Easy DIY Chocolate NonPareils Recipe

If you’re following along on Instagram, you surely saw some pictures of my exciting trip to New York City to hear more about American Heritage Chocolate! I am excited to partner again with American Heritage chocolates, and of course, any time travel + chocolate is involved, you know I am right there!

Last year, I shared my Chocolate Crepes recipe with American Heritage Chocolate. But just to review, American Heritage Chocolate is a completely different type of chocolate created based on historic recipes. Using just the ingredients available to the American colonist, American Heritage Chocolate researched and tested (a lot of bad chocolate!) to create a recipe that fits historical accounts. What they’ve created is as close as possible to the chocolate George Washington might have enjoyed!

What does American Heritage Chocolate taste like?

It’s a different flavor for sure. Not as sweet, because sugar was precious in the 1700’s. The dark chocolate blocks are crumblier because the process for developing a smooth chocolate hadn’t even been developed at that time.

Perhaps most interesting of all, are the spices you’ll taste in American Heritage Chocolate – cinnamon, anise, orange peel, even a touch of red pepper (not too much, just enough to feel a tingle in your throat!).

Now, in the colonists day, people didn’t “eat” chocolate, they drank it! Yep! They’d grate a bit of chocolate into hot water in a special chocolate pot, then mix it up until the chocolate bits melted and a smooth, thick beverage formed. I tried some at the M&M’s World store in Times Square, New York City. It’s a delicious treat.

American Heritage Chocolate now at M&M’s World!

If you’d like to try some of this delicious historic chocolate, you’ll find at various historic attractions around the country, and now, at its new permanent location in the M&M’s World Store (check it out on the 3rd floor!).

I had to try another recipe with my American Heritage Chocolate, and this time I wanted to include the kids in cooking. They’ve had hot chocolate many times, so I was looking for more of a project they could make and give for the holidays. The concept of chocolate as candy didn’t come about until the late 1800’s, so I am fast-forwarding chocolate history a bit with this recipe!

Nonpareils, those tiny decorative sugar beads, were around during the 1800s, and it wasn’t long before they began to be sprinkled on top of chocolate. Chocolate nonpareils are an easy candy to make at home. Kids can make and give chocolate nonpareils to friends and family as gifts! A uniquely flavored chocolate, handmade by your kids… with a rich history – what a fantastic gift, right? (Great teacher gift idea!).

Easy DIY Chocolate Nonpareils Recipe

Easy DIY Chocolate NonPareils Recipe

Ingredients

1 box American Heritage chocolate pieces or blocks (or for faster melting, use the grated chocolate)
Double boiler (or a large pot and glass measuring cup)
Water
Nonpareils (use holiday colors for Thanksgiving or Christmas treats!)

Instructions

Break pieces of American Heritage Chocolate up into a double boiler or a glass measuring cup. Place into a pot of water.
Heat water to a gentle boil. Make sure water will come up to the level of the chocolate without spilling over into the glass container - water in the chocolate will make it "tough."
Heat the water until the chocolate melting. Stir frequently so chocolate doesn't stick or burn.
In between stirring, prepare several cookie sheets by placing parchment paper on top.
When chocolate is melted and smooth, remove from heat.
Carefully spoon "drops" of melted chocolate onto the parchment paper. You'll probably have to jiggle or tap the spoon onto the pan to get the chocolate to come off in a circle shape.
Before the chocolate is fully cooled, sprinkle with nonpareils.
Allow chocolate to fully cool by placing trays into fridge.
When chocolates are hardened, gently slide them off the parchment paper into a container.

Notes

I always find once chocolate is heated and reformed, it melts and softens easier than before, so keep these chocolates in a cool place or fridge until you're ready to eat them.

https://happystronghome.com/diy-chocolate-nonpareils-recipe/

Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool dry place. Or package into treat bags for gift-giving!

Visit American Heritage Chocolate on their website to find recipes, local events, the history of chocolate and more! Follow American Heritage Chocolates on Facebook and Pinterest for more recipes and chocolate fun!