Biting into a sweet, ripe fruit is a common summer pastime. We’re are giving you the best of both worlds with our fruit creams.  Our lemon creams, might not bring a pucker  to your face like a cool glass of lemonade would, yet it’s still a mouth pleaser.  We also offer creams in blueberry, strawberry, and orange.  Sweet fruit cream on the inside and premium chocolate on the outside makes this indulgence worth skipping the line at the local fruit stand.

Another popular summer activity is the barbecue   If you are looking for something unique to take to the next one you attend, look no further than our chocolate dipped potato chips!  Chips and dip are a classic food for BBQ’s, but this twist will surely be the winner.  Desserts are also often a big hit at picnics.  Instead of bringing an expected pie or cake,  Key Lime cake pops are a welcomed substitute. Other popular summer flavors are Pineapple, Lemon or Carrot Cake cake pops.

Road trips are another thing that goes hand in hand with all the summer fun you are bound to have.  One thing you don’t want to forget is the snacks!  Chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate covered nuts and candies are tasty treats for when you are on the go.  A little chocolate can go a long way for keeping everyone happy during a drive.

Sinful Sweets Chocolates can be purchased from our downtown Pittsburgh candy store and online at sinfulsweetsonline.com.  Remember summer is all about having fun and we are here to help you create the best summer memories.

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With Mother’s Day this weekend, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you to keep the this special lady in your thoughts. For those of you who are late shoppers we put together a quick gift giving guide to help you celebrate and honor your mom.

For the Sporty Mom

If your mom is always at the golf course or on the tennis court mother’s day is a great opportunity to get her the latest gear.  Pick her up new equipment for her chosen sport or a trendy new outfit that will leaving her thinking of you every times she wears it.  There are also many different sports themed items available – from coffee mugs to books, you will not be at a loss for the fitness inclined.

For the Mom who Needs Pampered

Is your mom that type of mother that is so busy taking care of everyone else that she never stops to do something for herself?  If that is your mom, give her a gift that let’s her know it’s ok to take time out for herself!  A gift card for a spa treatment or even an at home beauty kit will be sure to let her know you are thinking of her and give her to time to relax.  Don’t forget mom’s love to snack on chocolates while they taking time out from their busy schedules!

For the Professional Mom

For the working mom, a new spring scent or accessory is sure to make her day.  Not only will she appreciate the thought you put into choosing something thoughtful, but you are helping making her stand out in the office.

For the Mom with a Sweet Tooth

You can never go wrong with the a box of chocolates for your dear mom.  Pick her favorite confection or hand pick a box of mixed treats to let her know you were really thinking when you choose her gift.  Chocolate candies aren’t the only options for moms who love sweets.  Taking mom out for her favorite ice cream or a milkshake is also a great way to spend time together.

No matter how you decide to honor your mom this day, remember nothing goes better with your gift than a hug and “I love you, Mom”.

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“In the end, it’s the sweet, simple things in life that are the best ones of all.”  This is the motto of Sinful Sweets, our new favorite candy stop located on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh. Bringing candy store magic back to our city, Sinful Sweets opened in 2011 and brought us that old-fashioned feel we’ve all experienced! For those following the shop’s sweetness, you know that Sinful Sweets is beyond a chocolate store, it’s a lifestyle of indulgence.  Read More

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The best way to choose chocolates with your 5 senses.  Look at your chocolate before tasting it.  The surface of the candy should be glossy and unblemished.  If you see a cloudy, gray or scarred surface it is a sign that the chocolate is old or was subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations.  The the next test is to break the chocolate into pieces.  You should hear a clean snap.  If the product bends or crumbles it is another sign of low quality or old chocolate.

The scent of chocolate will be strong in good quality chocolate confections.  The best way to test this is to gently run your fingers over the chocolate to warm it before smelling.  If it doesn’t smell like chocolate or smells strongly of another ingredient (vanilla for example) it probably won’t give you the chocolate taste you are expecting.  Chocolate does pick up odors from the environment it is, be aware of this is your chocolate smells of coffee, tea or other aromatics.

