Food Shopping and Storing Chocolate Box Guide: See What's Inside Assorted Chocolate Pieces So you received a box of chocolates, but do you know which filling is which? By Heath Goldman Heath Goldman Heath Goldman is a trained chef, recipe developer, and writer. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 01, 2024 Close Photo: bluestocking/Getty Images Life has its share of mysteries, but the contents of a box of chocolates don't have to be one of them. Fortunately for chocolate lovers everywhere—and recipients of the classic Valentine's Day heart-shaped box of chocolates—most chocolate boxes follow the same plan, largely for practical reasons. Our chocolate box guide shows which types of chocolates are in most assorted chocolate boxes so you can easily find your favorites, all with input from a chocolate expert. Most boxes of chocolate include a mix of square, rectangular, circular, oval, bumpy, and foil-wrapped chocolates. Here, we go over the consensus among chocolate makers. Tom Ward is the former president and CEO of Russell Stover Candies. 01 of 04 Square and Rectangular Chocolates Square or rectangular chocolates are almost always filled with a crunchy or chewy toffee or caramel filling. Typically, the square ones have a soft caramel filling, while the rectangular ones are chewy. (Fudge pieces can also be square but tend to be bigger than caramel-filled chocolates.) When toffees and caramels are made, they're hot and liquid. "[They] cool on large slabs, then are cut at right angles and dipped in chocolate," explains Ward. This ensures no goodness is wasted. 02 of 04 Circular and Oval Chocolates Rounded chocolates always contain soft fillings like ganache or cream (e.g., milk or dark chocolate truffles, vanilla cream, and raspberry cream). In production, the soft centers get scooped or piped into circular rounds and then drizzled with chocolate. You'll find some rounded chocolates are domed and are also typically made with a creamy filling. 03 of 04 Bumpy Surface Chocolates If the surface isn't smooth (read: bumpy on top), it's probably a nut candy. They're essentially lumpy piles of nuts (such as peanuts, almonds, or cashews) held together with a chocolate coating. Examples include pecan delights and nut clusters. Sometimes, nut-filled chocolates come in paper linings, like peanut butter cups. 04 of 04 Foil-Wrapped Chocolates If the wrapper is foil, the chocolate probably has an ooey-gooey liquid center, like a cherry cordial. Hint: The foil protects against leaks. Foil-wrapped chocolates can also be solid chocolates. Historically, chocolates were wrapped in foil so that chocolatiers could pass out samples to customers. Beyond their shape, another way to recognize a chocolate's filling or flavor is by looking at its color. Often, fruit-flavored chocolates will have stripes on the surface in the fruit's color (or hints of red, pink, and yellow); coconut-filled chocolates could have some white dots on the exterior. Written by Heath Goldman; designed by Rebecca Hart Frequently Asked Questions What is the most popular filling in a box of chocolates? A 2021 survey showed that nearly 30 percent of US-based respondents prefer caramel-filled chocolates. A close second was chocolate-covered nut candies, with about 23 percent of people selecting it as their top choice. Surprisingly, mint-filled chocolates were the least preferred pieces in an assorted box of chocolates, with only 6 percent of respondents choosing it as their favorite. Which chocolate flavor is most popular in chocolate boxes? The same survey showed that nearly half of respondents prefer milk chocolate over dark or white chocolate. And the results didn't change much across genders, with most people choosing milk chocolate as their favorite. Dark chocolate came in second, and white chocolate rounded out the list in third place. What does chocolate symbolize as a gift? Most people enjoy delicious chocolate candy, but gifting a box of chocolates can signify different things for the recipient. In general, chocolate symbolizes love, passion, and appreciation. This means you can give friends, family, and that special someone a Valentine's Day gift of their favorite chocolates. The 40 Best Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets of 2024 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Sanders, L. (2021, February 9). America’s favorite chocolate is milk chocolate. YouGov. https://today.yougov.com/consumer/articles/34090-americas-favorite-chocolate-milk-chocolate