Ok, outside of peanut butter and chocolate, hazelnut and chocolate is my favorite confectionery combination. There is something about the rich, nutty flavor of the hazelnut that pairs so well with milk or dark chocolate. The taste of the hazelnut almost helps cut the sweetness of the chocolate. At times, the nut can be buttery, with a hint of a bitter aftertaste, but this helps to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. Whatever it is, the combination of hazelnut and chocolate is truly decadent.

My favorite chocolate and hazelnut combo comes in a jar, believe it or not. I am a HUGE fan of Nutella, having spent time in Europe. But this Valor bar from Spain is really growing on me. For one, it is enormous. You get 8.75 ounces of milk chocolate and hazelnut-y goodness. Two, there are WHOLE roasted hazelnuts in this bar. That’s right, WHOLE roasted hazelnuts. Few candy makers give you such a treat. Usually, hazelnuts are chopped and added to the chocolate mix, but the people at Valor confectioneries are so much more generous than the masses. There are at least six whole hazelnuts per each fifty-cent-piece-sized square. That, my friends, is a lot of hazelnut for your buck. The chocolate that said hazelnuts rest in is pure, Spanish chocolate. It is rich, creamy and delicious. It is not too sweet that it overpowers the taste of the hazelnuts; rather it compliments it and showcases them for all they are worth. Combined, this decadent chocolate and these fresh, roasted hazelnuts make for a sweetly satisfying bar. If you are a fan of this flavor combination, I would definitely recommend this bar to you. I give it the Sheriff’s international badge of approval.