Holiday Giveaways

In what may be our best contest yet - we will be giving away daily baskets of holiday goodies featuring some of our best  holiday products through the end of this week only. Winners will be chosen daily and announced here from those that enter this sweepstakes.  Click here to visit the fan page to enter.  Fan Page

Which is your favorite?

Your favorite?     Click here to tell everyone which one you love best? Is it the Semisweet Bar, The Milkless-milk like bar or our newest Polar Dream white bar. Click the link to share your opinion.

Check This Fella Out!

Cyber Monday Today

Haven't yet used code cybermonday for 20% off. There are still a few more hours to get fantastic deals at www.premiumchocolatiers.com on the occasion of Cyber Monday. Have a look!

Last Day to Enter the Chocolate Bar Sweepstakes

Visit our fan page here to enter the great chocolate bar giveaway celebrating the launch of our  third bar called Polar Dream. Fan Page Don't forget to like our page as well because these deals keep on coming. You don't want to miss out on the up to the minute details that are often only available to fans! See also Sweepstakes

How to Make Your Own Trail Mix

Do you love trail mix? Have you ever considered making your own? Now is the time! Making your own trail mix is super easy, and it’s better than purchasing pre-made versions at the grocery store. When you make your own trail mix, you can change the ratio of ingredients to include more of your favorites, and have better control over what goes into it to begin with.
Here is what you will need to make your own trail mix:
1 cup roasted peanuts
1 cup chopped cashews (or almonds)
1 cup raisins
1 cup vegan chocolate
Here is what you need to do with the ingredients: Simply mix it all in a container. There’s your trail mix! You can store it in an air-tight container for a couple of weeks, if needed, or use it right away. Trail mix makes a great snack to take on hikes, put in the kids’ lunch, or carry with you for when you need a quick pick-me-up.
One of the great things about trail mix is that you can put whatever you want in it. Some optional ingredients include shredded coconut, popcorn, chocolate-covered pretzels, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, Chex cereal, etc. Just make sure you have a combination of sweet and salty, and that you have various textures in the mix. If you like more peanuts, add more. If you like fewer almonds, scale back on those. Try different combinations until you find one that you can’t resist!
At Premium Chocolatiers, we specialize in providing top-of-the-line vegan chocolates. Our products do not contain any milk derivitives, gelatin, eggs, or any other animal products. If you make your own trail mix once, you will never want to buy the pre-made store options again! Contains Nuts.

Thanksgiving Chocolate Bar Giveaway

You asked for it. We listened! Celebrating the launch of our newest Milk Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free product – The Polar Dream White Chocolate Bar. www.premiumchocolatiers.com/polar-dream-white-bars-p-183.html . One winner takes home a pack of each of our chocolate bar series including Milkless, Premium Dark, and Polar Dream. To sweeten the deal – whomever invited you to join this deal gets a pack of their favorite bars and and you also get to give any invitee that joined the sweepstakes a pack of their favorites. It’s a no brainer. You won’t get a better chance to try all these! Winner receives a Chocolate Turkey as well!   Visit our Fan page at  Sweepstakes

Simple Vegan Chocolate Frosting Recipe

If you need a vegan chocolate frosting, there is no need to head out to the store. If you purchase the store-bought ones, you are likely to find ingredients in it that you may not want, such as hydrogenated oils. Making vegan chocolate frosting at home is super simple. This recipe is for a vegan chocolate frosting, or you can use it as a vegan chocolate ganache. Whether you are using it to frost a cake, cupcakes or cookies, it is simple and sure to please!

Here is what you will need to make a simple vegan chocolate frosting:

28 ounces of vegan chocolate bars

1/3 cup of vegan milk (e.g., soy, almond, coconut, etc.)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

You will need to melt the vegan chocolate. You can do this either by using a double boiler on the stove or by using the microwave. If you are using the microwave, set it to cook for 10 seconds, stop and stir, then repeat until all the vegan chocolate has melted. Once the vegan chocolate has melted, either in a double boiler or in the microwave, add the milk and vanilla and stir thoroughly. At this point, the vegan chocolate frosting will be warm, but cool enough to start spreading on your cake or using on your other baked goods.

