17 unique gifts for chocolate lovers that go beyond the traditional box of sweets

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17 unique gifts for chocolate lovers that go beyond the traditional box of sweets

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Chocolate Fondue Pot

Nostalgia

  • Chocolate is one of the most beloved foodstuffs on earth, making chocolate products a great choice for holiday gift-giving.
  • This holiday season, think outside the box when shopping for the chocolate lover, going beyond the tasty treat alone.
  • Here are 15 great gift ideas for the chocolate lover on your holiday shopping list (including, of course, a few tasty treats).

There is a scientific explanation for the human being's love of chocolate. A rich, complex food that of course tastes great, chocolate contains multiple compounds that can actually elevate the mood and reduce stress. These include the natural neurotransmitter anandamide, similar to a chemical found in cannabis. Eating chocolate also releases dopamine, your brain's feel-good chemical. Also there's the sugar, which our body craves.

So if you have an avowed chocolate lover on your holiday shopping list, it's your job to make sure his or her holiday is as tasty, happy, and low stress as possible by providing them with lots of chocolate. Or you could go beyond the mere chocolate bar and get your cocoa enthusiast friend or family member a great book all about the sweet stuff, a choco-scented beauty product, or a delectable chocolaty beverage.

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Better yet, make up a chocolate care package with all sorts of great gifts for chocolate lovers. That sure would be sweet of you. (Sorry...)

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

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Amazing cookies

Amazing cookies
Giorgio Cookie Company Gourmet White Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Gift Jar, $59.95, from Amazon

My wife is a card-carrying chocolate lover and a harsh critic of sweets, and she referred to these Gourmet White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies from the Giorgio Cookie Company as "maybe the best cookies I've ever had." Yes, this is one expensive jar of cookies, but they really are amazing. Your lucky gift recipient will be talking about their taste long after the last crumbs are eaten.

Amazing chocolate bars

Amazing chocolate bars
Alter Eco Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate, $6.18, from Amazon

With so many companies making great chocolate bars, it's hard to choose just one to recommend. I'm going with Alter Eco first and foremost because I've tried about a half dozen of their bars, from the Dark Blackout Organic Chocolate Bar to the Deep Dark Salted Burnt Caramel Bar and beyond, and they are all amazing.

What sets this company apart is how they make their sweets. Alter Eco products are made with cacao exclusively harvested in Ecuador from sustainable, Fair Trade farms, and all of their chocolate is gluten free, non-GMO, and vegan, and purchases help direct funds to reforestation.

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A chocolate fondue pot

A chocolate fondue pot
Nostalgia FPS200 6-Cup Stainless Steel Fondue Pot, $29.99, from Amazon

Chocolate fountains are great, but they tend to make a mess, they are hard to clean, and they can't also be used with cheese for traditional fondue. So give the melted chocolate aficionado the trusty (and affordable) Nostalgia FPS200 6-Cup Stainless Steel Electric Fondue Pot and you're giving the gift of chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate dipped marshmallows, and... well, really a guy could dip any foodstuff in there.

The finest hot chocolate

The finest hot chocolate
Ghirardelli Chocolate Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Beverage Miz, 48oz can for $21.52, from Amazon

Few companies know their way around chocolate like Ghirardelli. If you want to give the gift of perfect cups of hot chocolate, give the gift of a can of Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Gourmet Powder. Mixed into warmed milk, it makes a heavenly beverage, but this sweet stuff can also be used in baking or to decorate confections. And it also comes in a Sweet Ground White Chocolate flavor.

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A chocolate-scented spa set

A chocolate-scented spa set
Waxing Kara Haute Cocoa Body Set, $50, from Uncommon Goods

The Waxing Kara Haute Cocoa Body Set comes with a honey cocoa body scrub, a honey cocoa body butter, and a cocoa blueberry renewing mask. It's the gift of ultimate indulgence, inviting the recipient to have a good, long, sweet-smelling soak in the tub that will leave their skin clean, soft, fresh, and of course scented like that ethereal treat — you guess it! — chocolate.

Chocolaty coffee cups

Chocolaty coffee cups
Crazy Cups Coffee Chocolate Lovers Variety Pack, $14.82, from Amazon

If there's one thing that goes great with chocolate, it's wine. If there's another, it's coffee. Ah, but when you blend the flavors of chocolate and coffee into one tasty beverage, you have a real winner. (Not quite so with the vino, FYI.) Crazy Cups Coffee Chocolate Lovers Cups work with most single serve coffee makers (Keurig, e.g.) and come in flavors ranging from Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup to Peppermint Chocolate Mocha. Get your cocoa-and-coffee-loving buddy a mixed pack and they can try them all.

