19 of the Best Chocolate Gifts for Anyone With a Serious Sweet Tooth

editor@purewow.com (PureWow)
·8 min read

From the indulgent scent to the silky-smooth texture and mouthwatering taste, it's tough not to love chocolate—which is exactly why it makes for a solid Mother's Day gift for every type of mom. You can never have too much (who can resist a good Girl Scout cookie?) and it's almost universally beloved by all ages. In short? From a traditional box of chocolates to truffle cake pops, picking up one of the best chocolate gifts is always a smart idea—particularly if she adores the sweet stuff.

When you’re looking for the perfect thing for the chocoholic in your life, however, there are a few things you'll want to consider (think allergies and packaging). You'll also want options for any situation, from larger gift sets for big groups, like your office pals, to smaller ones for individuals. We've scoured the internet for a variety of chocolate gift items that meet specific criteria: They're relatively affordable, high quality and come packaged in ways that make them perfect for gifting. We also took things like allergies and shipping details into consideration—there are even some choices that will be suitable for your mama with the laundry list of dietary restrictions. Check out the cream of the crop below.

The Best Chocolate Gifts At a Glance

RELATED: A Definitive Ranking of the Best Gourmet Chocolates, from Compartés to Theo Chocolate

1. Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment Gift Box

Best for a Christmas Eve Cookie Delivery

Not up to baking? Send them this four-, eight- or 12-pack cookie assortment gift box instead. It features four of Levain Bakery's signature cookie flavors: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip and oatmeal raisin. Each one can be warmed up for five to 10 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees. Plus, anyone would be obsessed with how luxurious the cellophane bags tied with blue ribbons are.

Buy It (From $27)

8. Simply Chocolate Decadent Cake Pops

Best Cake Pops

No matter how old they are, they're not likely to turn down a cake pop. As such, this array of artisanal truffle cakes-on-a-stick is a wonderful way to show them you care. Grab a six or 12-count box, either of which will come uniquely hand-decorated with a crispy exterior and decadent cake inside.

Buy It (From $40)

9. Make Your Own Chocolate Truffles Kit

Best Chocolate Truffle Gift

A great pick for the do-it-yourselfer, this truffle kit comes with all the necessities they'll need to experiment in the kitchen and create flavorful truffle combinations, including a thermometer, chocolate chips, peppermint extract and more. All they need is to have on hand is cream—or, if they’re vegan, a dairy-free substitute, like cashew or coconut cream.

Buy It ($38)

10. Raaka Chocolate Library Gift Box

Best Organic Chocolate Gift Box

Almost everyone loves a good nibble on a chocolate bar now and then, are we right? This collection comes in a sweet gift box with a variety of unique, organic flavors they'll marvel at: maple and nibs, green tea crunch, bananas foster, bourbon, yaćon root, coconut milk, pink sea salt and cabernet sauvignon all come to mind. There's also an accompanying booklet to help them learn about each one. You can pick from a box of three or eight bars.

Buy It (From $30)

15. Milk Bar Chocolate B’Day Truffle Box

Best Chocolate Bites

Shopping for a non-traditionalist? Skip the classic treats and opt for these Chocolate B’Day Truffles. With chewy chocolate cake batter coated in a crunchy chocolate sprinkles shell, they’re pretty irresistible, which honestly is no surprise, given Milk Bar's reputation for absolutely scrumptious desserts.

Buy It ($29)

16. Harry & David Sea Salt Caramels Gift Box

Best Chocolate Caramels Candy

Featuring a mix of ten milk chocolate and ten dark chocolate-covered caramels, this box will be a great gift for your friend who loves tried-and-true flavor combinations. The sprinkling of flaky sea salt on each one is sure to bring out the rich caramel and cocoa flavors even more. Add in a bottle of wine, and you’re practically guaranteed to make this a gift they won't soon forget.

Buy It ($40; $30)

17. Mouth Hot Chocolate Meltdown

Best Hot Chocolate Gift Set

Give them something to sip on with this three-pack of hot chocolates on a stick. Whether they go with the peppermint, peanut butter or salted caramel flavor, they’ll think of you as they cozy up on the couch as their troubles (and the chocolate) melt away into total bliss.

Buy It ($21)

18. Harry & David Deluxe Chest of Chocolates

Best Chocolate Gift for a Group

If you want to go all out, this deluxe chest of chocolates is truly the way to go. The sheer array of cakes, malt balls, chocolate bars, peppermints, chocolate-covered pretzels, almonds, graham crackers, caramels and truffles is borderline overwhelming ( seriously, this gift weighs 4 pounds!). But we have a feeling a true chocoholic will be up to the task of devouring it all (and OK, maybe sharing). Plus, the wood and pleather chest can double as a storage box when they’re done. Think of it like two gifts in one!

Buy It ($95)

19. No Whey! Foods Signature Truffle Collection

Best Vegan Chocolate Gift

Know someone who is a strict vegan or has very strict dietary needs? They can still indulge with this gorgeous gift box of 15 chocolate treats, which are vegan and allergy-friendly and contain no dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, sesame, eggs, wheat and gluten. We also love that they're kosher and don't contain any artificial colors or flavors. Instead, they'll get a variety of tastes, from "milk" fudge and raspberry to coffee, salted caramel and Grand Marnier for that extra bit of kick.

Buy It ($29)

What Makes A Good Chocolate Gift?

A good chocolate gift will be nicely packaged, whether that's in a nice, elegant box or cute and whimsical wrapping, so that it's easily presentable.

The chocolate should also be fresh. Many people don't realize that chocolate can actually go bad. While there's no definitive shelf life, anything from how the chocolate is stored to its type and quality can impact both its freshness and flavor. Chocolate that contains artificial preservatives, for instance, is more likely to go bad more quickly than higher-end chocolate. Like fine wines, the latter can actually improve with age thanks to natural preservatives they possess called flavanols. If you're buying a major brand of chocolate, look for the "best before" or expiration date, which will give you an indication of how long it has been packaged and whether it will be at peak freshness or not.

How to Choose the Best Chocolate Gifts

Did you know there are at least seven different types of chocolate? Considering that, along with the fact that chocolate gifts include everything from truffles and pretzels to cookies and bars, how can one possibly choose? Along with selecting chocolate that is made fresh and comes in a presentable box, you'll want to keep the person who will be receiving it and what they like in mind. While some people swear by chocolate truffles as their guilty pleasure, others are suckers for chocolate-covered pretzels or never go a Sunday morning without biting into a delicious chocolate biscotti. Alternately, some people love dark chocolate while others are fans of white. Maybe there's even a brand they love, like Toblerone or Godiva, that will harken back to their childhood and conjure up pleasant memories.

More important to consider, however, are allergies. Make sure the chocolate does not contain an ingredient your giftee is allergic to or has a sensitivity for, like peanuts or dairy. If they follow any other dietary restrictions that you know of, like veganism, keeping it in mind and choosing your chocolate gift accordingly will be appreciated.

Where to Find the Best Chocolate Gifts

Along with specialty chocolate and confectionary shops, like Milk Bar and Levain Bakery, and online gift delivery websites, like Harry & David, you can find great chocolate gifts at major retailers, such as Amazon. You can also find boxed chocolates and even chocolate gift sets and boxes at standard grocery retailers and pharmacies. Sure, you can pick them up in person, but when ordering online, you can have the gift delivered right to your loved one.

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