For the vegan chocolate bars that you need to make the frosting, you may want to try our dark semisweet bars, which come six to a pack, or milkless-the bar, which also comes in a six-pack. Both options work well in this recipe to create a vegan chocolate frosting that you can use in a variety of ways. And if you are feeling a little more adventurous, consider using our polar dream white chocolate bar. With this option, you can choose the color of your chocolate frosting!

Gluten Free Dairy Free Hot Chocolate

From Matthewspuzzle.com
With October here I am starting to think about warm sweaters, falling leaves, hay rides and creamy hot chocolate. But in our house it has to be gluten free dairy free Hot Chocolate. I think the best way to make a delicious, creamy gluten free dairy free hot chocolate is to use coconut milk and almond, which is delicious anyway and makes hot chocolate even better.

 

Author: Matthew’s Puzzle

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 2 to 4

Ingredients

• 1 can coconut milk (13.6 fl oz)
• 1 Tbs honey
• 2 Tbs cocoa powder (gluten free)
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (gluten free)
• 1/2 teaspoon chocolate extract (gluten free)

Instructions

1. In a sauce pan combine all ingredients over low to low/medium heat.
2. Stir constantly until heated.
3. Pass through a strainer to ensure creaminess (optional).
4. Serve immediately.

Vegan Fudge

If you crave the creamy goodness of fudge but want to pass up on the dairy, try vegan fudge. Making your own vegan fudge is not only simple, but it tastes amazing. It also makes great gifts. Simply pick up some small holiday containers to fill with your vegan fudge. It’s hard to beat giving vegan fudge as a gift!

Here’s what you need to make vegan fudge:

12 Ounces of Semisweet Chocolate

6 Tablespoons of vegan butter (e.g., Earth Balance)

3.5 cups of confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

½ cup of cocoa powder

¼ cup of nondairy milk (e.g., almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk)

Optional: 1 cup of chopped nuts, or 1 cup of vegan marshmallows

Here’s what you need to do:

First, prepare the pan that the fudge will go into once it’s cooked. Choose an 8-inch square baking pan and lightly grease it with vegan butter. Next, you will need to use a double boiler to melt everything. If you do not have a double boiler you can create your own. Simply take a larger pan, fill it about a quarter of the way with water, and then put a smaller pan inside of it. The fudge will be made in the smaller pan.

Once you have your double boiler set up, add the vegan chocolate bars, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, butter, milk, and cocoa powder. Gently keep stirring the mixture around in the pan until it all melts together, keeping the heat on low to medium. Once the mixture is smooth you are ready to add the nuts or marshmallows if you will be using them. Then, pour it evenly into your prepared pan and put it in the refrigerator for three hours. Once it is set you can cut it into small squares. You can keep it in a sealed container for about week, or you can freeze it and pull it out as needed, allowing it to thaw.

            Now that you have the recipe to make vegan fudge you can get creative with it. Try adding in things like dried cranberries, mint, or other things to make different variations.

           

Vegan Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Making vegan chocolate covered strawberries is simple, yet it looks absolutely great and will make people think you spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing them. Vegan chocolate covered strawberries makes for a great dish to set out if you are having company over, or if you just want to surprise your family with something special.

Here is what you need to make vegan chocolate covered strawberries:

1 large container of strawberries (more if you’d like to make a bigger batch)

1 package vegan  Milkless Chocolate Bars

 or Semisweet Chocolate Bars

Start out by preparing your strawberries. You will want to make sure they are washed good and gently patted dry. Next, prepare the platter or plate that they will go on. It will work best if you can put wax paper on the platter or plate, so that they come up easier when people go to eat them.

            Now you are ready to melt your chocolate. Put your vegan chocolate bars into a microwave safe bowl, or use a double boiler on the stove. If you are using the microwave, put the bowl of vegan chocolate bars in the microwave and turn it on and off for 5-10 second intervals stirring between each on/off as as needed. Do not let it get to warm-just trying to melt it. Then, take the strawberries one by one and dip them into the vegan chocolate (holding the stem) so that they are completely covered. After dipping each one, lay it down on the wax paper lined plate.

