The Benefits of Dark Chocolate

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In moderation, dark chocolate can be extremely beneficial for your health. Some of these benefits include antioxidants, improved brain function, reduced risk of heart disease, as well as lowered blood pressure and cholesterol.

Antioxidants are what our body creates to help fight off disease and illness. Dark chocolate contains many antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even cancer. Dark chocolate also carries anti-inflammatory properties, which can help the body fight off type 2 diabetes, arthritis and certain types of cancer. 

When it comes to heart health, dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and cholesterol (the two main factors of heart disease). Dark chocolate works by lowering the “bad” cholesterol and increasing the “good” cholesterol. This chocolate treat can also improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.  

Besides lowering your blood pressure, dark chocolate can protect your skin against the sun by increasing skin density and hydration. 

Studies show that eating dark chocolate can help improve brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain. Dark chocolate is also known to improve brain function and verbal skills in older people, which can reduce the risks of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

A dark chocolate bar containing 70% dark cacao is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium and other minerals that the body needs to stay healthy. 

At Lazar’s, we have a wide range of delicious dark chocolate products. They range from dark chocolate covered fruit and nuts to pure dark chocolate bars.  Enjoy some chocolate and benefit your health at the same time!

We are not medical experts, we only make delicious dark chocolates. So, you should always contact a medical professional when it comes to questions about your health. For information about our products, please visit the Lazar’s Chocolate website or give us a call at (516) 829-5875.

Best Gourmet Chocolate

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Who has the best gourmet chocolate in town? Why Lazar’s of course. We have chocolates for all occasions, whether it be a wedding, baby shower, religious event or party. If something sweet is what you need, we have it all. 

Are you looking for something to bring to a party? At Lazar’s, we carry a selection of platters each containing an assortment of our finest chocolates that will satisfy the sweet tooths of your guests. If party favors are what you are looking for, you can even customize your party favor boxes with colored ribbon and foil.

We want everyone to be able to enjoy the best gourmet chocolate, which is why we carry sugar and nut-free chocolates. Our nut-free chocolate products are made in a dedicated peanut-free facility, so those with nut allergies can enjoy our chocolates without worrying about allergic reactions.

We don’t mean to brag, but when it comes to gourmet chocolate, we make it the best. And as fourth-generation chocolatiers, we always put our heart and soul into every chocolate product we make. For more information about any of our products, visit our website or give us a call at 516-829-5795. We can answer any questions you may have.

best gourmet chocolate

Chocolate Wedding Favors

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If you are planning a wedding, why not consider chocolate wedding favors to thank your guests for attending your special day? At Lazar’s, we carry six varieties of boxes to choose from. Each box is perfectly wrapped, containing two or more assorted chocolates. 

Each of our chocolate boxes is unique in their own way. For our 2 x 2 and 4 x 4 favors, you can choose between gold, silver and white boxes. We also offer 3 x 3 and 4 x 4 clear acetate boxes. Each of these five boxes can be wrapped with a curled ribbon with a color of your choice, as well as a customized printed ribbon with your special day printed on it.

Choose Lazar’s chocolate wedding favors and get our four and eight-piece boxes, offering a variety of different chocolates within one box. Each of these boxes contains nuts, truffles, caramels, and even a chocolate-covered pretzel. What a surprise! 

When purchasing Lazar’s chocolate wedding favor boxes, you are sure to get delicious, finely crafted chocolates by a fourth-generation family of chocolate experts. For more information on our chocolate favors or any of our other products, you can visit us online or give us a call at (516) 829-5785. We will answer any questions you may have!

chocolate wedding favors

Signature Chocolate Bars

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Who doesn’t love signature chocolate bars? These nicely wrapped, solid pieces of deliciousness can turn a bad day into a better one! At Lazar’s, our chocolate bars come in 3-ounce and 8-ounce packages. They range from milk chocolate to 85% dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate has many health benefits like reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Dark chocolate can even help improve brain function and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Can you think of a better reason for eating chocolate, other than for the taste? 

If you are looking to try a signature chocolate bar with a unique taste of savory and sweet, try our dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. It will satisfy any salty and sweet craving. If sea salt and dark chocolate are not your ideal combination in a chocolate bar, we also carry traditional Milk Chocolate. For those looking for a smooth but bitter taste, try our 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate; this dark chocolate pairs very well with coffee! 

