Choose a dark-only selection box if dark chocolate is the point of a small Halloween tasting table; choose dark truffles if individually portioned pieces suit the way guests will help themselves. A mixed party assortment can serve varied preferences, but check the exact contents before buying it for guests who specifically want dark chocolate. In every case, check the pack’s allergens and how many pieces you need.
If guests specifically want dark chocolate, start with an explicitly dark selection rather than a box that includes only some dark pieces. Fortnum & Mason lists a 250g dark selection containing at least 25 chocolates; Lindt lists Dark 70% truffles in sharing formats.
For a party where dark chocolate is not everyone’s preference, a mixed assortment or treat-size format may make more sense. Cadbury Gifts Direct lists Heroes, Roses and treat-size products for parties; check the particular pack rather than assuming it is dark-only.
Food provided to pupils at a state-funded school in England has a different constraint from food at a private party. The Department for Education’s school-food standards cover the school day and state that chocolate and confectionery must not be provided under those standards.
Decide whether dark chocolate is a requirement, then match the pack’s serving format and ingredient information to your guests and setting.
Choose it when: Guests want a dark-chocolate selection to share at a smaller tasting table; Fortnum & Mason describes its 250g box as dark chocolate with at least 25 pieces.
Bear in mind: Check the piece count against your guest list and read the exact pack’s allergen statement before serving.
Choose them when: Guests will help themselves to individual pieces; Lindt lists LINDOR Dark 70% truffles in 200g and 1kg formats.
Bear in mind: Pack weight alone does not tell you how many truffles each guest can have, so check the chosen pack if portions matter.
Choose it when: Guests have varied chocolate preferences and a dark-only selection is not essential. Cadbury Gifts Direct lists Heroes, Roses and treat-size party formats.
Bear in mind: A party listing does not establish that its chocolates are dark-only; inspect the exact assortment if dark pieces are important.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Dark-chocolate contents | Check whether the whole selection is described as dark or merely includes dark pieces. If cocoa percentage matters, find the figure for the exact product, not another box in the range. | I’m choosing chocolate for guests who specifically want dark pieces, so a mixed milk, dark and white assortment would not meet that requirement. |
| Serving format | Compare pack weight, any stated piece count and whether guests will serve themselves. Fortnum & Mason states a minimum of 25 chocolates for its 250g dark selection; Lindt lists Dark 70% truffles in 200g and 1kg formats. | For a small tasting table, I want to know how many pieces I can offer. If guests will be moving around, individual truffles may be easier to set out. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredient list, named allergens and any precautionary statements on the exact pack. Keep its packaging available when serving. | Some guests may need to avoid particular ingredients; I cannot assume dark chocolate is free from milk or nuts. |
| School-provided food | For food provided to pupils at a state-funded school in England, check the Department for Education’s school-food standards. They apply across the school day and state that chocolate and confectionery must not be provided. | If I’m organising a school-provided event for pupils in England, boxed chocolates are not the food option to plan around. That condition does not describe an ordinary private Halloween party. |
A mixed box may contain milk and white chocolate as well as dark pieces. Lindt describes its Selection Chocolate Box as a milk, dark and white assortment.
Look for an explicit dark-only description on the exact pack when every piece needs to be dark.
Weight and piece count answer different questions when you are serving a group. Fortnum & Mason states a minimum of 25 pieces for its 250g dark selection, while Lindt’s listed Dark 70% truffle formats are identified by pack weight.
Check the piece count where one is given, then decide whether a selection box or self-serve truffles fit your guest list.
Dark chocolate can still contain milk or nuts, and boxed selections can contain several different centres.
Check the current label of every pack you plan to serve, including any alternative, and keep the packaging available to guests.
The Department for Education’s school-food standards concern food provided to pupils at state-funded schools in England, not a general ban on serving chocolate at private Halloween parties.
If the event involves school-provided food for pupils, check the current official school guidance and plan a food option consistent with it.
These examples illustrate different formats; a brand name alone does not tell you whether a particular box contains only dark chocolate.
Lindt’s UK dark range lists LINDOR Dark 70% truffles in 200g and 1kg formats, offering a dark sharing format alongside its other selections.
Fortnum & Mason describes its 250g Dark Chocolate Selection Box as alcohol free and containing a minimum of 25 handmade chocolates.
Cadbury Gifts Direct lists Heroes, Roses and treat-size formats for parties, while Cadbury lists Bournville and Darkmilk as separate bars.
These options cover two ways to serve dark chocolate at a Halloween party: a 200g truffle pack for sharing and a 348g boxed selection for a table. Check the piece count and current pack label before deciding how much to serve.
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A dark truffle option for guests helping themselves to individual pieces. The product name states 70% cocoa and a 200g pack.
Check the piece count if you are planning portions. The supplied product information lists barley, milk and soya and says it may contain nuts; check the current pack label against guests’ requirements.
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A 348g dark chocolate box to consider for a party table. Check its piece count before using the pack weight to plan portions.
The supplied product information lists almonds, hazelnuts, eggs and milk, with possible cross-contact involving other nuts and allergens. It also states that the product is not suitable for children under 4; check the current pack label before serving.
Only if its stated dark pieces meet what you intend to serve. Lindt describes its Selection Chocolate Box as containing milk, dark and white chocolates, so it is not a dark-only box; check the contents of any mixed pack rather than relying on “assorted”.
Choose by how guests will eat them: a counted selection helps you plan a smaller tasting table, while individual truffles suit self-service. Fortnum & Mason states that its 250g dark selection contains at least 25 chocolates; Lindt lists Dark 70% truffles in 200g and 1kg packs. Check the piece count of the pack you buy if portions matter.
Read the current ingredient list, named allergens and precautionary statements on the exact pack. Do not assume that a dark chocolate box is free from milk or nuts, and keep its packaging available during the party.
Do not plan them as food provided to pupils at a state-funded school in England during the school day. The Department for Education says its school-food standards apply to that setting across the school day and exclude chocolate and confectionery; the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 include chocolate in the definition of confectionery. This does not impose the same school-food restriction on an ordinary private party.