            When you are finished dipping the strawberries into the vegan chocolate, put the tray into the refrigerator for 15 minutes. You can make these up ahead of time, but you should take them out of the refridgerator at least 15 minutes before people will be eating them, so that they will not be too cold on their teeth. As long as you are not taking them out in the heat of summer you should not have to worry about them melting.

            Vegan chocolate covered strawberries are divine! You can also try dipping other fruits into chocolate, such as orange slices, cherries, bananas, and pineapple. Get creative!

            We offer a wide variety of vegan chocolates to choose from. Our vegan chocolate is perfect for your recipes, eaten as treats, or given as gifts. Check out our vegan chocolates today!

DIY packaging Ideas for Allergy Safe Homemade Halloween Treats

This Halloween if you are opting for homemade treats for handing out to the children, whether because you are vegan or want to avoid any allergy incidents- packaging might have been a concern. We have collected the best packaging ideas for homemade and baked treats like cookies, brownies, candy and safe chocolate.
Use these innovative and simple ideas to add your personal touch to the delectable goodies you’re handing out. You can modify these ideas to suit the Halloween spirit and decorate the packaging in your style.
1. Repurposed Containers: This is a great idea for packing cookies and dry baked treats. It is convenient and also encourages green thinking. Empty Pringle cans work great for this, but you can use any container with a lid. Gently wipe clean the container and decorate the exterior using contact paper, ribbons, paints and glue. You can decorate it with a Halloween theme- the options are endless.
2. Useable Textiles: You can use hand towels, kitchen towels or cloth napkins to wrap homemade desserts like brownies. Put the dessert in a re-sealable plastic bag, place it at the center of the napkin, gather the edges and tie a pretty knot. You can also make rolls tied with ribbons.
3. Clear Cellophane: This kind of packaging is similar to the cloth packaging, except that it lets the yummy treat inside to be seen. You can buy a roll of cellophane and cut small squares to make see through bundles by bunching the edges together, or candy shaped packaging by bunching them at two ends.  Use ribbons to tie the knots and you can wrap cookies individually or some chocolate covered candies.
4. Paper Cones: These are extremely simple to do. You can make your own with the desired paper, buy some popcorn cones at the market or even use party hats. These are easy to decorate for adding the Halloween touch. You can use them to handout caramel popcorn and other bit sized treats.
Go ahead; let your creativity run a little wild this Halloween using these great packaging ideas for delicious homemade goodies.

Image url: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6261472868_8b922458fb_o.jpg

Vegan Smores

Believe it or not, making vegan smores is a breeze! Today there are plenty of vegan products available so you can plan a smores making extravaganzza on your next outting, camping trip, or if you simply want to have a special treat. Making vegan smores is easier than you may think!
Here’s what you need:
1 package of vegan marshamallows
1 package of vegan graham crackers
1 package vegan chocolate bars
Then over an open flame, slowly roast the marshmallow to a golden brown. To get it that way, put it on the roaster, hold it slightly above the flame, and slowly turn it so that all sides ov the vegan marshmallow get browned. Once it is done, place it on a graham cracker piece that has been topped with a vegan chocolate bar. Add another graham cracker for the top, and press it down slightly so that the vegan marshamallow begins to spread out over the vegan chocolate.
With the marshmallow being warm, it will begin to melt the vegan chocolate, creating a masterpiece of a dessert! You may even want to add in a little natural peanut butter for an added flavorful bonus.
Not sure where to get vegan marshmallows and vegan chocolate? No problem! You can purchase vegan marshmallows online, at health food stores, and places like Whole Foods Market. There are a couple of brands, including Sweet & Sara’s and Dandies. These brands are gelatin, as well as egg and dairy, free. When it comes to vegan chocolates to make your smores, we offer the per Our Mini Bars Milkless come in packs of 12 bars and are the perfect size for making individual smores.
Vegan smores is within reach. And they are delicious! Plan your next vegan smores event today!
 Our products do not contain any milk derivitives, gelatin, eggs, or any other animal products. Check out our vegan chocolates today!

