National Dark Chocolate Day

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February 1st is National Dark Chocolate Day in the United States.

In the U.S., dark chocolate is normally referred to by two different names, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate. Semisweet normally has more sugar in it than bittersweet chocolate. Most other countries will call it dark or plain chocolate. Both bittersweet and semisweet chocolate must, in the U.S., contain a minimum of 35% cocoa solids.

Dark chocolate is more bitter than milk chocolate, because it contains more cocoa solids and lacks the sweetness that comes from milk. Th exact amount of cocoa solids may vary, with the dark chocolate varying in bitterness as a result, and it is increasingly common - and in some countries required - for companies to print the cocoa percentages on the wrapping. Dark chocolate is popular in cooking, and the most bitter types are perhaps only suitable for cooking with; the taste is too bitter for most consumers. Like other types of chocolate, dark chocolate may also have other ingredients added to it; mint chocolates are a popular after dinner treat.

National Hot Chocolate Day

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National Hot Chocolate Day is on January 31st in the United States.

Hot chocolate, which can also be called drinking chocolate and cocoa, is, as the name suggests, a hot beverage made from chocolate. It is made from shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, which are added to heated milk or water, and a sweetener is frequently added too. The drink can then be topped with marshmallows or whipped cream. Or both. Dustings of cocoa on the top are not unheard of either.

The earliest known hot chocolate drinks were used by the Mayans, although they frequently added chillies to their chocolate, something that is definitely not common in the drinks many modern cultures are familiar with. Hot chocolate was brought back to Europe, and initially the bitter drink was the one used. The sweeter, modern version was invented and slowly became more common and it became popular and spread.

The best hot chocolate drinks are considered to be those made with actual chocolate, rather than cocoa.

National Chocolate Milk Day

September 27th is National Chocolate Milk Day in the United States.

This day celebrates something that is pretty much what it sounds like - chocolate flavoured milk. This drink, which in many ways is rather similar to hot chocolate, differs in one major way in that it is usually served cold, not hot. The drink itself originated in Jamaica in the late seventeenth century.

Milk, of whatever type is preferred - including non-dairy - has either chocolate, or cocoa, powder or syrup added to it, along with a sweetener. This drink can be made at home, or it can be bought pre-made if preferred. Homemade can be a lot healthier, as many pre-made versions are unfortunately rather high in sugar and should therefore be avoided. Given that this is a drink that is popular with children, it is a good idea to make your own with healthier, lower sugar and lower fat ingredients.

National White Chocolate Day

September 22nd is National White Chocolate Day in the United States.

Like other types of chocolate, there are regulations in some countries as to what can actually be called white chocolate. The percentages of cocoa butter, milk solids and milk fat that are needed as a minimum are the same in the United States and in Europe, but in the latter the amount of sweeteners that can be used is not limited.

There is some argument as to whether or not white chocolate is actually chocolate. Although it is made from cocoa butter -  a pale yellow fat extracted from the cocoa bean which is used to make chocolate - is does not contain cocoa solids - which are the mixture remaining after the cocoa butter is extracted and which are also used in other chocolates.

White chocolate is not actually white; instead, it tends towards a pale yellow or ivory appearance. It is a more recent invention than other primary chocolate types, and is often popular with children, which audience the marketing is often targeted at, such as with Milky Bars. This may be because of the sweetness; white chocolate is substantially sweeter than even milk chocolate.

Even though children do seem to be the primary market, there are more adult versions of white chocolate around.

National Chocolate Milkshake Day

In the United States September 12th is National Chocolate Milkshake Day.

Another national day celebrating a flavour of the popular cold drink made from ice cream, milk or iced milk. This one uses the ever-popular chocolate as the flavour. In a good milkshake, this may be got from good quality powdered chocolate; in the more typical fast food milkshake, it will more probably be made by adding powder into milk. These may not even be mixed together at the fast food restaurant; instead, a pre-made mix will be turned into a milkshake by a machine. Making your own is the best way to go about it.