There are no golden tickets in our signature chocolate bars, only high-quality chocolate made by a family of chocolatiers. If you would like to visit our shop, we have two locations to serve you; one in Greenvale and one in Great Neck. You can also visit us online or give us a call at (516) 829-5785. We will answer any questions you might have!

signature chocolate bars

Gourmet Chocolate Shop

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Lazar’s Chocolates is your go-to gourmet chocolate shop for all things sweet and delicious, from chocolate-covered pretzels to sugar-free candy. In our store, we have something for everyone. Can’t make it in to see us? No problem, we can ship our products to you.

Are you hosting a party and looking for platters that will ‘wow’ your guests? At Lazar’s, we carry mixed chocolate, candy, fruit and nut platters that will surely impress your guests and will have them craving more. Need to buy a gift for that special someone? Our chocolate gift boxes and gift baskets are a perfect gift for any special occasion. We also carry special favors for weddings and parties.

Being a gourmet chocolate shop, we understand the importance of dietary restrictions. At Lazar’s, we want everyone to enjoy our products, which is why we offer a large selection of nut-free chocolates. Those with nut allergies can enjoy our chocolates without worrying about any allergic reactions to peanuts. We also carry a large variety of sugar-free (diabetic) candies and chocolates.

So, if you are looking for a gourmet chocolate shop and are in the Greenvale or Great Neck area, make sure to stop by Lazar’s Chocolate. We have something for everyone! You can also visit us online or give us a call at (516) 829-5785, we will answer any questions you might have.

gourmet chocolate shop

Nut-Free Chocolates

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Finding delicious, nut-free chocolates can be difficult for people with nut allergies. At Lazar’s Chocolates, we offer a variety of nut-free products for you and your family to enjoy. From chocolate-covered marshmallow pops to chocolate-covered nonpareils, these are just a few of the delicious nut-free products that we provide.

Chocolate has always been a crowd-pleaser, whether it be for a special occasion, fundraiser or just a simple way to say thank you. But not everyone can enjoy chocolate, especially those with nut allergies. With our nut-free chocolates, you can serve tasty chocolate treats at your next function without worrying about allergic reactions. 

Additionally, parents can now send their child to school with a nut-free chocolate treat in their lunchbox. Their faces will surely light-up when they open their lunchbox to find a chocolate-covered Oreo or a nut-free chocolate lollypop waiting for them. Amaze your guests at your next NFL party with our nut-free chocolate covered pretzels. At Lazar’s, we have something for everyone. 

Not only do we offer nut-free chocolates, but we also carry a variety of Diabetic (sugar-free) chocolates and candy. For more information about any of our products, visit our website or give us a call today at 516-829-5795. We can answer any questions you may have. 

nut-free chocolates

What is the best way to melt chocolate?

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For baking enthusiasts, this question can be an easy one, but for beginner bakers, there are a few simple ways to melt chocolate when a recipe calls for it. You have two options: you can use a double boiler or a microwave.

The first rule to keep in mind is: low and slow; that is the key! Try to keep it at the lowest heat possible, and make sure to take your time.

A double boiler is a two-component pan, consisting of a bottom and top pan. The bottom pan is used for boiling water, which will heat the ingredients located on the top pan. We highly recommend bringing the water to a boil first, before placing the bowl on top. This helps to reduce the chance of burning your chocolate. After the water is boiled, remove it from the heat and put the bowl of chopped up chocolate on top for the melting process. Stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes as your chocolate begins to melt in the bowl.

You don’t have a double boiler on hand? You can simply make one with a heatproof bowl, preferably Pyrex and a saucepan. The next step is to fill the saucepan with a ¼ inch of water; let it boil, reduce heat, and then place the heatproof bowl over the water, ensuring that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Then, follow the same steps you would for a regular double boiler.

Another way to melt chocolate is by using the microwave. Start by placing the chopped chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and melt for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until the chocolate is fully melted. Be sure to turn your microwave settings down to ½ power or less for all chocolate types. However, it is recommended that you melt white chocolate over a double boiler as this type of chocolate tends to become lumpy, grainy and burnt more easily in a microwave.  

It is important to keep in mind that these methods should only be used for melting chocolate and NOT for tempering. Melting chocolate through these methods should only be used for cooking and baking, and is not recommended for coating or molding. For information about our products, please visit our website or give us a call at (516) 829-5875.

