Who invented the first chocolate candy bar?

While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact inventor of the first chocolate candy bar, Joseph Fry II is widely credited with creating the first commercially successful chocolate bar.

In 1847, Fry, a British confectioner, combined cocoa butter, sugar, and cocoa powder to create a solid chocolate that could be easily molded. This invention allowed for chocolate to be mass-produced and commercially available, which was a significant step toward the chocolate bars we know today.

However, it's important to note that earlier forms of solid chocolate existed before Fry's invention. For example, in 1828, Van Houten in the Netherlands developed a process to create powdered cocoa, making it easier to combine with sugar and other ingredients.

It's also important to mention Cadbury, who built upon Fry's innovation. In 1866, they created the first "eating chocolate" in solid form and introduced the first "chocolate bar" made from a combination of milk, sugar, and cocoa powder.

Therefore, while Joseph Fry II is often attributed with the invention of the first chocolate bar, the development of chocolate candy bars was a collaborative effort with many individuals contributing to its evolution.