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Candied & chocolate covered fruit

1 kinds worth knowing, 8 picks, and what to check before you buy.

Representative photo-style image of candied & chocolate covered fruit — generated, not a specific product
Representative image, generated

People usually give chocolate-covered or candied fruit to a partner, a mom, or a host. It works best for someone who likes a small treat but doesn't need more things in the house. The boxes that get finished tend to be simple: dark-chocolate orange peel, tart dried apricots, or a mixed box with a few different fruits. Think of it as something to share after a holiday dinner, not a keepsake. Candied oranges dipped in chocolate keep well and travel well. Fresh chocolate strawberries are better for handing over in person on the day. Choose based on when the box will be opened and what kind of chocolate the person already likes.

Kind 1 of 1

Chocolate-dipped candied orange peel

These are strips or slices of orange peel, slowly cooked in sugar syrup and then half-dipped in chocolate, most often dark. They're chewy and a bit bitter, and less sweet than most chocolate boxes. That makes them a good fit for someone who likes dark chocolate, marmalade or coffee. They keep much longer than fresh-dipped fruit, so you can mail them or tuck them into a stocking. Before buying, check whether the peel is soft or hard and dry, and whether the chocolate is dark or milk. Look at the box size too, since a small tin often suits a host better than a large platter.

How to choose candied & chocolate covered fruit as a gift

  • Match the chocolate to the person: dark for people who find sweets too sweet, milk or white for people who like them sweet.
  • Only choose fresh fruit like strawberries if you can hand them over the day you pick them up.
  • Read the ingredient list if the recipient avoids nuts, dairy or gluten, since shared kitchens and coatings vary.
  • For a host, pick a box that can go on the table as is, with pieces easy to share without cutting.

Usually safe to skip

  • Large fresh-dipped fruit platters for someone travelling or hosting a busy dinner, because they need eating quickly and take up fridge space.
  • Candied fruit mixes heavy on neon glacé cherries, which many people only use for baking and rarely eat plain.
  • Novelty shapes or heavily decorated pieces, which often look better than they taste and get left in the box.

Questions people ask about candied & chocolate covered fruit

How far ahead can I buy chocolate covered orange peel for Christmas?
Candied peel dipped in chocolate usually keeps for weeks, so you can buy it well before the holidays. Store it somewhere cool and dry, away from heat, so the chocolate doesn't soften or turn chalky. Check the best-before date on the box.
Are chocolate covered strawberries a good gift to mail?
Usually not. Fresh-dipped strawberries are meant to be eaten within a day or two and don't travel well. If you're shipping or visiting later, go with dried fruit dipped in chocolate, like apricots, blueberries or orange peel.
What's a good candied fruit gift for someone who doesn't like chocolate?
Try candied ginger or a box of mixed candied fruit. Ginger is chewy and spicy, and it goes well with tea. A mixed box works for people who bake or like to set out a small dish of sweets over the holidays.

Looking for one person in particular? Shop by person.

Everything else

All candied & chocolate covered fruit picks

Show:AllSpecific productsGift ideasBudget:AnyUnder $15$15–$25$25–$50$50–$100Over $100

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