National Chocolate Covered Anything Day – Dec. 16, 2026

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Categories:
Tags:
ChocolateCrazyDessert
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Every December 16
Holiday emoji:
🍫

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day arrives every December 16, inviting you to explore the delicious possibilities of dipping any item imaginable into rich, melted chocolate. Whether you prefer classic fruits and pretzels or adventurous flavors like potato chips and bacon, this is the day to satisfy your wildest cocoa cravings. Gather your ingredients, melt your favorite chocolate, and get ready to create unique, decadent treats.

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Expected National Chocolate Covered Anything Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Chocolate Covered Anything Day often inspires creative deals from confectioners and dessert shops. Look for local bakeries and candy stores like Godiva or See’s Candies to offer special dipping stations or discounted chocolate-covered assortments. Major retailers such as Target and Walmart may feature sales on dipping chocolates, fondue sets, and various dippable snacks. Even fruit delivery services like Edible Arrangements might roll out unique chocolate-dipped fruit bundles. Keep an eye on specialty food stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods for gourmet dipping chocolates and unusual items to coat. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as December 16 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #ChocolateCoveredAnythingDay. Share your most creative chocolate-dipped creations, from fruits to unexpected snacks.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ChocolateCoveredAnythingDay. Film a quick video showing your chocolate-dipping experiments and taste tests.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ChocolateCoveredAnythingDay. Post photos of your chocolate-covered treats and ask friends for their wildest dipping ideas.

Social Media Tips for National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Individuals

Host a chocolate-dipping party with friends, providing a variety of items to coat, from pretzels and marshmallows to potato chips and bacon. Vote on the most surprising delicious combination.

Creators

Create a 'chocolate-dipping challenge' video, trying to coat 10 unusual items in chocolate and reacting to the results. Share your favorite and least favorite outcomes.

Brands

Chocolate brands can run a contest asking followers to share their most inventive chocolate-covered creations for a chance to win a year's supply of chocolate or a gourmet dipping kit.

Top Brands for National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

  1. Hershey's

    Founded in 1894 by Milton S. Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. It produces a wide range of chocolate products perfect for dipping.

  2. Ghirardelli

    Established in 1852 by Domenico Ghirardelli in San Francisco, California, Ghirardelli is known for its premium chocolate squares, baking chocolate, and sauces. Their melting wafers are ideal for dipping.

  3. Godiva

    Founded in Brussels, Belgium, in 1926 by Joseph Draps, Godiva Chocolatier is renowned for its luxurious Belgian chocolates and truffles. They offer a sophisticated range of chocolate-covered fruits and confections.

  4. See's Candies

    Started by Charles See, his mother Mary, and his wife Florence in Los Angeles in 1921, See's Candies is famous for its high-quality, old-fashioned chocolates and candies, including many chocolate-covered varieties.

  5. Lindt & Sprüngli

    Swiss chocolatier and confectionery company founded in 1845, Lindt is celebrated for its smooth, high-quality chocolate. Their chocolate bars and truffles are excellent for melting and dipping.

  6. Dunkin'

    Founded in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Dunkin' is a global coffee and baked goods chain. While primarily known for coffee and donuts, they often feature chocolate-dipped items and seasonal treats.

  7. Pretzel Crisps

    Launched in 2004 by the Snack Factory, Pretzel Crisps revolutionized the pretzel market with their flat, dippable shape. They are a popular choice for chocolate coating, offering a salty-sweet crunch.

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day Hero

Milton S. Hershey

Milton S. Hershey (1857–1945) was an American confectioner and philanthropist who founded The Hershey Chocolate Company and the 'chocolate town' of Hershey, Pennsylvania. His innovative approach to mass-producing milk chocolate made it accessible to the public, laying the groundwork for countless chocolate-covered treats. Hershey's vision transformed chocolate from a luxury item into an everyday indulgence, inspiring generations of sweet creations.

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day timeline

1700s
Chocolate covered Cherries

Long-stemmed sour 'griotte' cherries were layered with chocolate with some of the local cherry brandy.

1960
The idea for Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

While working in a small bakery, Lorraine Lorusso
had the idea of dipping fresh strawberries in chocolate, and sold them to customers.

