Easter Chocolates for Grown-Ups

Looking to fill a grown-up Easter basket? This high-end Easter candy is fantastic.

Quick, name your earliest memory of Easter. Probably it involves the “grape” flavor of purple jelly beans, peeling pastel-colored foil off chocolate eggs, or biting the ears from a hollow molded rabbit. But for all the nostalgia, the candy most of us scarfed down was sugary and low-grade, with fruit flavors that originated in the lab, not the Easter Bunny’s organic berry patch. Now that you no longer believe in a six-foot rabbit who drops off baskets, though, you’re free to gather your own treats, ones that actually taste good (and look cool, too).

We still wouldn’t say no to a Reese’s egg or a Lindt chocolate bunny, but this Easter candy is way too good—and too rich—to give the kids.

Chocolate Asparagus Bundle, $24 at Woodhouse Chocolate

Woodhouse Chocolate

Feel free to eat these colored, white-chocolate-over-dark spears like Julia Child always said to eat real asparagus: with your fingers. As a bonus, they won’t make your pee smell funny. (If you prefer white asparagus, opt for the milk chocolate version.)Buy Now

Jacques Torres Hens, $3.49 each at Mr. Chocolate

Jacques Torres

Available in milk chocolate or dark, these hollow molded birds are as cute as backyard chickens. But while their real counterparts might annoy your neighbors with their nonstop clucking, these fowl are silent. Even when losing their heads.Buy Now

L.A. Burdick Crispy Eggs, $6 each at L.A Burdick Chocolate

L. A. Burdick

With centers like pear-cranberry and orange-pistachio, these eggs include what the confectioner calls a “secret crunch.” The only surprise you get from a Hershey’s mini chocolate egg is that painful jolt when a bit of the foil wrapper hits your fillings.Buy Now

Wondermade Carrot Cake Marshmallows, $12 at Mouth.com

Mouth.com

These fluffy carrot cake marshmallows may leave you missing the cream cheese frosting (the carrots, cane sugar, nutmeg, and allspice are all accounted for, though)—but they’re a hell of a lot better than Peeps.Buy Now

Bridgewater Chubby Bunny, $47.25 at Bridgewater Chocolate

Bridgewater Chocolate

At one and a half pounds, and with a price tag of $47.25, this nine-inch-tall, semihollow rabbit puts form to the notion of living large. This is how the 1 percent parties down at Easter. (Actually, he’s middle class compared to Mr. Goodtimes down below.)Buy Now

Hedonist Farm Egg Truffles, 3 for $12

Hedonist Chocolate

Speckled just like real birds’ eggs, this classy trio has fillings—coconut-lime, peanut butter, and salted caramel—that would horrify a nesting wren. Humans, however, are likely to find them delightful.Buy Now

Sur la Table Chocolate Truffle Easter Eggs, 5 for $10.95 at Sur la Table

Sur la Table

If you prefer the crisp candy shell of Cadbury‘s pastel eggs, these have it (plus a precious speckled pale blue appearance), but the Belgian chocolate-hazelnut filling is a big step up.Buy Now

Poco Dolce Raspberry Bunnies, 8 for $26 at Poco Dolce

Poco Dolce

Hard to fathom, isn’t it? Easter bunnies with fruit filling containing actual fruit. Here, it’s fresh raspberry ganache.Buy Now

John & Kira’s Honey Caramel Chocolate Bees, 9 for $29.95 at John & Kira’s

John & Kira’s

Along with the birds’ eggs (and bunnies), these bees are a fitting springtime treat, filled with gooey honey caramel and hand-painted with black and yellow cocoa butter. No sting here, only sweetness.Buy Now

Lake Champlain Chocolates Mr. Goodtimes Easter Bunny, $125 on Amazon

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Nothing says Easter like a giant 16.5-inch tall bunny made of 3 pounds of organic milk chocolate. Just don’t let the kids see this one or you’ll have to share.Buy Now

Compartes Gourmet Chocolate Panoramic Egg, $59.95 at Compartes

Compartes

Those rock-hard sugar diorama eggs are fascinating to look at, but not actually meant for eating. This handmade hollow chocolate egg is actually delicious, and a little luster from gold dust is enchanting even for adults.Buy Now

The Robert L. Strohecker Assorted Rabbit, $18.50 at Harbor Chocolates

Harbor Sweets

A more affordable yet still adult-appropriate dark chocolate bunny, this one has secrets: different sections of it are filled with various confections, including caramel-pecan patties and buttercrunch toffee. Eating it is like the least accurate but most delicious rabbit anatomy lesson ever.Buy Now

Visit our Easter headquarters for more holiday ideas and Easter recipes.