Chocolate Gift Baskets

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Who doesn’t love getting chocolate gift baskets? They are the perfect treat to brighten someone’s day or make a special occasion even more special. At Lazar’s Chocolates, we have an assortment of chocolate gift baskets for any occasion. Most baskets come in a traditional wicker style or “platter-style”. Each of our gift baskets contains an assortment of chocolates that will be sure to please any chocolate lover.

Lazar’s wicker baskets come in six different sizes; the larger the size, the greater assortment. But no matter the size, each of our baskets contains an assortment of chocolates, chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate-covered malt balls. At Lazar’s, there is always something for everyone. Our baskets are neatly packaged and can be marked for any occasion.

Chocolate gift baskets are only one of the delicious treat options that we provide. Our “platter-style” gift baskets come in an assortment of candy, as well as dried fruits and nuts. Like our traditional baskets, our platters come in a range of sizes from small to x-large, and like our chocolate baskets, they also come with a mixture of delicious goods.

So if you are planning on treating that special someone, or want to thank your team for a job well done, give Lazar’s Chocolates a call at (516) 829-5785. We can help you with any questions you may have. 

chocolate gift baskets

How to Properly Store Chocolate?

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When purchasing a box of chocolates, it’s difficult to resist eating them all at once! But for any true chocolate lover, it’s important to know how to properly store chocolate, so you maintain and enjoy this delicious treat for longer periods of time.

The biggest rule when storing chocolate is to not refrigerate them! Chocolate is a highly absorbent material and can and will pick up smells and flavors from other foods in the fridge. Also, moisture in the fridge can react with the sugar, causing what’s known as a ‘sugar bloom’. However, these are purely cosmetic occurrences and don’t affect the taste at all. In the event that you do need to store chocolates in the fridge (for example, on a hot day), be sure to seal it in an airtight container. You can leave chocolate in the fridge for 24 hours, and you can put it in the freezer for even longer. Just be sure to let chocolate defrost in the fridge for a day before bringing it out.

The recommended way to store chocolate is to keep them in a cool, dry place, like a pantry. This allows the bonds in the chocolate to remain stable for much longer, allowing you to enjoy them as fresh as possible. It is important to note that you should still store chocolate in an airtight container so that oxidization doesn’t occur. Oxidization can change the flavor of chocolate in unsatisfactory ways. Don’t forget to keep chocolate away from all light source, as it can have the same effect as oxidization!

When you store chocolate properly, you can keep it fresh for long periods of time. In fact, plain dark chocolate will stay fresh for approximately two years! Plain milk chocolate stays good for about a year, while plain white chocolate lasts for about four months. It is important to note that this doesn’t apply to assorted chocolates that have filled centers, nuts, etc. These types of chocolates, however, can keep nicely for a few months if stored properly.

Do you have leftover chocolates from an event? Now you know how to preserve the unbeatable taste of Lazar’s Chocolate for as long as you can resist them! For more information or if you have any questions, make sure to visit our website or give us a call today at (516)-829-5785.

Chocolate Party Favors

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There’s no sweeter way to say ‘thank you’ than with chocolate party favors! Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, bridal shower or any celebration, chocolate favors are a delicious treat that all guests can enjoy. At Lazar’s Chocolate, our tried and true family recipe has been around for 70 years and counting. Currently, at our two New York locations, we strive for perfection every day, handcrafting the finest treats with love and care.

We’ll work closely with you and your vision to create the perfect party favors for any event. At Lazar’s, we have a large variety of chocolate party favors to choose from, starting with our neatly wrapped ornate boxes. These hand-wrapped boxes are tied with perfectly curled ribbons, which will be a sure way to impress your guests. If you want to go bigger, take a look at our small gift bags with individually wrapped chocolates for an even greater surprise! To suit every occasion, we’ve also got endlessly fun, molded chocolate pops and shaped chocolates that can work with any occasion. Some examples are:

Crosses
Butterflies
Princess Crowns
Baby Shirts
Baby Carriages
Baby Booties
Initials or numbers
Chocolate covered pretzels & more!

Chocolate party favors can be used as a gesture of thanks, mementos of a great event, or simply a way to add a little fun. But no matter the occasion, chocolate party favors will always help your guests feel extra special. We also ship worldwide, so no matter the distance, you can count on the unbeatable taste of Lazar’s Chocolate.

For more information or if you have any questions, call Lazar’s Chocolate today at (516)-829-5785.

chocolate party favors