February 14th is National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day the perfect holiday for sweet tooths all around the world to come together to celebrate delicious cream-filled Chocolates, It is only natural that one of the best types of Chocolates is celebrated on the February 14th for which more Chocolates are bought around the world than any other day.
In the week of Valentine’s Day, over 50 million pounds of chocolate are purchased all around the world. From marshmallow cream and coffee cream to butterscotch, chocolate, and vanilla, cream-filled chocolates have delicious centers that make the chocolates taste even more decadent. It is no wonder that these creamy treats get their own special day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE DAY
Before Cream-filled Chocolates became known as Truffles, they were called Pralines. The Belgian Chocolatier, Jean Neuhaus Junior, invented the first hard Chocolate shell in 1912, which allowed Chocolates to be filled with soft fillings. Neuhaus Jr. was the grandson of a Swiss immigrant, Jean Neuhaus who originally ran an apothecary shop where he covered medicines in Chocolate to make them more appealing to customers.
It was Neuhaus Jr. who created the very first Chocolate-filled Bonbons, which he called Pralines. However, other Chocolatiers referred to them as Truffles because the early varieties were filled with Ganache, a glaze made from Chocolate and Cream. In the U.S., any cream-filled Chocolate is referred to today as a Truffle. In 2017, Bloomberg Pursuits praised the Neuhaus company for creating “the best Chocolate Truffle in the world.”
Chocolates have been a part of life as early as 1900 B.C. However, back then, Chocolate was mainly prepared as a drink. Ancient Mayans enjoyed a drink of Chocolate with most meals. Their version of Chocolate was thick and frothy, and was sometimes combined with Chili Peppers and Honey. The mighty Aztec ruler, Montezuma II, was said to love Chocolate so much that he drank gallons of Choclate every day as an energy booster and aphrodisiac.
Chocolate is made from the fruit of the Cacao Trees called Pods. A single pod contains around 40 Cacao Beans, which can then be dried and roasted to create Cocoa Beans. These Cocoa Beans are refined in Chocolate factories through winnowing and roasting. The resulting Chocolate liquor is blended with Sugar and Milk and molded into the desired shapes.
Activates featuring CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE for National Cream-Filled Chocolate Day
- On National Cream-Filled Chocolate Day, you can spoil yourself with a box of your favorite Cream-filled Chocolates.
- Make your own Chocolates is not as hard as it sounds. With hundreds of recipes online, you can whip up a batch of Chocolates in no, time/
FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT CHOCOLATE
- According to an Aztec legend, a deity named Quetzalcoatl was cast away by the other Gods because he shared Chocolate with humans.
- In the 1800s, physicians advised lovesick patients to eat Chocolates to help calm their pining and longing, especially in cases of unrequited love.
- During the Revolutionary War, some soldiers were given Chocolate as payment for their services instead of money.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE DAY
- National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day is the kind of holiday you can almost taste.
- Chocolate has a rich history and taste which has come to be associated with love and romance.
Recipe for Cream-Filled Chocolates
INGREDIENTS
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 tsp extract orange, lemon, coconut, maple, raspberry, & cherry are all wonderful
- 4 cups confectioner’s sugars
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp beeswax, food-grade grated
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cream the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add the extract of your choice and beat until combined.
- Add the confectioner’s sugar gradually and beat after each addition to combine thoroughly.
- Scoop cream cheese mixture with a small spoon, and roll into balls. Place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper and refrigerate while you prepare the chocolate coating.
- Place chocolate chips and beeswax in the top of a double boiler. Add water to the bottom pan (be careful not to get any water into the chocolate). Place the double boiler on a medium burner.
- Stir chocolate and beeswax until completely melted. Turn off the burner, but leave the pan on the burner to keep chocolate melted.
- Coat each candy ball with melted chocolate and remove with fork or dipping tool. Place on waxed paper. Repeat with all of the candies. Place in the refrigerator to cool.
- Store chocolates in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Use in 2 or 3 weeks for best results.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