2007
Chocolate covered Pizza

The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company began selling chocolate covered pizzas in the UK.

2012
Chocolate covered WHAT?

October 14 is annually observed as National Chocolate Covered Insects Day.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Local businesses can embrace National Chocolate Covered Anything Day by offering special dipping stations or themed menus. Restaurants could feature chocolate-dipped appetizers or desserts, like chocolate-covered bacon or chili-chocolate fries. Bakeries and candy shops can host DIY chocolate-dipping workshops, providing melted chocolate and a variety of items for customers to customize. Coffee shops might introduce limited-time chocolate-dipped biscotti or coffee stirrers. Promote your unique offerings on social media using #ChocolateCoveredAnythingDay to engage customers.

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day FAQs

When is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day?

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 16. It’s the perfect mid-week excuse to indulge your wildest chocolate-dipping fantasies.

How much chocolate is consumed annually?

Globally, chocolate consumption is immense, with estimates suggesting that over 7 million tons of chocolate are consumed each year. The average American eats roughly 9.5 pounds of chocolate annually.

What are the most popular chocolate-covered items?

While anything goes on this day, some classic chocolate-covered favorites include strawberries, pretzels, cherries, and nuts. These items offer a delightful contrast in texture and flavor with chocolate.

What is the best type of chocolate for dipping?

For dipping, couverture chocolate is often recommended due to its high cocoa butter content, which gives it a smooth, glossy finish and a crisp snap. Alternatively, good quality baking chocolate or chocolate chips can be used with a touch of coconut oil or shortening to improve consistency.

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day Activities

  1. Support a local chocolatier

    With the rise of commercial chocolate production, it’s been lost on many just how difficult and delicate the art of chocolate making is. This December 16, find a chocolatier and give something new a try. You may realize the expertise, creativity, and boldness of an artist committed to pushing the boundaries in chocolate making is a different, and better, experience entirely than the same old bar you always buy.

  2. Have a dipping party

    For a real holiday treat, get a group of a friends together to split the cost of a chocolate fondue fountain—you can rent them or buy them. At the party, have on hand the basics, like fruit, cookies, and marshmallows, but also encourage your guests to bring something wacky to try dipped in chocolate. Steak? Pickles? Bugs? Anything goes at a chocolate dipping party.

  3. Have a photo shoot

    Christmas is a little over a week away, the house is decorated, and the whole family is in town for a party, so why not break out the camera with your colorful chocolate treats? Strawberries, bananas, kiwis, cherries, and orange slices are all rich in color in addition to taste, so incorporating these into your holiday snapshots could add a little more spice to your Christmas photos.

Why We Love National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

  1. Chocolate is versatile

    Drink it or eat, melt it or freeze it, have it bitter or have it sweet. These are but a few of the ways we can enjoy chocolate, and everyone seems to have a strongly preferred favorite. But this versatility is what makes chocolate such an exciting ingredient to include in dishes. It can at a sweetness or bitterness to an otherwise acidic or spicy meal, as in mole, or it can complement nicely the salty notes of, say, potato chips. There’s plenty of room for creativity on National Chocolate Covered Anything Day.

  2. Chocolate is healthy

    Speaking specifically about dark chocolate (that is any bar that contains between 70 and 85 percent cocoa), there are ample health benefits you can get from what many believe to be merely a dessert. In 100 grams of dark chocolate, you receive almost 100 percent of the daily recommended intake of manganese, nearly 90 percent of necessary copper intake, and about 67 percent of your needed iron intake. So as you’re covering that oreo in dark chocolate this December 16, you can tell everyone you’re doing it for your health.

  3. Chocolate is like falling in love

    Biting into your favorite dark chocolate covered treat is often pictured as a sensual experience in magazines, but there may just be some scientific basis to this. Studies have shown that eating dark chocolate has the same effect on the brain as falling in love, thanks to a release of the chemical phenylalanine. Maybe that’s why we’ll do crazy things to get our hands on a chocolate bar.

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 December 16 Wednesday
2027 December 16 Thursday
2028 December 16 Saturday
2029 December 16 Sunday
2030 December 16 Monday