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Photo courtesy Cocoa Creek Chocolates
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Photo courtesy Cocoa Creek Chocolates
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Photo courtesy Karen Hendricks
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Photo courtesy Karen Hendricks
What do you imagine yourself doing at the age of 68? While retirement is likely at the top of most people’s lists, that’s not the case for Diane Krulac, owner of downtown Mechanicsburg’s popular candy shop Brittle Bark. Instead, she recently launched a new line of unique chocolate truffles and bars called Cocoa Creek Chocolates.
“They are truly a specialty artisan product, made in-house in small batches,” says Krulac. What exactly is a truffle? Krulac says it’s a chocolate candy that includes a ganache center—incorporating cream, chocolate, and unique flavors—encased in a chocolate shell. It took two years to develop, test, taste, and launch the line of truffles.
“We have a story to tell about chocolate and flavor and each truffle,” Krulac says. That’s because a story card accompanies each chocolate collection.
For example, the Hometown Mechanicsburg Truffle Collection includes 12 truffles, each one representing 12 nearby downtown businesses, with stories to match.
“We interviewed everyone and then designed a truffle for them,” says Krulac. “We’re trying to honor these businesses, and it speaks to our downtown business partnership.”
Capital Joe’s Espresso Truffle is a dark chocolate ganache infused with espresso, covered in dark chocolate, and dusted with espresso powder—paying homage to the popular coffee shop located across the street. The Passion Fruit Wine Truffle features a ganache blending white chocolate and passion fruit, is covered in white chocolate, and honors Brittle Bark’s next-door neighbor, Larson Meadworks.
A nod to the law firm of Walters & Galloway, the Lemony Felony Truffle is one of the collection’s biggest hits. “The lemon basil truffle is a huge surprise, an overwhelming home run,” says Krulac. “It has a white chocolate Belgium center spiked with limoncello and fresh basil—but it’s not overpowering.”
Chocolate tastes different around the globe, says Krulac. And she incorporates a variety into her truffle creations—Lancaster County’s famous Wilbur chocolate, along with many international sources hailing from Belgium, France, Italy, the Caribbean, and more.
“Many are old companies that have been making chocolate for over 100 years. It’s a culture and heritage; you’re getting the benefit of differences, including geographic locations. Really it comes down to the recipe used by each chocolate maker. Italian chocolate, for example, is incredibly creamy,” Krulac says.
Cocoa Creek Chocolate’s Chai Tea Truffle includes a milk chocolate ganache infused with Rosemary’s Chai Tea—a traditional blend of tea available at one of Mechanicsburg’s oldest downtown businesses, The Rosemary House. “It’s full-bodied in flavor, with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and a little bit of black pepper,” says Susanna Reppert, whose mother founded the herb shop more than 50 years ago.
Krulac’s shop, Brittle Bark, is named for its original product—peanut brittle that evolved into 15 distinct varieties. Additional sweet treats include hand-dipped chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered fruit, gourmet popcorn, and even Oreos encased in chocolate.
Chocolate bars, known as Luther’s Trek Bars, are another new Cocoa Creek creation. And who exactly is Luther?
“He’s my high-energy Jack Russell terrier,” says Krulac. “I planned out this business [Cocoa Creek Chocolates] on our walks because I had no distractions. I would come home and write it all down. With Luther’s Bars, I knew they were going to be plant-based, more healthful, a reflection of his energy.”
Four varieties of bars are available, including Luther’s High Energy Trek Bar, which combines Belgian dark chocolate with walnuts, almonds, mulberries, goji berries, raw pepitas, raisins, pineapple, and chocolate-covered espresso beans. All four varieties are vegan and gluten-free.
Krulac’s path to becoming a chocolatier wasn’t exactly paved in smooth, creamy chocolate—it’s actually her third career. After a stint as a dental hygienist, she enjoyed a second, lucrative career as a software engineer. Her schooling and degrees include undergrad and master’s degrees in computer science.
So when she whipped up a batch of peanut brittle for her daughter’s preschool fundraiser in 1992 and orders began pouring in, she founded Brittle Bark as a side hustle. Then she went back to school again—and became a chocolatier. She opened the doors to Brittle Bark in 2008.
Cocoa Creek Chocolates is the latest start-up for this 68-year-old dynamo.
“You’re never too old to continue your dreams,” she says. “I have the knowledge to begin a start-up, and there’s nothing more fulfilling and creative. As I tell people, there is nothing I’d rather do in retirement than what I’m doing now, so why would I retire?”
Brittle Bark, featuring CocoaCreek Chocolates
33 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg, PA / brittlebark.com / cocoacreekchocolates.com
Save the date: May 11 is the 18th Annual Art Walk & Wine Tasting hosted by the Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership. Brittle Bark will be participating, with free samples of Cocoa Creek Chocolates! See facebook.com/DowntownMechanicsburg for details.