Last, but not least, the taste of your choice of chocolate.  How does the chocolate feel at it melts in your mouth? Is it waxy? Chewy or dense? The preferred mouth feel is smooth and velvety.  You will also want to pay attention to the other flavors you pick up.  You may find that you are tasting floral notes, citrus, berry, coffee, or wine undertones.  Do you taste the flavors all at once in a burst or do they gradually change and linger in your mouth?

Sinful Sweets Chocolate Company is proud to offer you premium chocolate candies made with quality ingredients.  Trust your taste buds to our sinfully sweet creations!

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Ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Middle Easterners coated flowers and fruits with honey to create candy.  From there candy originated as medicine used to provide relief from a sore throat or to calm an upset stomach.  In the Middle Ages, only the wealthy were able to afford candy.  These treats were a combination of sugar and spices that were meant to aid in digestive issues caused by unbalanced diets and eating food that was not fresh.

In the 1500s, Christopher Columbus returned home from his 4th voyage to the Americas, bring with him the bittersweet chocolate treat.  It was not until the 18th century that candy was introduced to the Americas from France and Britain.  A select few colonists could work with sugar to make treats for well off families.  The simplest form of the confections they created was Rock Candy.  It was crystallized sugar and was considered to be a luxury item.

As sugar became more accessible, advances in technology in a great impact on the candy industry.  Candies became more affordable for working classes and children.  Candy store began to appear everywhere and were prosperous selling penny candy to kids.  In 1847 the candy press was invented and allowed candy makers to create a variety of shapes and sizes simultaneously.

Candy is known by many names, confections, lollies, sweets, but is universally something one can identify on sight. With such a sweet history, how could candy not be one of the most loved treats?

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Bridal Showers

Brides and mother’s to be are in planning mode and we are here to be your sweet source for shower favors.  Weddings have traditionally included sweets for many centuries.  Whether you choose to give favor boxes to your guest, add loose chocolates or candies to your dessert table or forgo a traditional cake for a dessert buffet, we can create  it.  Favor boxes can  be a nice touch to your tables and are easy to customize in your wedding colors.  Think beyond the tables and chocolates can be incorporated into other areas as well.  We can’t think of it all, but we are willing to accept new challenges and would love to hear your ideas.

Baby Showers

Baby showers don’t have to be pastel colors and punch!  We think your baby shower should be fun!  One trend that is being coming more popular is the gender reveal at the shower.  This can be done in different way with our confections.  Cake pops with the cake died to the baby’s gender is just one of the many ideas we have for this event.  Candies can come in many colors and flavors, allowing your chocolates or candies to reflect you.  Small boxed chocolates are also a great prize to give to the winners of all those games you know you will be playing.

Contact us to place your custom order or to set up a time to visit the store for a consultation. and tasting. From favor boxes to loose confections we are looking forward to creating a sweet remembrance for your special day.

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Ultimately we choose  Brian Ator’s submission of Butter Creams rolled in Roasted Peanuts.  We loved this idea of a simple twist on a classic chocolate favorite.  Butter Creams are a blend of ganache infused with different flavor combinations.  We use only the highest quality ingredients to create our chocolate cream candies.

Congratulations Brian on being the winner of our first contest!   Be sure to stop into Sinful Sweets Chocolate Company, and try our new product that will be hitting the shelves soon.

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1. Egg Hunt – Easter egg hunts are fun for children of all ages, and is probably something you enjoyed while growing up.  Easter eggs can be hidden around the house or outdoors.  The eggs you use can colorful plastic replicas or the eggs that have been previously dyed for the holiday.  This is an activity that can be done at home, or many places hold these types of functions.

2. Easter Baskets – Baskets of goodies date back hundreds of years.  There are a variety of items that can be used to fill an Easter basket.  A favorite of children (and adults) is often the chocolate bunny. Whether you hide the baskets for your child to find or if they are left out by the Easter bunny, the gifts are sure to delight.

