Help me find the perfect candy bar
June 14, 2010 9:24 PM Subscribe
What's a higher quality or darker chocolate version of Nestle Crunch?
Does a candy bar exist (not necessarily manufactured by Nestle) that has a texture similar to Nestle Crunch but with dark chocolate or simply just higher quality chocolate?
Does a candy bar exist (not necessarily manufactured by Nestle) that has a texture similar to Nestle Crunch but with dark chocolate or simply just higher quality chocolate?
Chuao has a bar called the "Panko Bar." I'm not sure if the link goes straight to that specific item.
I actually just bought it about twenty minutes ago, and was amazed by the timing of your question!
posted by meese at 9:32 PM on June 14, 2010
I actually just bought it about twenty minutes ago, and was amazed by the timing of your question!
posted by meese at 9:32 PM on June 14, 2010
Cadbury has a crispy bar, the Crunchie, which isn't made with crisped rice (as Nestle's Crunch) is, but does have a similar crispy consistency.
posted by darkstar at 9:36 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by darkstar at 9:36 PM on June 14, 2010
Ritter Sport mit Cornflakes, bitte.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:36 PM on June 14, 2010 [10 favorites]
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:36 PM on June 14, 2010 [10 favorites]
Nestle makes a dark chocolate version, I believe with or without caramel. I have seen them in mini packs, but you can probably find them on their own.
posted by Yorrick at 9:39 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Yorrick at 9:39 PM on June 14, 2010
The Cadbury Crunchie has a texture completely unlike the Nestle Crunch. The latter's crunch is dry puffed rice; the former is what is usually known in the USA as sponge toffee, which is both crunchy and chewy.
You could really (and I mean really) easily make your own. Just get some plain dark chocolate of whatever sort you prefer (Valrhona and Ghirardelli are popular and pretty decent brands. Callebaut is often better as far as I'm concerned; Michel Cluizel also has a line I believe), temper it, mix your favourite puffed rice cereal into it, and allow to set.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:59 PM on June 14, 2010
You could really (and I mean really) easily make your own. Just get some plain dark chocolate of whatever sort you prefer (Valrhona and Ghirardelli are popular and pretty decent brands. Callebaut is often better as far as I'm concerned; Michel Cluizel also has a line I believe), temper it, mix your favourite puffed rice cereal into it, and allow to set.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:59 PM on June 14, 2010
That's correct, dnab, I'm misremembering the Crunchie. I could swear I've had a Cadbury bar with crisped rice, though.
Anyway, here's Ghirardelli's milk chocolate version, which I've never had, but sounds delish.
posted by darkstar at 10:08 PM on June 14, 2010
Anyway, here's Ghirardelli's milk chocolate version, which I've never had, but sounds delish.
posted by darkstar at 10:08 PM on June 14, 2010
I believe there may be (or may have been) a Dairy Milk variant with puffed rice.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:11 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:11 PM on June 14, 2010
Have you tried Toblerone? It's not crisped rice, it's bits of toffee and almond, but the overall theory is the same. Also: yummy.
posted by ErikaB at 10:25 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by ErikaB at 10:25 PM on June 14, 2010
Ritter Sport mit Cornflakes, bitte.
Yes.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:48 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:48 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Kind of a different animal, but high-quality coconut clusters combine dark chocolate and crunch in this very addictive way.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:09 PM on June 14, 2010
posted by Deathalicious at 11:09 PM on June 14, 2010
This isn't actually an answer to your question, but I grew up eating Nestle Crunch and switched my preference to Krackel after my first try.
This especially doesn't answer your question because I'm pretty sure Krackel is actually lower-quality chocolate. Or maybe I prefer it because I want what I can't have and Krackel is so difficult to find (unless I want a bag of minis, along with unwanted plain milk chocolate minis and the godawful abomination that is Mr. Goodbar).
posted by ymendel at 11:10 PM on June 14, 2010
This especially doesn't answer your question because I'm pretty sure Krackel is actually lower-quality chocolate. Or maybe I prefer it because I want what I can't have and Krackel is so difficult to find (unless I want a bag of minis, along with unwanted plain milk chocolate minis and the godawful abomination that is Mr. Goodbar).
posted by ymendel at 11:10 PM on June 14, 2010
the former is what is usually known in the USA as sponge toffee, which is both crunchy and chewy.
