Sugar & Spice (AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE): 10 Irresistible Sweet Treats for the Perfect Holiday Gifts

WARNING: The following gift guide is going to contain A LOT of chocolate... We mean, tons and tons of chocolate... But the good news is that some of it is low in sugar and some is EVERYTHING free for those little ones and loved ones on your holiday list that have allergies or are trying to eat healthier. But no matter how you slice it, it's still a lot of chocolate (with a few non-chocolate goodies for people who don't like chocolate — which, bless their hearts, we will never understand). So since this is the time of the year that it feels okay to indulge, we present to you, our top 10 sweet treats for Passionistas.

Note: The following are affiliate links. The Passionistas Project will receive affiliate income if you purchase through this link, at no cost to you. We only recommend products that we believe in from women we know or trusted brands we’ve discovered.

1. MAYA'S BRIGADEIRO BRAZILIAN TRUFFLE'S GIFT BOX, ASSORTMENT from MAYA ZELLMAN at BRIGADEIRO BRAZILIAN SWEETS

This beautiful box of Brazilian Sweets are sure to be an impressive gift to the foodie on your holiday list that's always looking for the next new treat. Maya's Brigadeiro is a female owned and operated brand based in Los Angeles, California that uses Maya's family recipes to produce Brigadeiro's, a traditional Brazilian sweet. Maya enjoys bringing her Brazilian culture to you by always choosing the finest ingredients, creating unique flavors, and hand making every piece, just for you... with lots of amor. Each of Maya's handmade Brigadeiros are packed with all natural ingredients and are gluten free, allowing you to indulge in a flavorful treat or share as a gift to family and friends. Flavors include Chocolate Salted Pistachio, Sweet Milk, Classic Chocolate, Coconut, Passion Fruit and Coffee Dark Chocolate.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

2. EDIBLE CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CANDLES from LOREE SANDLER at LET THEM EAT CANDLES

How cute are these? Seriously, anyone can decorate a cake with those typical pastel swirly candles that we all grew up with. But whoever thought of finding yet another way to add chocolate to a cake is a genius in our books. That genius is Loree Sandler and it all started at her son's birthday party. She's a trained architect, devoted to details, and she saw that birthday candles were ripe for revision. So, she took classes at Chicago’s French Pastry School and the Chocolate Academy, created prototypes, engaged consultants, tested wicks. She designed custom molds, packaging, and a website. She enrolled in a “food business 101” class and joined an incubator. She gained traction going to bakery after bakery before getting national recognition from Martha Stewart’s American Made contest. Now Let Them Eat Candles can be found at hundreds of stores nationwide.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

3. SIPPING KETO HOT CHOCOLATE AND ELECTRIC FROTHER AND WHISK SET from DEANA at GOOD DEE'S

We've been living in California for decades. So here's what a good adult holiday visit to the East Coast looks like for us — flannel pajamas, fuzzy slippers, sitting next to a radiator (look it up if you've never lived on that side of the country), under a blanket, watching old movies and sipping hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is key. The hotter, chocolatier and frothier the better. This Sipping Hot Chocolate and Electric Brother Whisk Set from Good Dee's delivers all the necessities to create that perfect final touch on a snowy winter day.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

4. BALI SEA SALT MILK CHOCOLATE BARS from JEAN THOMPSON at JCOCO

Not only is jcoco chocolate delicious but their packaging is sleek and classy. We love that each package comes with three 1-ounce bars so you can enjoy them slowly yourself, share with a friend, or split up the packs to put each flavor in your family's stockings on Christmas morning. We're particularly fond of this Sea Salt Toffee Milk Chocolate flavor. Plus they are all-natural, gluten free, non GMO, sourced with only ethically traded chocolate and kosher certified so they're perfect for Hanukkah, too.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

