedes having enjoyed these pastries and cinnamon-spiced sweet rolls since the early 20th century. Ocelot have taken the recipe to heart and incorporated it into their milk chocolate, featuring actual pieces of cinnamon roll as well as a fair amount of cinnamon. Warm and sweet, what more could you ask for?
9. Rocky Road — ARTHOUSE Unlimited
Rocky road is a biscuity treat featuring a mess of marshmallows, nuts, and dried fruit all bound together with chocolate. This makes it a no-brainer to turn into a chocolate bar. With mixed accounts of its creation, the most likely origin is its Australian origin. In the 1850s, Australian confectioners mixed spoiled ingredients with chocolate to create a new dessert and named it after miners’ difficult journeys into the bush.
ARTHOUSE Unlimited have replicated the taste with marshmallows and caramelised biscuit in their Dusty Road dark chocolate bar.
Coming soon
10. Carrot Cake — COCO Chocolatier
Finishing up this list, we have a classic dessert. Carrot cake has been around since Medieval Europe, featuring a sweet treat made from the easily grown and widely available root vegetable. During this time, carrot was used as an alternative, cheap sweetener to sugar, and the cake witnessed a resurgence in popularity during World War II when sugar was scarce.
Featuring warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, COCO Chocolatier have created this cake in milk chocolate bar form. It even incorporates dried carrot pieces for a chewy texture and an added sweetness. This one you need to try!
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