If the cinder toffee (UK name for it) in your Crunchie is chewy, take it back. That's just plain wrong...
posted by twine42 at 1:23 AM on June 15, 2010
If the cinder toffee (UK name for it) in your Crunchie is chewy, take it back. That's just plain wrong...
posted by twine42 at 1:23 AM on June 15, 2010
This is a derail, I suppose, but this question immediately conjured up intensely fond memories of using my allowance to buy essentially what you are talking about at a downtown Toronto location of Laura Secord, in the late 70's/early 80's. I still stop and dream about that chocolate, especially when faced with the pale, pale comparison that Crunch is. I like Crunch, but indeed it is a pale comparison to this LS product I haven't seen in more than 20 years. I would try some of the suggestions above, but the links seem to lead to chocolate with toffee, or bread crumbs, or salt (!?)... Not a rice puff in sight. I guess I'll have to try dirtynumbangelboy's suggestion, but in the meantime, I'll be keeping my eyes open for further suggestions here. Great question!
posted by segatakai at 1:53 AM on June 15, 2010
posted by segatakai at 1:53 AM on June 15, 2010
If the cinder toffee (UK name for it)
No... sponge toffee/yellow man (which seems to be the Irish name, traditionally served with dulse)/whatever should have a slight chewiness to the centre once it has been moistened in your mouth.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:22 AM on June 15, 2010
No... sponge toffee/yellow man (which seems to be the Irish name, traditionally served with dulse)/whatever should have a slight chewiness to the centre once it has been moistened in your mouth.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:22 AM on June 15, 2010
For cinder/sponge toffee I agree. For a crunchie bar, I couldn't disagree more.
posted by twine42 at 5:50 AM on June 15, 2010
posted by twine42 at 5:50 AM on June 15, 2010
Tropical Source Rice Crisp, om nom nom, is exactly what you're asking for. Found at Whole Foods or your local equivalent.
posted by clavicle at 7:58 AM on June 15, 2010
posted by clavicle at 7:58 AM on June 15, 2010
It's not rice, but I can't believe nobody's mentioned Scharffen Berger's Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Nibby Bar. The crunch in them is provided by cacao nibs. I've always thought they were precisely Nestle-Crunch-but-better-quality.
posted by jocelmeow at 12:19 PM on June 15, 2010
posted by jocelmeow at 12:19 PM on June 15, 2010
Also not rice, but you might enjoy Komforte Chocolate's French Toast bar.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:40 PM on June 15, 2010
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:40 PM on June 15, 2010
jocelmeow: yes, yes, yes. Spendy but tremendously worth it, IMO.
along with the Chuao bars meese recommended upthread, between the 2, you may never go back to those disgusting low-quality crisped-rice abominations again.
I've had excellent luck in the past with Chocosphere, HOWEVER if you are at all offended by pre web 2.0 web aesthetics, click that link at your extreme peril.
srsly people, geocities called and they want their page layout back. also: comic sans :P
posted by lonefrontranger at 12:50 PM on June 15, 2010
along with the Chuao bars meese recommended upthread, between the 2, you may never go back to those disgusting low-quality crisped-rice abominations again.
I've had excellent luck in the past with Chocosphere, HOWEVER if you are at all offended by pre web 2.0 web aesthetics, click that link at your extreme peril.
srsly people, geocities called and they want their page layout back. also: comic sans :P
posted by lonefrontranger at 12:50 PM on June 15, 2010
Maison Bouche make a Riz Soufflé Caramélisé bar that's pretty good. Available in both dark and milk chocolate, apparently; I've only had the dark.
posted by Lexica at 7:58 PM on June 15, 2010
posted by Lexica at 7:58 PM on June 15, 2010
Not a candy bar... but Valrhona pearls are a sublime blend of dark chocolate and crunchy thing.
posted by Suciu at 3:41 AM on June 20, 2010
posted by Suciu at 3:41 AM on June 20, 2010
I don't know if you would be willing to try a diy version, but it's about as easy a recipe as you can get.
Dark Chocolate Crunch Bars
- 2 bags dark chocolate chips (Hershey's makes a special dark chocolate chip that's easily available)
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
1. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave on medium for 2 minutes. Stir halfway through the heating time. Keep an eye on it so you can melt the chips thoroughly, but be careful not to overheat.
2. Gently mix the Rice Krispies into the chocolate and pour into a greased 9x12-inch pan.
3. Slam/tap the pan on the counter or floor to level the chocolate.
4. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. Cut the candy in half widthwise and then twice lengthwise, making 6 bars.
posted by thekilgore at 10:31 AM on June 21, 2010
Dark Chocolate Crunch Bars
- 2 bags dark chocolate chips (Hershey's makes a special dark chocolate chip that's easily available)
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
1. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in a microwave on medium for 2 minutes. Stir halfway through the heating time. Keep an eye on it so you can melt the chips thoroughly, but be careful not to overheat.
2. Gently mix the Rice Krispies into the chocolate and pour into a greased 9x12-inch pan.
3. Slam/tap the pan on the counter or floor to level the chocolate.
4. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. Cut the candy in half widthwise and then twice lengthwise, making 6 bars.
posted by thekilgore at 10:31 AM on June 21, 2010
Charles Chocolate makes two fabulous crisped rice bars -- one bittersweet and one milk. I highly recommend either... or, even better, both!
posted by amelioration at 2:22 PM on June 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by amelioration at 2:22 PM on June 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pril at 9:30 PM on June 14, 2010 [1 favorite]