How long can I store homemade chocolate candy?

by Tina
(Sartell, MN)

How long can I store homemade chocolate candy like chocolate covered Oreos, pretzels & cherries?

I'd like to make a dozen different chocolate covered treats to give out at Christmas, but want to make them a couple months early.


I'm making chocolate covered Oreos, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, peanut butter cups, cherries, pretzel rods, peanut butter balls, etc.


How can I store these and for how long?

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Hi Tina,

I sure wish I was on your gift list! Yum! :)


Since the weather has cooled, you shouldn't have any trouble storing your chocolates till Christmas.


Place them in freezer bags and store them in plastic containers or gift tins.


The important thing is to keep them in a cool dry place with fairly constant temperatures and away from anything with strong smells (don't store them near onions or spices, etc.).


I'd save the making of the chocolate covered cherries till last. Depending on the type you make, they will have the shortest shelf life.


Since you know we can purchase boxes of chocolate covered cherries from the shelf, you also know that they do have a fairly good shelf life, especially when they are completely enrobed in chocolate.


Chocolate candy can be frozen for long storage if needed, but they need to be well wrapped with as little air in the wrapping as possible. They also need to be thawed gradually to try to eliminate 'bloom.'


The discoloration from 'bloom' doesn't hurt the taste of the chocolate, but it does make it less attractive, so don't freeze if you can help it.


I hope this answers your question about how long you can store homemade chocolate candy.


I also hope you'll take some photos of your finished candies so we can all see them. Just add them using the form at the bottom of the chocolate covered treats page.


Happy candy making!
Angie