Christmas and chocolate delights: Which are the most popular?

The Christmas season immediately brings to mind the most wonderful atmosphere of the year and the gifts that everyone is preparing to give and receive. Among the most popular ones this year are certainly chocolates. Indeed, everyone, young and old alike, loves to taste a good treat and appreciate the unmistakable aroma of chocolate in all its shades.

On the market, of course, there are chocolates of every taste and for every palate, and traditional Christmas chocolates in particular are among the most sought-after. These include classic chocolate truffles, fudge, peppermint bark and many more.

Among the possible gifts to give to friends and relatives or even to oneself, it is impossible not to mention the chocolates for Christmas from the Italian chocolate factory Venchi, true symbols of Christmas since 1878, which delight thousands of people every year.

But let’s take a look at some of the most loved and desired sweets at this time of year.

Fudge

Chocolate fudge is a confection with a unique, soft but slightly crunchy texture, made with a rich butter and sugar mixture.
Perfect as a mouth-watering snack, as a dessert after a meal or even as an accompaniment for a snack or breakfast, perhaps with a cup of tea, it can be enriched with dried fruits, such as nuts or almonds.

Fudge is particularly popular during holidays, such as Christmas, when it is often prepared as a gift for friends and family.

Peppermint bark

Peppermint Bark are delicious chocolate treats typical of the Christmas season in the United States, which show up on shop shelves during the holiday season.

These sweets are named for their characteristic irregular surface, which resembles tree bark, hence their name. There are different types on the market, depending on the manufacturer, but they all have in common a base made of layers of dark and white chocolate, often enriched with pieces of peppermint candy, often candy cane, which give them a pleasant crunch and a refreshing taste.

Marron glacé

Marron glacé is a refined French pastry made from chestnuts. This dessert is made by a lengthy process of candying chestnuts, which involves soaking them in sugar syrup until they are soft and sweet.

Afterwards, the candied chestnuts are covered with a thin sugar glaze, which gives them a crunchy texture and a glossy appearance. Besides the classic version, these sweets are also often found in the form of chocolates, in which the candied chestnut heart is wrapped in a shell of dark or milk chocolate.

Chocolate truffles

Chocolate truffles are a delicious preparation that is adaptable to any time of the year, but finds the right occasion to be enjoyed at Christmas.

These refined sweets are made with simple but tasty ingredients such as dark chocolate, butter, eggs and bitter cocoa powder. Their characteristic spherical or ball shape, combined with the cocoa coating, is what gives them their name ‘truffles’ as they resemble the appearance of prized mushrooms. 

Since their creation, numerous variations have been made, customised to suit the tastes of different populations. Among the best known are the American ones, with peanut butter and crumbled crackers, and the Swiss ones, which combine melted chocolate with butter and hot cream. The original version, however, remains one of the best-loved and most popular Christmas gifts.

Mixed pralines

Another type of traditional Christmas chocolates are the mixed pralines. You can often see them on Christmas tables and what makes them stand out are the different creams inside them. They are very simple but incredibly delicious chocolates that satisfy the tastebuds of both adults and children.

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