Chocolate Easter Eggs

Chocolate Easter eggs are chocolates shaped like eggs. The can vary from small foil covered candies to larger elaborately decorated confections. Chocolate Easter eggs are used to fill Easter baskets, for egg hunts, and for decorations during the Easter season.

The origin of Chocolate Easter Eggs and gift giving, dates back to the 19th century in France and Germany. The original eggs were made from bitter dark chocolate. England was responsible for the first mass-produced chocolate eggs in 1873, which were made by Cadbury. Milk chocolate eggs became available in the early 1900s. The tradition of celebrating Easter with eggs stemmed from the association of spring and the egg as a symbol of new life or rebirth.

Dutchman Van Houten invented a press that could separate cocoa butter from the cocoa bean and years later pure cocoa was introduced by the Cadbury Brothers. Those two factors enabled the creation of the molded chocolate egg.

Buying your chocolate Easter eggs from the store is easy and anyone can do it. Try surprising your family and friends by making your own. All you need is plastic candy molds, melting chocolate and colored foil. Most people like to use the Wilton Chocolate but you can also use almond bark. Melt your chocolate, pour into your molds, wrap with colored foil when cooled. If you really want to get creative you can use white chocolate mixed with food coloring (not liquid) to make vibrant Easter colors!