 

Dont Be Scared Be Safe- Halloween Tips for Parents of Kids with Allergies

Candies are hard to resist, especially Halloween candy. It can be a difficult time for those with food allergies. Most Halloween candy treats contain either dairy, nuts or egg- the most common allergens among kids. As a parent, you are often left with no choice but to not send your children trick or treating. Explaining this to the children is hard. However, there are a lot of bright ideas and tips that can help you making Halloween fun and safe at the same time. There is no reason that a child with food allergies should not enjoy Halloween to any lesser measure to other kids. But it takes some watchfulness and planning.
You can’t celebrate Halloween with no treats, so prepare in advance and buy a variety of safe Halloween treats like Allergy Safe Chocolates and candies that do not contain any ingredients that your child is allergic to. If your kids are older, it’s a good idea to familiarize them with candies and treats that are safe. Alternate treats like cool stickers, toys or piggy bank money could also work. Keep the following tips in mind to keep the tricks away from the treating.
• You can plan something completely different like a movie night, slumber party for your kids and their friends, or even a Halloween scavenger hunt for safe treats or ther rewards.
• Keep the emergency medicines handy when going trick or treating.
• If you wish to let your children go trick or treating, you could give the neighbors safe Halloween treats in advance to hand out to your child.
• Or you could carry your own allergy free chocolate treats to swap with the ones they collect.
• Once home, sift through the collected candy to separate the safe and potentially harmful candy. Trade the unsafe candy with allergen free Halloween treats, or non-good gifts depending on their age.
• Read the ingredient labels carefully, even the smallest quantity of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction.
• Donate Left-over candy to underprivileged children, children’s hospital, or kids who could not go trick or treating.
Keeping these tips in mind you can keep the allergy scare out of ‘trick or treating’.

Vegan chocolate? You bet!

You may have wondered, as many other people have, if chocolate is vegan. The answer to this question is yes and no. Chocolate itself starts out being vegan, but not all of the chocolate you come across may be. It all depends on what people put into it and what they do with it. The good news, however, is that there are vegan chocolates, and they taste amazing!
Whether you are a vegan yourself, know someone who is, or you have allergies or intolerances, there may come a time when you are in need of some vegan chocolate. Many people do not realize that there are “hidden” ingredients that may render chocolate non-vegan. If you are buying it as a gift for someone else, it’s important to know what vegan chocolate is, and that it does indeed exist!
    The good news about vegan chocolate is that there is no compromising on flavor. In fact, most people find vegan chocolate to be superior to milk chocolate because you actually get more of the chocolate taste, and less of the milk taste. Vegan chocolate also tends to be more satisfying and is higher in antioxidants.
    What can make chocolate non-vegan? Those chocolate varieties that tend to have milk or milk byproducts in them, for starters. If there is milk, or any of its derivatives, it is not vegan. Some of the ingredients you need to watch out for that make it non-vegan include milk, lactose, whey, butter, cream, nougat, casein, milk fat, and a variety of others.
    Vegan chocolate does not contain any of these milk derivatives, nor does it contain any eggs, gelatin, or other non-vegan ingredients. At Premium Chocolatiers, we specialize in providing top-of-the-line vegan chocolates that are sure to please. Whether you are looking for Halloween Vegan Chocolate and candies, Thanksgiving vegan chocolates, vegan chocolate truffles, or you would like vegan chocolate gifts for someone, we have you covered!
   

