There were a few surprises for me in the 2024 Best White Chocolate Awards sponsored by TasteTV: 1. No SFBA entrants this year so nobody local for me to highlight; 2. Every one of the entries I rated good or above was from a veteran competitor; and 3. There were a lot of entries that did not make my cut this time — including some that did very well in the overall judging.
So this will be a short article, but mostly about standout entries so there might be something here that will intrigue you enough to seek it out.
Recommended
Even though I culled the entries pretty heavily this year, I still ended up with roughly the same amount of top tier pieces as in other years to recommend.
Lulubee Artisan Chocolates
Return competitor Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates, Lincoln, NE — who also competed in this year’s top toffee awards — submitted 2 of their pretty white chocolate bonbons. Besides being pretty to look at, these bonbons were well made and heavy for their size.
The Lemon Bonbon was a warm yellow dome splashed with white. Inside was a light yellow ganache that had a light lemon aroma.
It had a smooth texture and tasted like lemon meringue pie — very bright lemon, not too sweet, and a little tart. The shell was a good white chocolate that didn’t call attention to itself. I rated it 5 stars.
In the competition, Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates’ Lemon Bonbon won Gold for Best Taste and Best Texture; Silver for Best White Chocolates; and received an Honorable Mention for Best Ingredient Combinations. It was awarded 4.5 stars — the highest rating.
Lulubee’s other entry, the White Chocolate Raspberry Bonbon, was more sedate looking at first — a white dome drizzled with thin red lines. Flipping it over we saw the bottom was a bright raspberry red reminding me of the iconic red soles of Christian Louboutin pumps.
The fun continued inside with 2 raspberry layers: Raspberry jam on top of raspberry pink ganache. It started with a strong bright raspberry flavor that was a little more tart than the lemon bonbon. The ganache dissolved quickly — the jam took longer and left a nice raspberry aftertaste. Like the lemon bonbon the white chocolate was in a supporting role. I rated the White Chocolate Raspberry Bonbon 5 stars.
In the competition, Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates’ White Chocolate Raspberry Bonbon won Gold for Best White Chocolates; and Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Best Taste, and Best Texture. It was awarded 4.5 stars.
You can buy Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates online, at their store in Lincoln, and at other locations around NE. Check their website for locations.
Yeti Chocolates
We first “met” Yeti Chocolates, Rock Island, WA, in 2022’s white chocolate competition where I rated their entry 5 stars. With this year’s entry I did the same — and wished there was a category for cutest bonbons because just look at these — aren’t they adorable?
Those cute carrots — must be handmade because they are not identical — on top of the white chocolate enrobed squares gave a strong clue to what’s inside — and the name “Yeti Chocolates’ Carrot Cake” gave away the game. I know carrot cake can be divisive but I like it so I was excited to see what Yeti did with this concept.
The ganache inside the white chocolate shell was yellow and smelled like carrot cake. It tasted like carrot cake too. The only quibble I had was that the ganache was smooth. Part of carrot cake’ appeal is the texture and I wish Yeti had found a way to incorporate or at least evoke that moist crumbly texture. Aside from that I thought it was an excellent bonbon and rated it 5 stars.
In the competition, Yeti Chocolates’ Carrot Cake won Bronze for Best Texture; and received Honorable Mentions for Best Taste and Most Unique. It was awarded 4 stars.
You can buy Yeti Chocolates online, at some WA retail stores, and at special events. Visit their website for more info.
Panache Chocolatier
Veteran competitor, Panache Chocolatier, Leawood, KS, submitted 3 of their big round bonbons to this competition and all 3 were top tier.
Panache’s Creole Bourbon Foster was a spicy version of Bananas Foster rendered in a white chocolate bonbon. They infused bourbon with fresh bananas then mixed that into fresh cream while adding cinnamon. They used that to make a ganache along with white and gold chocolate.
They made a second ganache using a spiced pecan infused cream added to white chocolate which they then layered with the banana ganache on top. To finish it they dipped it in white chocolate and topped it with grated spiced pecans. Whew!
The bonbon looked like it might have been hit with a touch of bourbon on top along with the fine spiced pecan dusting. Inside the pecan layer looked like pie crust on the bottom. It smelled like spicy cinnamon and tasted like banana mostly — bourbon and some spicy heat came later.
The chewy ganache had a small crunch from the pecans and a little pecan flavor. It was sweet but not unexpectedly so. The spiciness helped balance that out. I rated it 5 stars.
In the competition, Panache Chocolatier’s Creole Bourbon Foster won Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations and Best White Chocolates; Bronze for Most Unique; and received Honorable Mentions for Best Taste and Best Texture. It was awarded 4.5 stars.
Their next entry was my personal fav of this competition. The Lady Grey Latte’s ingredients list certainly didn’t lead me to expect that I would like it seeing as it included bergamot, lavender, raspberry leaf, vanilla, cream, and espresso in a white chocolate ganache which was then dipped in white chocolate and topped with lavender infused ground espresso.
To be honest from that list I expected a train wreck. Bergamot is a very assertive flavor — most associated with Earl Grey tea. And to that Panache added lavender (oh no, not a floral!) and espresso?! I sometimes make tea in my Keurig machine without checking to see if a coffee cartridge is still inside — and that tastes disgusting so I was not looking forward to this bonbon at all.