5. BLUE WINTER WONDERLAND DESIGNER GINGERBREAD HOUSE from LAUREN BROOKS at BAKERY BLING STORE

What holiday decor would be complete without a homemade gingerbread house. We love that this Blue Winter Wonderland kit is non-denominational and steers clear of the typical red and green Christmas color palette. Infusing a touch of uniqueness, this kit boasts an array of delightful decorations, featuring not only the customary gingerbread man but also adorable snow people and a beautifully adorned snow-covered tree. It's a whimsical and inclusive way to add a touch of magic to your seasonal decorations.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

6. MISS JONES BAKING BROWNIE MIX from SARAH JONES at MISS JONES

When we were kids, we'd spend the days between Christmas and New Year's playing with all new toys, watching TV in our feety pajamas and baking. We especially loved to make a homemade pan of rich, gooey, chocolatey brownies. We were really excited when we found this delicious mix from Miss Jones founder Sarah Jones, who believes that better ingredients create better results. That includes 100% whole grains, 25% more chocolate and 50% less sugar. Just look at their label-- they use ingredients you can pronounce for a better tasting, better-for-you bake. It's no surprise that their products earned Southern Living and USA Today's Best Taste awards in 2016 and 2018.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

7. IYA FOODS PUMPKIN SPICE BREAD & MUFFIN GLUTEN FREE MIX from TOYIN KOLAWOLE at IYA FOODS

Of course, we couldn't make it through a holiday sweets list without including one pumpkin spice option. You know you love it and so do we. Especially when the traditional flavor comes in the form of this amazing gluten free bread and muffin mix from Iva Foods. The company's founder, Toyin Kolawole, hailing from Nigeria, chose the name "Iya," which translates to "my loving mother" in the Yoruba language. Indulging in this delectable treat might just convince you it was crafted from scratch by a caring mother in the cozy confines of her home kitchen.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

8. ARTISANAL DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE BARS from THEREASA BLACK at BON APPÉSWEET

Okay, it's obvious by now we're passionate about chocolate. But our lives work and passion is supporting women, especially those from marginalized communities so the mission of AppeSweet really speaks to us. As Founder Thereasa Black says, "At Bon AppéSweet, we believe that liberty and justice are unalienable rights that should be experienced by ALL. Standing up for what is right, isn’t always easy, but it is always NECESSARY. Bon AppéSweet has stood on the side of justice since our founding all of our packaging helps to raise awareness of important social issues. Together we can transform America for the better. We are the greatest nation in the world, but in order to remain that way, we must never stop evolving." Now isn't that a sweet message for the New Year?

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

9. RULE BREAKER SNACKS from NANCY KALISH at RULE BREAKERS

First of all, we have to say we love Nancy Kalish, the entrepreneur behind these amazing and guilt-free snacks. Her creations are soft and chewy, packed full of flavor and the perfect size for a midday snack. This variety pack includes Chocolate Chunk Blondie, Deep Chocolate Brownie, Birthday Cake and P’Nutter Chocolate Chip flavors. Oh, and did we mention that they are made with CHICKPEAS? Stay with us here. Yes, we said chickpeas but you would never know. You also can't tell that they are NOT made with peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, soy, sesame, coconut, mustard, fish, shellfish, wheat or gluten. What! What? You'd never know from the taste. Slip these in those holiday stockings and see if anyone notices that these yummy treats are good for them, too.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

10. OH-MAZING GRANOLA SNACK from STEPHANIE WILLIAMS at OH-MAZING

We understand that not everyone is as cuckoo for cocoa as we are so we wanted to give you another snacking gift option that we are addicted to. Oh-Mazing Granola is delicious as well as being nut-free, soy free, has no preservatives and is made in small batches. Owner, Stephanie Williams, has always believed in providing “from-scratch,” all natural meals for her family to promote a healthier lifestyle. Over time, she developed her own granola recipe to provide an alternative to some of the unhealthy snacks found on grocery store shelves. The snack instantly became a hit among her family, friends, and community. After having two children, Stephanie resigned from her job to spend more precious time with them and to create an abundance of Oh-Mazing! moments. It's the perfect stocking stuffer or holiday snack for people who don't want to wake up with a sugar hangover on January 1.

Get the latest price and buy now HERE.

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