EXPIRATION DATE ON A CHOCOLATE BAR What is the ideal expiration date, 6, 9, 12 months or more? Thank you!

There is no “ideal” expiration date. That said, in general, dark chocolate gets 18-24 months from the date of molding and milk chocolate gets 9-12 months.

This applies to solid chocolate bars.

If you have exposed inclusions such as nuts, nibs, or dehydrated or freeze-dried fruit, the expiration date will be determined by the inclusions, not the chocolate. I once got a bar made by Mast with exposed cashews in it. I remember that it had been made within two-three months of when I opened it, but the nuts were already rancid and moldy. That could have been because the nuts were already close to their best-by date and/or had not been handled well and/or the bar was not wrapped tightly enough to provide an environmental seal. Probably not the chocolate itself.