Category: Specialty

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Peanut Brittle

Locals Guide: November 2017

Peanut Brittle

There is something rather addicting about the salty sweetness of Peanut Brittle. One legend has it that in 1890, a Southern lady accidentally created Peanut Brittle. It is said that she was trying to make taffy but accidentally added baking soda to her pot instead of cream of tartar, which resulted in the crunchy brittle we know and love instead of chewy taffy.  Another more fanciful legend says that Tony Beaver, Paul Bunyan’s Southern folklore cousin, saved a town from flooding by pouring molasses and peanuts into the river, which created the delicious treat we all love. No matter which story you choose, Peanut Brittle seems to have originated in the South, which is not surprising as that is where peanuts were traditionally grown. Luckily for us, this treat has made its way out of the South, across the country, and into the copper kettles at Branson’s Chocolates, where we cook peanuts with brown sugar and butter to create our delicious salty-sweet treat– Peanut Brittle, one of the few confections we make without chocolate.

If you want to catch us out and about in November, you’re in luck! We will be at—

  • The 11th annual Ashland Culinary Festival, November 2nd – 5th, at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. We will be featuring our decadent Truffles flavored with beers and wines from local favorites Caldera Brewing, Paschal Winery and Vineyard, Weisinger Family Winery, and Grizzly Peak Winery.
  • The Holiday Market at the Expo, November 10th-11th, 10am-6pm, the mecca for local holiday shopping.
  • Paddington Station’s 44th annual Open House, November 18th, 11am-7pm. We will be selling our holiday favorite White Chocolate Peppermint Bar and Peppermint Squares. Stop by and say Hi!

Or if you prefer to catch us at our store, Branson’s Chocolates is right here in Ashland at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard.  We’re just a block south of 7-11, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5 to satisfy your Peanut Brittle cravings.

You can also find Branson’s Chocolates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and at bransonschocolates.com for online chocolate shopping.

(Thanks to www.candyfavorites.com/peanut-brittle-candy-history for Peanut Brittle history.)

 

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Custom Confections

Custom Confections

Did you know that over 50% of Branson’s Chocolates business is done through custom orders? We have several different options of how you can customize your orders from molds to labels to the chocolate itself. Whether you are looking for a gift this holiday season or a customer appreciation item for your business we have several options to customize your confections.

Custom Chocolate

Have you always wanted to create your own custom chocolate bar? We have done everything from a bride’s favorite mixed drink in a truffle to various unique flavors of chocolate bars.

Custom Molds

Custom molds allow you to create a unique shape or engraving onto your confection and allows you to further personalize your order to fit your specific needs. Once you decide what you want your mold to look like it takes 6-8 weeks for the molds to be produced.

Custom Labels

To wrap up your final product you have the option of creating your own label for your custom confection. If you decide that you want to create a custom label rather than using the default Branson’s Chocolate label, you provide the logo that you would like to see on the front of the chocolate and in some scenarios I can create a simple graphic logo.

If you are interested in a custom order inquiries and pricing details can be emailed to [email protected]

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All Things Peppermint & Eggnog

Locals Guide: December 2016

All Things Peppermint & Eggnog

December is the perfect month for peppermint and eggnog, and at Branson’s Chocolates that means Peppermint Bark, Peppermint Bars, and Eggnog Truffles. Our delicious Peppermint Bark is a layer of rich dark chocolate topped with a layer of white chocolate, crushed peppermint candy and a touch of locally sourced peppermint oil. Our scrumptious Peppermint Bars are white chocolate mixed with peppermint candies and a touch of locally sourced peppermint oil. And our smooth and creamy Eggnog Truffles have an eggnog ganache center made with local eggnog, which is dipped in white chocolate, and topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Naughty or nice, you deserve some chocolate, so come in and pick up some for yourself.

We’re often out and about at many of the local wineries and events. For the latest event updates, please check us out at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates . If you’d like to see us at one of your favorite local events, you can contact us on our Facebook page or email us at [email protected] . We’d love to hear from you!

The holiday season is fast approaching, so now is the perfect time to come in and order chocolate for the holidays. Take the craziness out of the holiday season with our custom gift boxes complete with pretty bows. Stop on in and our friendly staff will help you put together the perfect gift of fudge, assorted chocolates, truffles, bars, and turtle

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Almond Butter Cups

Local’s Guide: October 2016

Almond Butter Cups

For all those that love a great peanut butter cup—crunchy, delicious, and oh so chocolaty—have we got an upgrade for you! October’s Product of the Month at Branson’s Chocolates is Almond Butter Cups, featuring MaraNatha Organic Crunchy & Roasted Almond Butter and Branson’s Semi-Sweet (58%) Chocolate. MaraNatha says their Organic Almond Butter is “bursting with rich almond flavor and loaded with delicious roasted organic almond pieces for a satisfying crunch — this is the premier choice for the true almond lover.” We agree, and we know you will too, so come on in and see for yourself.

“Once considered a simple party snack, today almonds are recognized as a nutritional powerhouse. They represent one of the richest natural protein sources of any nut. Almonds have no cholesterol. They also contain monounsaturated fats, which have been identified as beneficial for helping to reduce one of the multiple risk factors associated with heart disease.
Recognizing these benefits, the FDA has approved a qualified health claim regarding almonds: ‘Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.’
Almonds are a good source of fiber, and they contain many other key nutrients. Scientific studies have linked regular almond and almond butter consumption to success in helping to manage weight and helping to control normal blood sugar levels as a part of a healthy diet. Preliminary research suggests that almonds have prebiotic properties that can help to maintain a healthy GI tract.” http://www.maranathafoods.com/health-facts/almonds

If you want to find us on the web, we’re at—

We won’t be out and about in October, so come see us in our store at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard here in Ashland. We’re just two blocks south of Omar’s, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5.

If you’d like to see us at one of your favorite local events, you can contact us on our Facebook page or email us at [email protected] . We’d love to hear from you!

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Smore’s 

Local’s Guide: August 2015

Smore’s

Warming up by blazing campfire, gazing up at the starry night, roasting corn on the cob on the barbeque – we love camping!  And everybody’s favorite part of camping in S’mores – gooey marshmallows, crunchy graham crackers, and sweet chocolate.  Eat them together, and they’re heaven on earth!  At Branson’s Chocolate, we’ve got S’mores for you in August – made in both our rich Semi-Sweet Chocolate and our creamy Milk Chocolate.  Of course, we only use gluten-free marshmallows and graham crackers.  In fact, at Branson’s Chocolates, all of our delicious chocolate is gluten-free, allowing you to relax and enjoy our chocolate with all your friends and family.

Be sure to check out our Chocolate Talk videos on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland.  This month, of course, we are featuring S’mores, our Product of the Month for August.  My brother-in-law Brian Goodwin directs and films our Chocolate Talk videos every month, where I discuss our Product of  the Month, chocolate tips, and how I make our products.  Each month we highlight a different chocolate confection, either a favorite classic or a new creation, and while S’mores are a new item at Branson’s Chocolates, they are definitely a summer classic.

If you want to catch us out and about in August, here’s where we will be:

  • August 15th, I will be at Troon Vineyard in the Applegate Valley, pairing our delicious chocolate with their award-winning wines.
  • August 22nd, we are providing dessert chocolates for the “extravagant, outdoor buffet created by popular local Chefs” for the Oregon Wine Experince Miracle Aution & Salmon Bake in Jacksonville, which benefits the Children’s Miracle Network.  Make plans to attend this “Grand Auction featuring Live, Platinum, and Silent Auctions followed by music, dancing under the stars, and the opportunity to exchange stories and share wine around the fire embers.”