One downside of milkshakes is the amount of sugar that they have in them. Recently, varieties with less sugar and low-fat have been introduced, which are healthier (even if not completely healthy, despite the addition of other nutrients).

National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day is on August 20th in the United States.

Pecan pie in its various varieties is a popular American dessert dish, especially in the Southern states, and is a traditional holiday dish, but it is a comparatively recent creation. The earliest known recipe only dates back to 1886, although it is claimed to be older.

The primary ingredients for the filling of this pie is corn syrup, but alternatives such as molasses, sugar and maple syrup can all be used, as can honey, and pecan nuts. Other ingredients may also be added to the base pecan pie. This is an open pie with no top layer of pastry.

In this particular case, the added ingredient is, naturally enough, chocolate. To serve, the dish is often accompanied by whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

National Milk Chocolate Day

July 28th is National Milk Chocolate Day in the United States.

The name "chocolate" refers to a wide range of products that are derived from the cocoa, or cacao, bean and then mixed with fat, such as cocoa butter, which is also extracted from the cocoa bean, and sugar.

Chocolate comes in a number of different classifications, depending on the proportion of cocoa used to make it. This classification is often regulated by governments, and can vary from region to region - "milk chocolate" can refer to a different product in the United Kingdom and Ireland than it does in the rest of the European Union, or the United States, falling between the two definitions.

Milk chocolate is chocolate that has been sweetened with, not surprisingly, milk. This milk can be in multiple forms, such as powder, liquid or condensed. Solid milk chocolate was first made by the Swiss Daniel Proctor using condensed milk in the 1870s, although it had been available as a drink for some years prior to that.

In the US. milk chocolate is a product that contains at least 10% chocolate liquor, which contains both cocoa solids and cocoa butter in roughly even proportion, and at least 12% milk solids. In the UK, milk chocolate must contain cocoa solids of at least 20%, which in the rest of Europe would be called family milk chocolate, as European milk chocolate must have at least 25% cocoa solids. Family milk chocolate has 23% milk solids, whilst milk chocolate has 14%.

The differences in cocoa to be found in chocolate from different countries and regions show why European chocolate is often more highly prized - it simply contains more chocolate. Indulge with some good quality European milk chocolate.

National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day

July 8th is National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day In the United States.

This is another one of the more specific celebratory days, as it's not just chocolate with nuts, but chocolate with a specific type of nut.

The precise definition of milk chocolate does vary between countries and regions. The US definition is different to the one of the European Union, and the British standard milk chocolate is different to both. The definition is based on the percentage of cocoa solids that is present, and the US has a fairly low requirement of only 10%. The difference between milk and regular chocolate is that the former is sweeter and has had milk - whether powdered, liquid or condensed - added to it.

Almonds themselves are not actually botanical nuts - they are a drupe - and the outer shell is discarded. They are therefore considered to be a culinary nut. The almonds are added to the chocolate mix, although they are often crushed or chopped, rather than whole. This type of chocolate is most commonly seen in bar form.

National Chocolate Éclair Day

National Chocolate Éclair Day is on June 22nd in the United States.

Éclairs in general are a, usually oblong, type of pastry that originated in 19th century France and whose name comes from the French word meaning "flash of lighting" because they are eaten so quickly. There are different types of éclairs.

Éclairs are made from choux (pronounced "shoe") pastry, which is a light type of pastry made from eggs, butter, flour and water and which lacks a raising agent. Instead, the water content of the pastry, which is high, is what causes it to rise when cooked.

After éclairs are baked they are then filled with such as whipped cream, chiboust cream or a flavoured crème pâtissière. After this, they are then iced; in the case of the chocolate éclair, the icing is naturally chocolate.

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 7th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day in the United States.

Another day which celebrates something that's just what it sounds like. Chocolate ice cream is a self-explanatory name, as it's ice cream that's flavoured with chocolate. Chocolate ice cream is not just one thing, though, as there are many different varieties and variations, just as there are different types of chocolate.

