Whether it’s chocolate or cheese or something in between, we all deserve a treat this Easter
When it comes to sweet Easter treats, it can be easy to get swept up in the array of deals we see on various supermarket shelves. However, if you widen your search a little, you’ll find a host of Irish-made goodies that could bring a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘treat yourself’!
Here are our top picks:
An ethical Easter – Bean and Goose
There’s so much to admire in the incredible Easter collection at Bean and Goose. As well as the popular Easter Hare and Goose, you can choose from the sea-salted caramel Goose Egg, spring gift bundles, boxes and chocolate sharing slabs.
The chocolate is sustainable and ethically sourced from the world’s best and best paid cacao growers and the company operates the ‘one bar one tree’ policy. As well as that, the packaging is either recyclable or compostable.
A chocolate cocktail – Coole Swan
If you gave up alcohol and chocolate for Lent, this could be the perfect treat for you. Coole Swan, the independently owned and family-run Irish cream liqueur, has launched three fresh new cocktails to be enjoyed this Easter long-weekend and beyond. Our favourite is the Coole Grasshopper. To make it, you’ll need:
- 25ml Coole Swan
- 20ml Briottet Cacao Blanc
- 20ml Crème de Menthe
- Grated chocolate or chocolate straw to garnish
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass alongside two ice cubes and stir for one minute. Once well combined, strain the mixture into a coupe glass before adding a garnish of choice.
A chocolate alternative – The Jelly Bean Factory
If you prefer sweets to chocolate, The Jelly Bean Factory is an excellent alternative to the chocolate-themed treats all around you. With just one jar of jelly beans, you can experience a whole array of desserts, from sticky candy floss to fluffy marshmallows and even drinks-inspired beans! There is the Strawberry Smoothie, the Cherry Blossom Soda and the Pina Colada, to name just a few.
Bursting with great flavours, these treats satisfy your sweet tooth without containing any harmful E-numbers or unnecessary sugars. What’s not to love?
A very nutty bunny – Nobó
Thankfully, being vegan doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge your sweet tooth like everyone else at this time of year.
Nobó’s large nutty bunny-shaped chocolate bar, with pieces of roasted Piedmont hazelnuts and sea salt throughout, is a delicious treat to enjoy with a large cup of tea. And the best part? It’s made from luxuriously smooth single-origin, plant-based chocolate. Win-win.
A walk on the wild side – Hazel Mountain Chocolate
Sometimes chocolate isn’t just an edible treat, it’s a visual work of art.
Hand painted by chocolatiers and influenced by the landscape and nature of the west of Ireland, Hazel Mountain Chocolate’s stunning Easter eggs feature the wild Atlantic sea crashing on the side, sitting on a rocky base of salted toasted almonds.
A touch of luxury – Avoca
If you’re looking for something a bit special this Easter, take a look at the rich and luxurious Cocoa Atelier Easter egg collection available at AVOCA.
Handmade in Dublin, these chocolates incorporate the finest single-origin cocoa from Papua New Guinea with Irish creamy butter and locally sourced Achill Sea Salt. The result is utter decadence.
A choice of chocolate – Braw Bakery and Chocolatier
Braw bakery has catered for several different palettes with its range of Easter offerings this year. We’ve got our eyes on the S’more but all three sound amazing:
- The S’more – Salty and sweet biscuity ganache and light fluffy marshmallows
- Pistachio, Raspberry & Lemon – Dark chocolate ganache with crispy freeze dried raspberries, sugar coated pistachios and lemon peel candied
- The Golden Rabbit is three thick layers of 33% Caramel Milk Chocolate with an edible gold finish
A giftbag for chocolate lovers – Lily O’Brien’s
For the person who loves all flavours of chocolate and can’t decide which one is there favourite, why not get them a bit of everything? The Lily O’Brien’s gift bag contains:
- Milk Chocolate Easter Egg with Honeycomb Crispy Heart Chocolates.
- Ultimate Chocolate Collection, 190g
- Creamy Caramels & Sea Salt Share Bag, 120g
- Crunchy Salted Almond Share Bag, 110g
A cheesy Easter surprise – Sheridan’s Cheesemongers
If you or someone in your life just isn’t into chocolate, you can still indulge your savoury side with this fabulous Easter cheese selection from Sheridan’s Cheesemongers. In this selection you will receive four cheeses, perfect for a fresh spring cheeseboard! You will receive:
- Cremeux de Bougogne – a classic mould-rind double-crème cheese
- Crottin de Chavignol – subtle and slightly nutty, perfect with quince or honey
- Cáis na Tíre – a versatile wine matching accompaniment
- Mini Goat Log With Flowers – delicate and mild fresh goat’s milk cheese with a coating of edible flowers.
Making scents of chocolate – La Bougie
Now we understand that some people are trying to limit their sugar intake so with that in mind, if you’re not eating chocolate this Easter, you can still enjoy the smell of it with this amazing candle from La Bougie in West Cork. Perfumer Lucy Hagerty went as far as visiting a cocoa planation to understand the process of making chocolate the hero note in any product.
She said: “Watching cocoa beans ferment under sacks gave rise to a skeleton of an idea that quickly gained pace. Weaving traces of dark chocolate with hypnotic jasmine absolute, I created a fragrance that will surprise you in its complexity.”
If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love this one on five fantastic Irish chocolate makers that everyone should know about.
