New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
CT’s Chocolate Trail
Adults don’t have to wait for their kids to load up pumpkin buckets on Halloween to satisfy their sweet tooth — not when they can indulge in a little trick or treating fun along Connecticut’s Chocolate Trail.
Home to a number of local chocolatiers, the trail includes candy apples, fudge and an array of truffles.
This fall Fascia’s Chocolates based in Waterbury launched two new truffles. For the coffee lovers who were counting down to Pumpkin Spice Latte season, Fascia’s has a pumpkin spice latte truffle topped with white chocolate and sprinkles. The company also released an apple pie truffle topped with cinnamon for those who indulge in traditional fall flavors. Fascia’s Chocolates president Carmen Romeo said the two new flavors will be available during October and November. Romeo also noted that these two flavors from their line of dessert style gourmet truffles are slightly different from their other truffle lines because they cool their ganache centers in a manner that gives them a “fudgy” consistency. “Ours must be hand rolled and then are coated in the chocolate we choose and topped or drizzled,” she said.
Romeo said that of their seasonal offerings, Fascia’s caramel apples are one of the most “sought after” items, and that they’re available through December.
“We dip them in our own caramel and then they either get dipped again in chocolate or get rolled in pecans and then dipped in chocolate (this one is called the turtle apple). We offer them in milk and dark and then drizzle them with the opposite chocolate for a nice effect,” Romeo said. Fascia’s uses granny smith apples for their candy apples and they can be topped with oreos, M&Ms or cinnamon white chocolate. Fascia’s also collaborates with Lyman Orchards and makes chocolate and candy apples that are sold onsite at the orchard.
Fascia’s isn’t the only stop along the trail to offer up candy apples. Michael Grissmer, co-owner of Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe in Ridgefield said, “Our most popular fall/Halloween treats are our fresh apples (honey crisp or fuji) dipped in our homemade caramel, chocolates and rolled in fresh nuts.” In addition to candy apples, Deborah Ann’s also offers a variety of sweets and fudge.
Pumpkin Spice is having a moment, confectionary-wise as Munson’s Chocolates, a homegrown company with shops in Orange, Bolton, Avon, Newington, Mystic and South Windsor, also launched a pumpkin spice truffle this fall. Karen F. Munson, president of Munson’s Chocolates said the company already had to increase production of its pumpkin spice truffle. She said the truffle features “fresh cream blended with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, covered in our milk chocolate.” Munsons will be offering its pumpkin fudge again this year along with a line up of pumpkin, ghost and witch-shaped chocolates.
“The classic chocolate pumpkin is by far our top seller. Pumpkin pops, pumpkin chocolate bars, pumpkin gummies — we also have a gorgeous chocolate pumpkin face that is decorated with milk, dark and white chocolate that is always a top performer,” Munson said when asked about what treats were popular this time of year.
In Newtown, Erica Sullivan the owner of Castle Hill Chocolate said that her shop is releasing a few new flavors this fall.
“This year we have a few new bonbon designs and flavor combinations including a peanut brittle ganache, a nutella ganache and our handcrafted marzipan pumpkins,” she said.
For those looking for a sweet that can meet dietary constraints, Manchester-based Divine Treasures is known for offering vegan and gluten-free artisan chocolates.