You're never too old for a chocolate bunny from your mum on Easter morning, but if you need some sweet, sweet inspiration for the upcoming holiday weekend, look no further.
Of course, gifts, chocolates (and four-day weekends) aren't the true meaning of Easter - the holiday actually marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. But try telling that to your seven-year-old.
And remember - they say the calories don't count on a public holiday!
Whittaker's Chocolate Kiwi, RRP$7
A Kiwi icon with an iconic Kiwi chocolatier, Whittaker's Chocolate Kiwi is a truly Kiwiana way to celebrate Easter. A sweet treat for a mate, colleague or loved one, the Chocolate Kiwi is available in both 5 Roll Refined Creamy Milk and 50 percent Dark Chocolate. As well as supporting local, each purchase also supports a great cause: 20c from every Chocolate Kiwi goes straight to Save the Kiwi and their breeding programme. If you're anything like me, you'll feel a pang of guilt after biting its cute little head off, but that'll be quickly assuaged by the chocolatey deliciousness.
Angel Delivery Easter Gift Boxes and Care Packages, from RRP$29
The brainchild of a former paediatric nurse, Angel Delivery's mission is to bring together loved ones separated by sickness, space or other factors through beautiful gift boxes and care packages. For Easter, the Wellington-based business is sending hundreds of fresh hot cross buns around the country, hoping to unite friends and family who can't be together over the holiday weekend. Fresh, quality butter is included, as we all know a humble HCB isn't complete without lashings of the stuff. It works with Wellington suppliers like Arobake to create its gourmet food packages, meaning it's a local operation through-and-through. If hot cross buns aren't their bag, there's also an Easter Macarons Box, or add an Easter Choccie Trio onto the Hot Cross Bun Box for an extra sweet surprise. For the ultimate Easter treat, Angel Delivery is also offering an Easter Weekend Care Package featuring a main meal, a handmade spinach and feta quiche, a chocolate tart, artisan ciabatta bread, hot cross buns, choc-dipped marshmallows, raspberry jam and fresh-pressed apple juice.
Pic's Peanut & Chocolate Butter, RRP$8
After a yearlong hiatus from the supermarket shelves, the peanut butter barons at Pic's are bringing back Peanut & Chocolate Butter for a limited time, following a petition for an encore release. The one-off batch is available online while stocks last, making it an ideal Easter treat for the PB fiend in your family or friend group. Five randomly selected customers will also be the recipients of a coveted Golden Ticket, winning them a massive 2.3kg bucket of the spread - and no, you don't need to be named Charlie.
The Pantry's Hot Cross Bun Donuts and 'The Egg', from RRP$6.50
Sorry team, this one's only available for Aucklanders: but if you're up in the Supercity for the holiday weekend, consider getting your hands on these limited-edish goodies. Park Hyatt's popular eatery, The Pantry, is serving traditional treats with a twist this Easter, including executive pastry chef Callum Liddicoat's decadent Hot Cross Bun Donuts (RRP$6.50 each or $24 for four). His recipe combines brioche with a soft milk roll, packed with earl grey-soaked currants and sultanas and the flavours of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and cardamom, as well as citrus peel, lemon zest and tonka bean. Fried, not baked, these buns are filled with fresh vanilla custard and brushed with spiced citrus glaze. Plus, after much interest last year, The Pantry is bringing back its take on the Crème Egg in two new moreish flavours: hazelnut, dark chocolate, passionfruit and caramel with a white chocolate 'egg' on top, and earl grey, bergamot, caramelised white chocolate and burnt vanilla with gold leaf. Both are designed to be shared between two to four people. The limited-edition treats are priced at RRP$25, or get both for $45.
Waikato Valley at The Warehouse, from RRP$10
If you're looking for goodies for the kids, the homegrown chocolatiers at Waikato Valley have an affordable assortment of treats on offer, from fun Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and bagged sweets - all available at The Warehouse. The youngsters are sure to be egg-cited by the Waikato Valley Pinata Egg (RRP$25) - a milk chocolate shell filled with lollies - or the Shaker Egg filled with rainbow buttons (RRP$9.50). There's kitschy stuff for the kids, but there's also more mature treats for the adults (although no judgement if you want the Big Milk Choc Bunny). Waikato Valley has a Luxury Egg Sampler containing six premium eggs (RRP$10), including milk chocolate and salted caramel and milk chocolate and rice bubbles, or the Luxury Dark Chocolate Mint Easter Egg (RRP$12), with dark chocolate-coated mints. There is something for everyone - and you won't break the bank.
