Bakery Meets Bar: Chocolate Bars That Taste Like Toast, Cake & Crumble
Published
20 September 2025
A Crunchy, Cozy Tasting Trail at NW Chocolate Festival 2025. Sure, the Northwest Chocolate Festival is all about cacao and chocolate — but deep down inside we all have a […]
A Crunchy, Cozy Tasting Trail at NW Chocolate Festival 2025.
Sure, the Northwest Chocolate Festival is all about cacao and chocolate — but deep down inside we all have a soft spot for baked goods. If the thought of cake, bread and crumbles has you salivating, this one’s for you.
These bars are inspired by the world of bakeries: think crusty sourdough, French toast, soda bread, crumble topping, and even potato chips. Some feature real toasted crumbs folded in, while others blend the flavors of classic baked goods directly into the chocolate itself.
Wait, how does cake end up in chocolate?
Craft chocolate makers are getting bold with inclusion techniques. Some (like Lucid Chocolatier) grind toasted sourdough directly into the chocolate — giving it the flavor and subtle (yet addictive) butteriness throughout. Others sprinkle in crumbs, crusts, and inclusions post-tempering to create a layered sensory experience. The result? A bar that doesn’t just taste like chocolate — it tastes like breakfast, dessert, or your favorite bakery treat.
Here’s your bakery-loaded tasting trail for NW Chocolate Fest 2025:
Bakery Inspired Bars to Taste at the Festival
1. Brown Butter Bar: Sourdough & Brown Butter 72%
Maker: Lucid Chocolatier
Travelling from: New Zealand
Cacao Origin: Peruvian
The Vibe: Rustic sourdough meets patisserie richness
Why Try It?
This bar blends fresh-milled sourdough crumbs into the chocolate itself — no sprinkling here. The browned butter gives it a nutty depth, making it feel like a chocolate croissant turned bar.
Try This if you like: Sourdough starters, brown butter cookies, or deep, comforting bakes.
2. Gran’s Bread Bar: Irish Soda Bread 60% Milk
Maker: NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate
Travelling from: Ireland
Cacao Origin: Dominican Republic
The Vibe: That comforting feeling we all get from that first bite of hot, crunchy toast.
Why Try It?
This isn’t your average inclusion — real soda bread crumbs give the chocolate a nostalgic crunch and malty lift. It’s like a hug from your gran, if she owned a chocolate factory.
Try This If You Like: Oat biscuits, digestive cookies, or moreish Irish snacks.
3. Brunch Bar: French Toast 65% Dark Milk
Maker: Mission Chocolate
Travelling from: Brazil
Cacao Origin: Brazil
Flavor Personality: Cinnamon, sugar, and buttery French toast the perfect Sunday brunch — minus the waitlist
Why Try It?
Spiced just right, this French toast bar evokes brioche pan-fried in butter with a hint of maple. It’s comfort, cinnamon, and cocoa wrapped into one square.
Try This if you like: Cinnamon toast, French patisserie, or coffee shop pastries
4. Snack Bar: Potato Chip Milk Chocolate
Maker: BOHO Chocolate
Travelling from: Massachusetts, USA
Inclusion: Crushed salted potato chips
The Vibe: Guilty binge meets artisan craft – luxuriously addictive.
Why Try It?
Salty, crunchy, and ridiculously satisfying — we’re potato chip fiends and this bar ticks all the boxes. If you’re one of us and eat chips with chocolate or dip fries in a shake, this bar was made for you.
Try This if you like: Sweet-salty snacks, movie-night treats, or being that person who dips chips in their chocolate sundaes.
5. Canelé Bar: Brazilian Cacao Milk Chocolate
Maker: Hasnaâ Chocolat Grands Crus
Travelling from: France
Cacao Origin: Brazil
Inclusion: Canelé-inspired caramel and spice notes
The Vibe: A decadent Parisian pastry — in chocolate form.
Why Try It?
Hasnaâ channels the beloved canelé — a French pastry with a caramelized shell and custardy center — into a single-origin Brazilian milk chocolate bar. A luxurious pastry-inspired creation.
Try This If You Like: Crème brûlée, flan, or French dessert with flair (and you’ll need to get in line behind us…)
6. Nordic Crumble Bar: Blackcurrant Pie White Chocolate
Maker: Fjåk Chocolate
Travelling from: Norway
Inclusion: Blackcurrant and real pie
The Vibe: Tart, crumbly and bursting with Nordic berry goodness
Why Try It?
This bar is a whole blackcurrant crumble in one bite: tart fruit, buttery streusel, and rich white chocolate that doesn’t go overboard on sweetness. It’s delicate, nostalgic, and packed with personality.
Try This If You Like: Berry crumble, Scandinavian desserts, or “just a sliver more” of pie.
Festival Tip
Pair any of these with a flat white or coffee for a full brunch-table experience. Sit back, wind down with one of these bars while you plan your next flavor adventure.
But for the more serious eaters -these bars aren’t just treats — they’re little trips down memory lane.
Sweet, savory, spiced or buttery, they capture everything we love about bakeries, breakfasts, and bold inclusions — all in chocolate form.
Take your time with these. Share a bite, swap tasting notes, or melt a square into your morning ritual.
Because sometimes, the best part of chocolate… is what it reminds you of.
Planning Your Northwest Chocolate Festival Day
Here’s what you need to know to make your tasting journey smooth and satisfying:
- What: The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025
- Location: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, Washington
- Dates: October 4–5, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (both days)
- Website: nwchocolate.com
For More details:
- See our headline article here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025: The Insider’s Guide for Chocoholics
- Check out our entire section dedicated to all things Northwest Chocolate here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 Beanstalkr Guide
If you’re keen we’d love to see you at our session.
“Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed”. See here for details: Beanstalkr’s Session – Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed
See here for the full Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 schedule: Northwest Chocolate Festival Schedule
Which bakery-inspired bar are you dying to try first?
Let us know in the comments — or head to beanstalkr.com and log a flavor review to share your crumb-filled chocolate adventures.
Sign up as a Chocolate Eater for exclusive tasting notes, festival guides, and small-batch picks from around the globe. As always, thanks heaps for talking beans with us.
Where to next?
If you’re off to the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025, we recommend:
And if you’re curious, we recommend:
And if you’re still not so sure, check out what events or makers are in your area:
Talk Beans with us!
Got any questions? Feedback? Want to hi say? Reach out below – we’re always happy to chat!
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