Safety and Security

Everyone with a peanut allergy is afraid of anaphylaxis, which can happen when the allergic person is exposed to one of their allergens. Anaphylactic shock happens very quickly and it can be deadly. When someone goes into anaphylactic shock, their body reacts by releasing chemicals and it is the natural reaction that causes the potentially deadly anaphylaxis. The scariest part of anaphylaxis is the speed in which it happens. Once the chemicals are released, the airways narrow and breathing becomes difficult, blood pressure drops dramatically, hives develop, and vomiting can happen. The deadliest part of anaphylaxis happens when the air ways narrow and blood pressure drops. If you or your child has a food allergy to peanuts, an EpiPen could someday save your life. A friend of mine went on vacation to Toronto (they were from the States) and her daughter had a reaction in the hotel. They went to their room and within moments, her daughter could not breathe. She suddenly completely stopped breathing and passed out dead cold on the bed. They were so lucky that her husband had the EpiPen with him, because if he had had to run out to the car, their daughter would have died. He stabbed the shot into her leg so hard that he actually bent the needle on her little thigh, but he saved her life as the epinephrine immediately forced her back into consciousness. Since they were from the States, they were unaware of what to do with her at the hotel. Her husband grabbed the four year old and carried her as he ran to the front desk. The employees called 911 which brought a fire truck and ambulance to the hotel. They spent the day at the hospital, while the doctors made sure their daughter would be alright. She ended up being fine, but they left Toronto and drove home, ending their vacation before it even started. Since people with food allergies cannot be home all of the time, it is extremely important for them to be aware of their surroundings and prepared for the worst. My friend reported that the hotel room was immaculate and there was not any food in the room, but since it only takes 1/44,000 of a peanut kernel, literally the DUST of a peanut, it could have easily bee peanut residue from the previous lodger. To this day, their daughter carries a small purse everywhere she goes, even in her public school classroom. The purse contains her EpiPen, Benadryl, and her inhaler of Albuterol. If you are an adult or older teen with food allergies, you should let your friends and those who eat with you know that you have food allergies, especially if they are the type to cause anaphylaxis. In 2011, actor Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman) was eating with friends Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan when he suddenly went into shock. Neither woman knew that he had a severe food allergy to many different kinds of nuts, so they had no idea what to do when the shock began. Had he told his friends that he had a food allergy, they would have been able to help him by injecting an EpiPen or making sure that their food was free of nuts or other allergens. He was rushed to the hospital and had to stay overnight while the physicians made sure he was stable. Knightley and Mulligan were caught completely unaware and did not know what to do. It turned out that there were traces of nuts in the food that Garfield ordered. Experiencing anaphylactic shock is extremely frightening for the person who is in shock, but it is also incredibly frightening for the people who are watching. It is a great idea for those with tendencies towards anaphylactic shock as a reaction to a food allergy like peanuts, milk or eggs, to tell their dining companions about their food allergies, so if something horrible happens and the people who could help you are totally unaware. Knowledge is power and if you are dining away from home, make everyone knowledgeable when you are dining away from home

Food Allergies

Living with food allergies or celiac disease presents several challenges when searching for chocolate; combing the aisles for gourmet chocolate and spending hours reading ingredients is a frustration known all too well to those with special diets. Most chocolate in grocery stores and even specialty stores are not safe for people on special restrictive diets because they contain ingredients that could make them very ill. Studies have found that Celiac disease is much more common now than it was many years ago which you can see from the expanding gluten-free sections in supermarkets. Celiac disease sufferers have to be wary of barley malt and wheat, which are commonly used in gourmet candies. Even beautiful celebrities like Emmy Rossum (lead Actress in “Phantom of the Opera”), Elizabeth Hasselbeck (co-host of “The View”) and former president's daughter, Chelsea Clinton have restrictive diets due to Celiac Disease. The disease also affects Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints! Who knew so many celebrities have to deal with the same thing that 1 in 133 or three million Americans have to deal with. What makes this worse, is only 1 in 4,700 people are actually diagnosed with the disease.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 6 and 8 percent of children suffer from potentially life-threatening reactions to food. Even famous faces like television star Ray Romano, Joshua Jackson and tennis pro Serena Williams have to watch their diets for deadly peanuts. Actress Zooey Deschanel deals with sensitivities to dairy, eggs and wheat. Allergies to milk and lactose intolerance severely limit the choices of chocolate on the market. Most people with special diets have to completely eliminate chocolate from their diets to avoid uncomfortable or even deadly reactions—but not anymore!  Since Premium Chocolatiers products are free of gluten, nuts, milk and eggs, they are completely safe for those with celiac disease and milk, nut or egg allergies. Rest assured that all products are 100% vegan and Kosher Parve for dairy-free diets!
These allergy-safe, gluten-free chocolates are perfect for a decadent snack and even cooking; you may melt the chocolate and use it in delicious recipes you find online—or even use as dip for strawberries! If you are entertaining guests with restrictive diets or going to a special event, these chocolates make a wonderful hostess gift or after-dinner treat! Send your kids to school with gourmet allergy-safe, kid-tested and gluten-free truffles to be a hit with every teacher on the block!

