As Easter approaches, many of us will already be buttering our hot cross buns and breaking out the chocolate to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ (or, you know, because your New Year's resos have already fallen to the wayside).
With more and more Easter treats to choose from every year, there's no shortage of sugary goodness on offer - but picking the winners from the womps can be hard, unless you're planning on consuming the entire confectionery aisle.
To help, here's a few of our favourite picks for Easter this year, from humble HCBs to special-edition goodies and everything in between. And if you're one of those to decry eating anything Easter-themed before Easter weekend itself, we celebrate in months around here (it's my half-birthday month as we speak). Any excuse for chocolate, really.
KitKat x DOMO Cookie Dough Croissants
To celebrate the KitKat Cookie Dough range hitting the shelves in Aotearoa this month, the confectionery brand has collaborated with the popular bakery DOMO to release a limited-edition, cookie dough-stuffed croissant - just in time for Easter.
The Takapuna bakery will be giving away 500 KitKat Cookie Dough croissants on the weekend of March 16-17 to help get sweet-toothed Aucklanders in the spirit.
Also, shhh - I'll let you in on a little secret. For the rest of March, customers can receive a complimentary cookie-croissant at DOMO by uttering the password, "I need a break" (with a limit of two per person). You're welcome.
Woolworths Hot Cross Buns Filled with Biscoff OR Woolworths Hot Cross Buns Made with Caramilk (RRP$8)
Another treat that's here for a good time, not a long time, Woolworths has two indulgent new flavours of its in-house HCBs - Biscoff and Caramilk. Delish.
The Biscoff buns are filled with a generous dollop of Lotus Biscoff spread, which is essentially an ooey-gooey cookie butter. I have it on good authority that these bad boys are best served warm. Alternatively, for Cadbury Caramilk enthusiasts, these buns are peppered with caramelised-white-chocolate chips for extra oomph. Purists may also enjoy the traditional buns, the brioche bread variety, or the classic chocolate.
And for my fellow gluten-free gals, Woolworths also has a selection of gluten-free HCBs (RRP$8) in traditional fruit, cinnamon and chocolate flavours, so no one has to miss out.
Whittaker's Choc Cross Bun Block (RRP$6.29)
If you're not a fan of baked goods but don't want to miss out on the hot-cross-bun-fun, Whittaker's new limited-edition chocolate could be a good bet this Easter.
The Porirua chocolatier has launched a Choc Cross Bun Block featuring its famous 33 percent five roll refined creamy milk chocolate, laced with the delicious flavours of the humble bun - think mixed spice, raisins and orange oil.
I was sent a sample ahead of its launch last month - the whole block was gone within a day. The flavours are subtle but certainly reminiscent of traditional fruitcake, an Easter staple in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
This treat is also a slightly more sophisticated option for mature tastebuds; think colleagues, parents, or fellow #adults. Unless your child is past the point of chicken nuggets and chips, they probably won't be very impressed.
Daily Bread Hot Cross Buns (six-pack RRP$22)
Last month, Auckland's Daily Bread became the first bakery to win New Zealand's 'Best Hot Cross Bun' award for three consecutive years - a pretty glowing testament to their tastiness.
Hailed by the judges as "extremely soft" with "absolutely perfect fruit dispersion", Daily Bread's award-winning buns are based on a traditional recipe, but the secret to their success is a long fermentation process.
"We make two doughs; first there's a sourdough that ferments for more than 16 hours, then we do a second one and rest that for a few hours before mixing them together. It's a long process but that's what gives it the standout flavour," Daily Bread head baker Patrick Welzenbach said in February.
"We just take care to do everything really well. We do the candied orange peel ourselves, and soak the fruit in pineapple rum from the Bay of Islands for some extra flavour. Our spice mix is our own, and things like that give it a special flavour that you can't buy."
Giapo Hot Cross Buns (RRP$6 each; six-pack RRP$36)
If you're out and about in Auckland and have a hankering for something sweet, artisan ice cream parlour Giapo also offers its own take on the classic HCB - and better yet, they're 100 percent gluten-free, like everything else made on their premises.
The buns are packed with dried fruits that have been marinated in orange juice for over 24 hours, making them deliciously juicy and sweet, while the buns are topped with a cross made of custard cream.
The Giapo team recommends serving their buns either warmed or cut in half with a scoop of ice cream in the middle. Say no more.
Non-edible Easter goodies
Spotlight
If you're planning on entertaining this Easter weekend, there is a plethora of egg-ceptionally cute decorations on offer to transform your space into an Easter oasis (for kids or adults, no judgement here). Spotlight has a wide selection of holiday-themed tableware, adornments and other accessories at cheap-and-cheerful prices.
Some of our favourites include the Happy Easter Multicoloured Glitter Mini Eggs (RRP$6); the Lined Basket with Gingham Trim (RRP$20) for Easter egg hunts; and the Happy Easter Pinata, an egg-shaped activity you can fill with leftover choccies to keep the kids (or again, adults) happy.
The Warehouse
A great one-stop-shop for cheapie chocolate, The Warehouse has an extensive range of sweet treats on offer as well as Easter-themed decor that doesn't break the bank. The retailer is also a good option for branded goodies if you're after a more personalised Easter treat; think the Jurassic World Egg and Choc Dinosaur, the Ghostbusters Surprise Egg with Mallows, or the Peppa Pig 3-Piece Melamine Breakfast Set with Chocolate Egg.
While there are plenty of kid-friendly decorations to choose from, The Warehouse is also an underrated stop for cute but affordable tableware. If you're hosting for family and friends, consider adding a touch of Easter cheer with the Party Inc Easter Wreath, or the Bunny Face Plate - a wooden serving dish perfect for mini eggs or individual chocolates.
The above products have been independently selected by Newshub Lifestyle. In some cases Newshub Lifestyle has been supplied with samples to review.