While the bonbon was topped with lavender infused espresso it smelled of bergamot and the tan ganache inside had a citrusy aroma. This was another chewy ganache — which I was liking that texture — and it started with a distinct bergamot taste. Espresso came later after the bergamot — and I never got so much as a whiff of the lavender. The aftertaste was an espresso/bergamot combo that was really good. I never would’ve thought to mix those 2 flavors together but Panache made it work. I was super impressed and rated it 5 stars.
In the competition, Panache Chocolatier’ Lady Grey Latte won Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Best Texture, and Best White Chocolates; Bronze for Most Unique; and received an Honorable Mention for Best Taste. It was awarded 4.5 stars.
Their third piece, the Garden Blackberry was another one with an unusual ingredients list. After the expected blackberries, it included rose petals, apple, white peony, rosemary, and sage. Oh no, 2 florals in one piece!
It looked attractive with its white chocolate shell topped with grated blackberry and drizzled with more white chocolate. The light pink ganache inside smelled like blackberry and tasted like blackberry with an ambiguous floral note. I didn’t taste the herbs or the apple but maybe they were moderating the other flavors. The ganache was a more typical smooth texture than the other 2 Panache bonbons and on the sweet side. I rated it 4 stars.
In the competition, Panache Chocolatier’s Garden Blackberry won Gold for Most Unique; Silver for Best Taste and Best White Chocolates; Bronze for Best Ingredient Combinations; and received an Honorable Mention for Best Texture. It was awarded 4.5 stars.
Panache Chocolatier has an online store and a brick and mortar store in Leawood.
Toute Douceur Candy
Another return competitor —but first time on my list — was Toute Douceur Candy, Lakewood, CO.
Their entry was another delicious twist on the dessert Bananas Foster. Their Bananas Foster Squares were enrobed in white chocolate and decorated with a sprinkle of crushed candied pecans. They smelled like a cinnamon bun.
Inside the bonbon were 2 layers —white ganache on top of caramel. Bourbon was the first flavor out of the gate. The caramel had a soft satisfying chew. The white chocolate was good and the piece was not overly sweet. It had a good amount of spices — nothing was overdone. I rated it 4 stars.
In the competition, Toute Douceur Candy’s Bananas Foster Squares won Gold for Best Taste and Best White Chocolates; and Bronze for Best Ingredient Combinations and Best Texture. It was awarded 4.5 stars.
You can buy Toute Douceur’s chocolates and other confections online and at some retail establishments in the Denver area. Check their website for locations.
Good
In addition to the outstanding entries above, there were a few solid entries that I think are worth mentioning. I rated all of these 3 stars.
Stella’s Confectionery
Competition veteran, Stella’s Confectionery, Milwaukee, WI, submitted a single bar to this competition — a raspberry ganache filled bar.
Stella’s Confectionery’s Framboise Blanc bar was one of their distinctly shaped small square bars filled with ganache. The white chocolate exterior enclosed a thin layer of filling that combined raspberry purée with 60% dark chocolate.
It had a smooth texture but was sweeeeeet like candy. I think it was unbalanced with way more white chocolate than filling, and while the filling tasted berry tart it wasn’t distinctly raspberry. I’m not sure the dark chocolate did much for the mix. It’s a nice bar — as long as you like sweeter treats — but I expect more from Stella’s based on their past entries.
In the competition, Stella’s Confectionery Framboise Blanc won Gold for Best Texture; Silver for Best Taste; and received an Honorable Mention for Best White Chocolates. It was awarded 4 stars.
You can buy Stella’s chocolate bars and other confections online and at a few stores across the country. Check their website for locations.
The Chocolate Fetish
Return competitor The Chocolate Fetish, Asheville, SC, submitted a piece that was almost as cute as Yeti’s Carrot Cake.
The Chocolate Fetish’s Black Bear Truffle had a dark chocolate shell decorated with different sized white chocolate daubs to look like a bear’s paw. Awww 🥰
The thick shell contained a cream filling, not a ganache, and smelled a little artificial berry-like. It had a sugary texture and a boozy blackberry taste. I think The Chocolate Fetish has potential with this concept to move up in my ratings if they made a filling with a more alluring aroma and more satisfying texture.
In the competition, The Chocolate Fetish Black Bear Truffle received an Honorable Mention for Best White Chocolates. It was awarded 3.5 stars.
The Chocolate Fetish chocolates are available online or at their store in Asheville.
Chocopunto by Mabel
The last entry I want to point out was from veteran competitor, Chocopunto by Mabel, Dominican Republic, who makes bars using local cacao. They submitted 3 bars but only one made my cutoff.
ChocoPunto’s Blonde Chocolate bar was wrapped in gold foil — their other bars have been wrapped in silver foil so this was a nice luxe touch.
The tan colored chocolate had a softer snap than their white chocolate bar. It was also better tasting with a smoother texture.
Their white chocolate was on the sweet side instead of the milky side and seemed too basic cocoa butter tasting for me. I know there is not a lot you can do with making white chocolate from single origin chocolate but I think caramelizing it to create a blonde chocolate was a smart move.
ChocoPunto’s Blonde Chocolate bar smelled a little nutty and had a nice caramel flavor with milk overtones.
In the competition, ChocoPunto by Mabel Blonde Chocolate won Bronze for Best Taste and received an Honorable Mention for Best Texture. It was awarded 3.5 stars.
Their website is currently under construction and I am not aware of any US distributors of their bars.
That’s my list
View the complete list of winners in this year’s Best White Chocolate Awards on the International Chocolate Salon site.