Since there are so few companies that cater to specialized diets, it is critical to remain aware of the companies that are safe for allergy sufferers and those with celiac disease. What a joy it is to enjoy one of your favorite foods again! Let Premier Chocolatiers be your one-stop convenient shop for all your chocolate needs!

Chocolates for Your Gluten-Free Diet

If you have a sweet tooth, chocolate may have been one of the hardest things to give up. While gluten-free gummy bears may be plentiful, gluten-free chocolate can be a challenge to find. Natural chocolate is gluten-free, but you may be unpleasantly surprised by the taste of pure, unsweetened chocolate. To find the perfect combination of gluten-free and good taste, first you must understand how chocolate is made.

Chocolate comes from cacao, a pod found on the Theobroma cacao tree. Most of the world’s cacao is grown and harvested in Africa, then shipped to the States to be turned into chocolate in factories. Without the high amounts of additional ingredients traditionally added to cacao, gluten allergy sufferers are able to eat it without symptoms, but many have found this type of chocolate unpalatable.

So creating chocolate that gluten-free dieters can enjoy involves making natural chocolate sweet without adding egg, milk, and gluten. The creator may use soy, cocoa butter, and vanilla extract to enrich taste without endangering someone’s health.

The problem with gluten-free chocolate sellers is that if the candy is manufactured in the same place as regular chocolates, you may experience cross-contamination. So it’s important, when shopping for gluten-free foods of any kind, that you look for a company that provides assurance that you will not be exposed to gluten in your chocolate.

While chocolate is delicious, it’s not worth the danger it presents for those allergic to gluten. Thanks to gluten-free chocolate, you can now enjoy all the benefits of chocolate without dealing with annoying and even dangerous side effects.

And there are many benefits to eating chocolate. The cacao bean is considered a “super food,” meaning it is full of nutrients. Additionally, the cacao bean has been found to help depression, thanks to its high concentration of serotonin, dopamine, and phenylethylamine. The latter ingredient is said to trigger responses in the brain that mimic the feelings someone has when falling in love.

While none of us would likely crunch on cacao beans, experts have confirmed that dark chocolate preserves many of the health benefits. When consumed in small amounts, they can be a healthy part of a person’s daily diet. Gluten-free chocolates are actually good for sufferers, contributing to overall mental well-being.

In addition to emotional well-being, gluten-free chocolates also harness the cacao beans’ power of fighting heart disease, lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. Some experts say dark chocolate is a great substitute for a daily glass of red wine, recommended for those with cholesterol issues. Even though grapes don’t contain gluten, wheat paste is sometimes used to seal the oak barrels where wine is stored while it ages. Some question have also been raised about the presence of yeast proteins in wine.

Even if you’re on a gluten-free diet, you don’t have to give up sweets altogether. While sweets are consumed only in moderation in a healthy diet, occasional gluten-free candies and desserts are a great way to satisfy your craving without sacrificing your health.

We are Gluten Free and Vegan

As many of you know we have been gluten free as well as vegan now for quite a while adding to our list of frees. All products are now free of egg, milk, nuts/peanuts as well as gluten even the pretzels! This may be surprising to some but you may be even more surprised when you try these pretzels- they can't be differentiated from any others.

Mothers Day is Coming Soon

To all our loyal customers please remember that Mothers Day is around the corner and we don't want to disappoint Mom. Whether it is a heart shaped box of delicious milk, nut, gluten and egg free chocolates or milk fudge hearts dipped in creamy white chocolate she will not be disappointed. As you know it gets hectic around holidays seasons so get it in early and post a nice card for her on the checkout page!