Snackmas Day 9- Tesco Finest Chocolate & Hazelnut Stollen

We've covered Italy and the joy that is Panettone with a reboot from last year so it's only fair to do the same for Germany.. Move over Cherry & Almond, it's all about the Chocolate & Hazelnut Stollen! 

Tesco's festive aisle is where I found the serves 8 loaf and believe you me, when I saw it.. I was in a store and I was singing! Priced the same as it's traditional fruit counterpart at £7, the bread-cake cross contains wheat, obviously, alcohol, nuts and also comes with a warning that small children can choke on said nuts.. So best not leave your intoxicated, coeliac 3 year old unattended with the Stollen this Christmas!

Fruit cake filled with Belgium chocolate chips, chocolate hazelnut and almond filling, infused with amaretto syrup and decorated with caramelised hazelnuts. 

Okay, I did complain about the flimsy tray last December but I didn't mean to do away with it completely, Tesco! What am I meant to do with a bagged loaf? What/who is going to catch my nuts?

Now is not the time to be hasty and change a habit of a lifetime so I did what comes naturally and just plonked it on some kitchen towel. Check out the brown log glory!

Smelling amazingly of marzipan, the soft and squidgy Stollen cut into slices a dream to reveal the chocolate layer within, surrounded by big chunks of dried fruit. A moist and fudgy texture was that of dough with oodles of rich cocoa tones from the more than generous amount of chocolate, complimented by the flavour of pure almond/amaretto. Absolutely packed to the brim, the sultanas, cherries and cranberries gave a juicy pop aswell as adding some fruity flavour which prevented things from being sickly. I couldn't taste the hazelnuts on top whatsoever, despite the generous scattering but the addictive light crunch from the nibs was more than enough and nothing felt amiss. Life changing! 

I didn't think the Cherry & Almond Loaf could be beaten.. Yet this Chocolate & Hazelnut Stollen has completely wiped the floor! It's everything as promised - Chocolatey, fruity, full of marzipan flavour and having so much more substance than it's lack lustre appearance! An all round fantastic twist on a German classic - Well done Tesco! Top marks from me, 5 out of 5! 

Review- Ritter Sport Coconut

Good chocolate doesn't seem to be easy to come by nowadays.. Some may argue that this is due to us becoming fussier but we all know quality has slipped across the board - Long gone are the days where you could pop into Woolworths and come out with a cheap, decent tasting bar! Ritter Sport however are one brand I have heard nothing but praise about.. And yet it's one I have not tried!

Alpine milk chocolate with a coconut and milk creme filling (45%). 

Well, that was until my First Mate, Mrs 1T sent me a 100g bar of the German Chocolate.. Only in the best possible flavour too - Coconut! It was safe to say, I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of a luxurious Bounty-esque treat.

Given that the filling was so thick, the cubed chunks didn't break exactly evenly but no matter.. It smelt irresistibly delicious! Popping a piece in the mouth, the smooth chocolate was the first thing to hit me - Rich but milky in flavour with a fantastic melt. Next came the pure hit of coconut from the dense filling which contained crunchy/chewy nibs of the shredded stuff set within a soft, creamy milk, tropical creme. This provided a light contrast in texture and made for a decent pairing thanks to the ratio of coconut to chocolate being just right and ideally sweet. Very creamy, very indulgent and very yummy! 

Overall, this Ritter Sport Coconut is a cracker - I can't believe I've managed this long without it! It is far superior to the UK chocolate bar market and quite frankly, my much beloved Bounty now seems pathetic in comparison. I will definitely be getting another and trying some of the other varieties the company has to offer.. I suggest you do too! Thanks Kirks! It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Snackmas Day 23- Tesco Finest Stollen Loaf

Since we have already said Feliz Navidad to our Italian friends with Panettone and Ricciarelli, it is only fair that Germany gets a look in too. Stollen - In all of it's dried fruit, marzipan laden, icing sugar glory.. It's essentially Christmas in a bread-cake cross and our 'Eve Eve review! 

I picked up this Finest Stollen Loaf from.. Wait for it.. Wait for it.. Oo the suspense.. TESCO! My home away from home! Situated in the festive aisle, next to all the other "premium" goodies, the cake cost a whopping £7 - Is it just me or is that ridiculously overpriced? Yes, I did still buy it but.. £7?! 

Our finest Stollen loaf is beautifully moist, packed full of soft and juicy rum soaked sultanas and raisins. A soft centre of rich marzipan offers a lovely almond flavour to the rum syrup and butter soaked loaf. Hand decorated with a glacè cherries and tasted almonds for a beautiful finish. 

A fat price tag and yet they couldn't even be bothered with any sort of fancy presentation - A flimsy, plastic tray, Tesco.. Really? 

My anger at the lack of show was fairly short lived once I had smelt and more importantly tasted the Stollen! The fruit cake scented loaf was deliciously, doughy and dense with a soft and super sticky feel and flavour somewhere between a Hot Cross Bun and Christmas Cake - Sweet, buttery and a hint of spice to go perfectly with the packed in fruitiness of raisins and sultanas as well as the citrus notes. The marzipan aspect wasn't all that strong until biting through the almost gooey, log that ran throughout the centre which went amazingly well with the, stronger than I expected, punch of Rum. On top it was almonds and then some which added a serious bite in contrast to all the squidgy elements.. Another in being, the line of glistening glacè cherries, adding that final bit of sweet goodness. Superb!

Overall and without a shadow of a doubt, this is the best Stollen I have ever had - It is ridiculously moist, packed, and generally all round scrumptious! It may be expensive for what it is and you probably will question if it will serve the suggested 8 on the box but it is well worth it and most definitely will considering its richness! Santa Baby, slip another Stollen under the tree for me - A 4.5 out of 5!