3. Dying Easter Eggs – Coloring Easter eggs is a great way to spend time with the family.  This fun activity can lend itself to the creation of some great family snapshots. Eggs can be colored in a several ways from dyes to markers and stickers to tie-dye effects.  The more creative you are the better!

4. Brunch/Dinner with Family – Family is an important factor in celebrating holidays.  Easter is often celebrated with a family brunch or dinner.  Typically the main course is ham or lamb, however dessert might be everyone’s favorite.  With so many delicious options to choose from it’s hard to decided between a chocolate candy or carrot cake.

5. Visiting the Easter Bunny – What child does not enjoy the annual trip to visit the Easter Bunny?  Found in many public locations, it’s another great chance to snap a photo and remember the holiday for many years.

These are just a few ways that Easter is commonly celebrated.  What are your family’s favorite Easter traditions?

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Easter ranks number two, behind Halloween, for the best-selling candy holiday. Just as the traditions so back many years, so do the popular chocolate candies that symbolize this holiday. Chocolate eggs date back to 19th century Europe. Eggs are associated with Easter as a symbol of new life and in the Christian religion, Jesus’ resurrection. Today chocolate eggs can be found in large or small sizes and are found in hollow varieties or filled with many delicious combinations.

Another popular Easter candy is the Jelly Bean, which became associated with Easter in the 1930s. Though jelly beans origins date back much further, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the United States each year for Easter according to the National Confectioners Association. That is enough candies to fill a giant egg measuring 89 feet high and 60 feet wide! That’s one big Easter egg if you ask us!

In the past decade, the marshmallow Peep has been the top-selling non-chocolate candy for the holiday. This candy started out in Bethlehem, PA as handmade, marshmallow flavored, yellow chicks, but have evolved in shape and in flavor. Today even a chocolate mousse, bunny shaped Peep can be purchased. We have found that the Peeps taste great perched on our chocolate covered pretzels.

The most popular candy for Easter baskets might be the Chocolate Bunny. The rabbit is a symbol of fertility and new life, making it an easy fit for the rituals of spring and Easter. The first edible bunnies surfaced in Germany in the 1800s. These were baked pastries that were hidden in nests around the house and garden for kids to find in celebration of the arrival of spring. The first American manufacturer to produce a chocolate bunny was Whitmatns Chocolate in 1842. The popularity of this confection picked up in the 20th century. Today many varieties of this treat can be found, in flavors from white chocolate to caramel to
  bunnies with a hollow center. The most interesting fact about this candy maybe the way you chose to eat it. More than 75% of Americans bite of the ears first.

No matter which way you bite into this holiday it’s sure to be sweet. Visit our store for our selection of pre-made Easter baskets or make your own with our wide selection of chocolates, cake pops, chocolate covered pretzels and more!

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Cooking at Home

In a home setting women are often cooking as part of a family duty, producing approximately 1000 meals per year on average. For women the kitchen is not a time of luxury, but simply another task in their home. This causes women to tend to put together quick meals that may be dull but are providing nutrients for their families. Women who cook at home are often precise and follow instructions carefully.

Men tend to have a more creating view when cooking at home; they enjoy food more and approach cooking as something pleasurable. Men also tend to use more gadgets and are messier cooks that women. The use of different tools and ingredients may lend to their being more creative while creating their meals.

Cooking in a Professional Setting

In a professional environment it is a fact that there are more male chefs than females. Over the last 10-15 years there has been a shift in this trend and more females are becoming chefs. In restaurant kitchens there still tends to be a defining line of men taking the lead in creativity, while women cook with their heart and souls. Baking is one area where you will often find women doing the majority of cooking.

While men may be thought to be more creative gender in the kitchen, anyone with a passion for food and good source for quality ingredients can be a great cook. Cooking styles are also a function of training, experience and personality.

Sinful Sweets Chocolate Company wants to know who you think rules the kitchen in terms of creativity! Leave your comments below and don’t forget enter your most creative idea into our Create a Chocolate contest!

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