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A huge chocolate gift tower

A huge chocolate gift tower
Wine Country Gift Baskets Godiva Milk and Dark Chocolate Tower, $49.95, from Amazon

When in doubt, go big. And the Wine Country Gift Baskets Godiva Milk and Dark Chocolate Tower is pretty big. It comes with multiple flavors of truffle, chocolate bars, and chocolate-dipped pretzels. The lovely presentation is a big part of the gift, but the delectable deliciousness is the main event. There might even be enough to share.

A custom chocolate bar mold

A custom chocolate bar mold
Digital2Cre8 Custom Chocolate Mold, $95, from Etsy

Giving someone the gift of a chocolate bar is great, but it's also fleeting. A few chomps later, and it's gone. Ah, but give the gift of a custom chocolate bar mold, and your friend can make their own delightful chocolate bars at home just by melting some of the sweet stuff and pouring it into these molds. You can order a custom chocolate bar mold with a name, a logo, a message, or a basic graphic, whatever you think your sweet-toothed friend will love the most.

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The book on chocolate

The book on chocolate
"The Book of Chocolate," $17.98, from Amazon

The true chocolate aficionado can appreciate not just the taste of the sweet eat but also its rich history and its place in culture. "The Book of Chocolate" is jam-packed with information about all things chocolate, from its ancient history among Mesoamerican cultures to how it spread around to world to its place in modern society today. Along with the gripping text, the book is filled with lavish images.

Chocolate tea

Chocolate tea
Stash Tea Decaf Chocolate Hazelnut Black Tea, 100-count for $22.14, from Amazon

There's nothing like a relaxing, warm beverage. And there's really nothing like a cup of Chocolate Hazelnut Black Tea from Stash for warming you up and calming you down at the end of a long day. This decaffeinated tea is flavored with natural cocoa, hazelnut, and vanilla extracts, and makes a delightful hot beverage with just a few minutes of steeping. When served over ice, it's an invigorating drink that will pep you up sans sugar or caffeine.

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A chocolate candle

A chocolate candle
Our Own Candle Company Hot Chocolate Scented Candle, $16,89, from Amazon

Just because a person can't eat chocolate every minute of the day doesn't mean he or she can't enjoy its essence at all times. With a large 13-ounce hot chocolate-scented candle from Our Own Candle Company, the home (or office or spa) will be filled with the luscious aroma of chocolate for hours on end. In fact, this candle has a 100-hour burn time, so it can last for weeks even if burned for an hour or two daily.

Hot chocolate bath bombs

Hot chocolate bath bombs
The Bohemia Boutique Hot Chocolate Bath Bomb, $7, from Etsy

The gift of sweet, sweet relaxation is close at hand. Get a Hot Chocolate Bath Bomb and you can give your friend or special someone soft skin thanks to ingredients like cocoa butter and shea butter, and a calming, aromatic break from the rest of life thanks to scents created by cocoa, cinnamon, citrus, and more. Each bath bomb is a bit pricey, but your gift-getter will appreciate their quality.

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A classic film

A classic film
"Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory" Blu-Ray, $13.35, from Amazon

For the uncultured choco-fanatic, the original "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory" with Gene Wilder blows the Johnny Depp version out of the chocolate river. Gift them a remastered Blu-ray version of the movie so they can gain a true appreciation for the wonderful world of Wonka. — Danny Bakst

A chocolate treats cookbook

A chocolate treats cookbook
"Chocolate-Covered Katie," $18, from Amazon

Don't worry, the 80 recipes included in the cookbook "Chocolate Covered Katie" aren't a one-way ticket to a larger pant size; in fact, it's quite the opposite. Chef and author Katie Higgins has put together a book filled with foods that are sweet and tasty and chocolaty but actually (pretty) healthy, too. So go ahead and get a copy for your friend. Maybe she'll make you some Peanut Butter Pudding Pops.

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Great British treats

Great British treats
Cadbury Box of 10 Full Size British Chocolate Bars, $13.99, from Amazon

The Brits are known for some fine candies, and many of their finest can be found in this Great British Treats box from Cadbury. In it, your gift-getter will get candy bars including a Flake, a Twirl, a Crunchie, and other sweets beloved in the UK but harder to find on the American side of the pond.

A paleo-friendly brownie

A paleo-friendly brownie
Base Culture Raspberry Cocoa Brownie, $7.15, from Amazon

Chocolate is delicious, but it's not exactly a health food. Like at all. This Base Culture Raspberry Cocoa Brownie almost is, though, as are all the other flavors of brownie (and blondie) this women-owned, paleo-friendly company makes. This 270-calorie brownie has 5 grams of protein, zero trans fats, and it's free of grain, soy, and dairy and approved for paleo diets.

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A chocolaty eyeshadow palette

A chocolaty eyeshadow palette
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette, $49, from Ulta

This Too Faced makeup palette that's shaped like a chocolate bar looks and smells like the real deal. That's in large part because the eyeshadows are pigmented with pure, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder. — Danny Bakst