Ghirardelli Rich and Creamy Luxe Milk Chocolate Squares Are Creamy Perfection

I keep Ghirardelli chocolate around my house for my daughter's visits. Most of the time I have no problem avoiding the temptation to try one myself. However, recently I experienced a major chocolate craving. So I decided to break into one of the bags of chocolates I'd purchased for her.

From their premium assortment line, it was the Ghirardelli Rich and Creamy Luxe Milk Chocolate Squares. There are a total of 15 squares in each 8.64 oz. bag. With 3 squares in a serving, that equals 5 total servings.

There are 210 calories per serving. Of that, more than half -- 130 calories - are fat related.

Each serving of Ghirardelli Rich and Creamy Luxe Milk Chocolate Squares contains 14 grams of fat. Of that, 7 grams come from saturated fat. There is; however, no trans fat in this chocolate. Additionally, the chocolate contains 23 grams of carbohydrate, 20 grams of sugar, 35 milligrams of sodium and 10 milligrams of cholesterol.

Ghirardelli Rich and Creamy Luxe Milk Chocolate Squares do have some positives as well. They contain 3 grams of protein as well as 1 gram of fiber. Additionally, they offer 8% of the daily-recommended amount of calcium, 4% of the required amount of iron and 2% of the necessary vitamin A.

Ingredients include almonds, barley, cocoa butter, hazelnuts, malt, milk fat, milled rice, soy lecithin, salt, sugar, unsweetened chocolate and whole milk powder. A word of caution; however, since nuts are involved in this mix, it may not be suitable for people with nut allergies.

I thought my favorite would be the crispy rice square. However, I actually prefer the hazelnut or almond squares.

The almond squares provide a crunchy contrast to the creamy milk chocolate. That gives this square option a lot depth and dimension. Therefore, I give almond squares 4 out of 5 stars.

The crispy rice squares are a good mix with the crisp and smooth. However, I have seen other brands of chocolate do it better. I give this one 2 out of 5 stars.

The hazelnut squares are crunchy perfection. They add an unusually sophisticated twist to the smooth milk chocolate. This is my favorite of the four squares provided in this assortment. I give hazelnut squares 5 out of 5 stars.

The milk chocolate squares are creamy and smooth with a pleasing texture and taste. They melt easily in the mouth, delivering that rich, soulful chocolate flavor. I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.

That is a total of 15 stars out of a possible 20 stars. That averages out to 3.2 stars, which is above average.

Ghirardelli chocolate should always be stored in a place that has no exposure to heat or the sun. It is best stored where no dampness exists as well. Therefore, be sure to choose a cool location where the atmosphere is relatively dry.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company of San Leandro manufactures Ghirardelli Rich and Creamy Luxe Milk Chocolate Squares. For more information about this product, visit their website at Ghirardelli (.com).

RATING SCALE:
5 stars - outstanding
4 stars - good
3 stars - average
2 stars - below average
1 star - poor