Chocolate ice cream is one of the most popular flavours, and the standard type dates back to 17th century Italy. Cocoa powder is blended with the ice cream, which adds the flavour and gives it its distinctive brown colouration.

Other, often more expensive, varieties of chocolate ice cream can have actual chunks of chocolate added to the mixture, and these can be of different types, such as dark, white and milk.

Other ice creams can be based on or use chocolate ice cream, such as rocky road.

National Chocolate Parfait Day

National Chocolate Parfait Day is on May 1st in the United States.

Parfait, depending on where it is ordered, can be used to refer to different dishes. In France, where the dish originates, it is a frozen dessert. The name is French for "perfect." In the UK, it can be used to refer to very smooth pâtés, usually flavoured with liqueurs.

In the US, the name may be used for the French dessert or, alternatively, to the American variant, which is also a frozen dessert.

American parfait is a layered dessert served in a tall, clear glass. Parfait cream - the actual French dessert made from sugar syrup, egg and cream - is layered with ice cream and/or flavoured and coloured gelatins. This would then be topped with whipped cream, fruit, either fresh or canned, and possibly liqueurs. A variant of American parfait uses yoghurt, granola and nuts or fresh fruits - a rather healthier version.

In a chocolate parfait, there is, of course, chocolate. This will probably include chocolate ice cream and could include such as chocolate sauces or pieces.

National Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day

In the United States April 21st is National Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day.

There are national days. There are specific national days. And there are really, really specific national days. This is one of the latter. Not only is it a truffle, it's a cashew truffle. Not only is it a cashew truffle, it's one that has been covered in chocolate.

Truffles, in this case, are a type of chocolate confectionery. They typically have a chocolate ganache centre, but in this case cashew nuts (and cashews are actually a seed, not a nut) replace that ganache filling.

This is then covered with chocolate and, depending on the recipe, may also be decorated with other things, such as being dusted with cocoa powder.

There are also different types of truffles from different countries.

National Chocolate Mousse Day

National Chocolate Mousse Day is on April 3rd in the United States.

Mousse is the French word for foam and this describes what mousses are like. They have a light, airy texture that comes from beating air into the mix. The actual texture may vary; they can be light and fluffy to thick and creamy.

Mousses can be both sweet and savoury, depending on the ingredients. Chocolate mousse, not that surprisingly, is a sweet dessert dish rather than a savoury one.

To the normal ingredients - typically either whipped cream or whipped egg whites - that are used in sweet mousses, chocolate is added. Chocolate mousse is, in fact, one of the most common types of sweet mousses. The chocolate would most likely be some form of powdered chocolate or cocoa, whether bought that way or made with by grating chocolate, which would then be mixed into the other ingredients.

National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day

National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day is on March 24 in the United States.

Chocolate-covered raisins are one of the standard foods that are covered in chocolate. Frequently sold as a vending product, they consist of a raisin covered in chocolate. The chocolate can be milk, dark or white, although milk chocolate is probably the most common..

It is not known precisely when or where the candy originated. It is possible that the original cultures of the Americas, having access to cacao beans, would have had something similar. The earliest probable reference to something like this is in Germany, as there is a German folk tale describing something similar.

Unlike most candies, the size of chocolate-covered raisins can vary quite a bit. This is due to the different sizes of the raisins themselves, which are whole when they are covered in chocolate.

National Chocolate Caramel Day

March 19th is National Chocolate Caramel Day in the United States.

Yes, yet another day celebrating that wonderful creation, chocolate. This time it is teamed up with caramel.

Caramel, which covers a range of different finished products, is made by heating up sugars of many different types. The caramelised sugar has a distinctive colour - it's, not surprisingly, caramel coloured! - and can have different consistencies, from quite firm to quite gooey.

There are different confections and candy products that combine caramel and chocolate. Some, such as the Galaxy Milk Caramel, have a milk chocolate shell enclosing a soft caramel centre. Another is the dessert biscuit known as caramel shortbread, millionaires' shortbread and caramel slice amongst others, which is made from shortbread which is then covered with a layer of soft, but not liquid, caramel and finally topped with milk chocolate. It is frequently cut into squares.

