holiday chocolates

Chocolatier Michel Cluizel's Holiday Chocolate Collection

Filed under: Dining

The Michel Cluizel chocolate shop in Rockefeller Center Shop in New York City is celebrating a year as a retail location in New York City with the creation of three signature, seasonal collections.

The Harvest Collection captures autumn with a selection that includes Hérisson Noir, a croquant shell filled with rich hazelnut and almond praline, shaped like a thistle you might see in the fall forest; Châtaigne, which is the shape of half a chestnut and has chestnut paste ganache with rum; the Noix Lait or Noix Noire are a milk or dark chocolate walnut shaped confection, made with pure hazelnut praline, white chocolate and walnut pieces; the Cannelleo, a milk chocolate shell made with 45% cocoa filled with cinnamon gianduja; the Champignon Caramel, a mushroom shaped chocolate filled caramel at the bottom and crunchy croquant at the top; Pomme de Pin Or, gianduja with vanilla pod in the shape of a seasonal pine cone; the Tango, a crunchy praline and caramel ganache in dark chocolate; Macarolats, or Macaroons, that come in assorted flavors such as cinnamon, chataigne whiskey, pumpkin, and Earl Grey tea and a Milk Chocolate Bar studded with salted butter caramel pieces. This collection is available in three sizes: $45, $75, and $125.

The Holiday Collection features Sapin, a dark chocolate tree decorated with dried fruits, marbles and chips; a Bonhomme de Neige, the cheery white chocolate snowman shown at right; a snowflake with Papillottes, which are traditional French treats in colorful, shiny wrapping in six assorted colors and flavors, including gianduja, almond and hazelnut crunchy praline, almond and hazelnut praline, almond paste, ganache with dark chocolate, caramel ganache; two Succettes des Montagnes, old-fashioned almond and hazelnut praline lollipops that are painted with winter sports scenes, such as skiing, snowboarding and snowball fights and Macedoine de Noel, an assortment of seven miniature Christmas chocolates including a snowman, a Santa, a tree, a gift, a Yule log, a boot, and a stocking. This collection retails for $45.

Gallery: Chocolat Michel Cluizel Holiday Selections