National Peanut Cluster Day

National Peanut Cluster Day is on March 8th in the United States.

The traditional peanut cluster is simply a cluster of peanuts that have been covered in chocolate.

This makes them a comparatively easy treat to make at home, as all you need are some peanuts and some melted chocolate. Simply melt the chocolate, dip the shelled peanuts into the chocolate, then put them in piles - "clusters" on a suitable non-stick surface to harden, rather than individually. Individual small cake papers, such as for fairy cakes, are suitable for this. Alternatively, you could fill one of these cake liners with peanuts, and pour the chocolate over them.

Whilst this is the simplest type of peanut cluster, other ingredients could also be added, such as raisins. There are a number of different commercial varieties of peanut cluster available too.

National Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Day

February 25th is National Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Day in the United States.

Yet another day featuring chocolate, and another food that's been covered in chocolate. This time its peanuts.

Peanuts, despite the name, aren't a type of nut but are instead a type of legume (a bean). There are a variety of different candies that could qualify as chocolate covered peanuts. There are candy bars, such as the Snickers, which have peanuts in them, and are chocolate.

There are individual chocolate covered peanuts, rather than clusters - M&M's are possibly the most well known branded type, but you can just have ones similar to chocolate covered raisins, without the colourful candy shell of M&M's.

You can also have chocolate covered peanut clusters. These are similar to the individual chocolate covered peanuts, but each is made from a cluster of several peanuts that have been covered in chocolate, not just one.

National Chocolate Mint Day

National Chocolate Mint Day is on February 19th in the United States.

Chocolate mint, or mint chocolate, refers to a wide range of different chocolate confections, from candies to drinks.

There are a variety of different mint flavours that are used in chocolate mints, such as spearmint, peppermint and crème de menthe. For the candies, these can be hard or soft. They may have a hard interior made from mint, such as with the Peppermint Pattie, or a soft one, such as in the After Eight. The mint may be, as in these two examples, a soft or hard centre or, alternatively, it can also be used to infuse the chocolate itself, or embedded in pieces throughout it.

Dark (or bittersweet) chocolate is the type of chocolate most commonly used for chocolate mints, but both milk and white chocolate are used too. With a wide range of flavours, chocolate types and manufacturing methods, there are truly many different possible flavour variations on chocolate mints themselves, without even considering such things as drinks and cookies.

National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

February 14th is National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day in the United States.

February 14th is also St Valentine's Day, so it's only appropriate that today be a day that celebrates a type of chocolate.

The rather vague name of cream-filled chocolate covers a wide variety of, usually fairly similar, individual chocolates that can be found in assortment boxes of the type that are common today.

These are an inner cream centre with an outer chocolate covering. The chocolate can be of any type - milk, bittersweet or white - and so can the centre. The cream, or fondant, filling can be flavoured in many different ways. Fruit flavourings, such as orange and strawberry, are popular, but there are other types.

It can also be taken rather more literally, as a chocolate filled with cream, but this is much rarer, and would be more fragile and much quicker to go off, the type of chocolate that would need eating fresh or keeping refrigerated.

National Chocolate Fondue Day

National Chocolate Fondue Day is on February 5th in the United States.

Fondue is originally an Italian, Swiss and French dish in which melted cheese is served in a pot. The cheese, which normally has other ingredients added to it, is then kept warm by a small burner underneath. Diners, using long forks, dip items, such as bread, but meat and vegetables are also used, into the cheese which have been cut up into bite size pieces.

A chocolate fondue is very similar, only instead of melted cheese, melted chocolate is used instead. Again, the chocolate has items dipped into it using long handled forks, but in the case of a chocolate fondue, these are things such as fruit, pastry or marshmallows.

One modern variant on the chocolate fondue is the chocolate fountain, in which the chocolate falls down stepped tiers in the manner of a waterfall into a basin at the bottom where the chocolate is kept warm.