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

This post was originally published by John Birdsall on April 2, 2012 and was updated by Chowhound Editors on April 9, 2019.

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The Best Spring Break Road Trips For Food Lovers

How to Clean Your Coffee Grinder (and Yes, You Need to Do It)

Whirling blade–style coffee grinders are cheap and useful for lots of things besides grinding coffee—such as grinding spices. But since you can’t immerse an electric grinder in water, how do you get it clean? The short answer: bread, rice, sugar, or salt!

And yes, you do need to clean that coffee grinder, ideally pretty frequently. It may not get as disgusting or dangerous as your smelly kitchen sponge, but old coffee oils and residue can mute or muck up the taste of your fresh coffee beans, tanking your dreams of the perfect pour-over. So, how do you get rid of that gunk?

We still stand by the Chowhound community advice dished out in 2013:

Simply grind something else in it that will absorb the oils and odors without adding any of its own. Chowhound escondido123 recommended a piece of bread. Meanwhile, chileheadmike suggested kosher salt, and scubadoo97 spoke up for instant white rice—but make sure it’s instant (parboiled) rice, not regular rice, or it might break your grinder, according to chefj. Sugar also works well to absorb oils and odors, whether from coffee or other spices, ellabee said.

How to clean your coffee grinder:

1. Knock excess grounds out of the grinder.

2. Grind the neutral, absorbent substance of your choice into a fine powder. That can be a slice of white bread, instant (parboiled) white rice, kosher salt, or sugar. About 1/4 cup should be enough.

3. Dump that in the compost (or trash).

4. Unplug the grinder and wipe it out with a dry paper towel, then a damp one, then another dry one (or use a clean, lint-free kitchen towel). You can repeat the grinding and wiping process if it looks like there’s still residue left.

5. Let the grinder air dry before you put the lid back on (and don’t forget to give that a wash or wipe-down too).

Tip: If your grinder was particularly smelly (say, if you have one you use for spices), kimeats suggests wiping it out with vinegar to eradicate any lingering odor.

Of course, if you’re a coffee snob connoisseur, you’ve probably upgraded to a pricier piece of equipment; if so, you can still try the rice trick, but here’s how to deep clean your burr grinder. And if you’re in the market for one, check out CNET’s guide to the best coffee grinders you can buy right now.

Also see our round-up of the best coffee subscriptions, and some other expert coffee equipment to improve your brew!

Related Video: How to Pull the Perfect Espresso

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The Best Sponges and Scrubbers for Everything In Your Kitchen

Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns are a traditional Good Friday treat! These slightly sweet yeast-leavened buns are spiced with cinnamon and speckled with currants, citron, and orange zest.

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Trader Joe’s Whistleblower Employee Reveals All

Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake

Get Recipe!

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What’s the Origin of Easter Baskets? (And Why Are They Full of Candy?)

Sous Vide Buffalo Chicken Wings

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Cersei Lannister Would Crush These Wines (In a Good Way)

Admittedly, for most of us, Cersei Lannister isn’t the easiest character to relate to on “Game of Thrones.” There’s the whole dark and twisty conniving thing, the cover-your-eyes-uncomfortable incest with her brother thing, the ruthless mass-murdering thing…I could go on. But I tell you what, if there’s one thing I appreciate about that woman it’s her unabashed love of red wine.

And so, with the debut of the final season of the iconic show upon us (April 14th! It’s just around the corner! Finally!), we thought it would be fun to celebrate Cersei’s love of the good juice with a round-up of red wines (and one white) that perfectly fit her personality.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Drizly

In the world of wine, cabernet sauvignon is a symbol of power, money, and status. Top bottlings from its two major growing regions—Bordeaux, France, and California’s Napa Valley—are among the most lauded and sought-after red wines in the world, and which, not to mention, command prices that might require a loan from the Iron Bank. Full-bodied, dry, and rich with flavors of dark red and black fruit, tobacco, spice, and dried herbs, cabernet sauvignon is a boss in the red wine category. Its personality is bold, dominant (if not at times a touch overbearing), seductive, and commanding. How could Cersei not have pitchers of the stuff at the ready?

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

Nebbiolo

Drizly

Aside from the fact that this grape is responsible for the prized, undeniably regal-status red wines of Piedmont in northwestern Italy, it’s a fitting choice for Cersei because it is, above all else, incredibly bitter. It produces wines that are very tannic (aka astringent), especially when they’re young, gripping your palate and gums without any sign of remorse. These are cerebral wines, not quite as obvious or easy to like, but rewarding of those who are patient, getting more interesting, layered, and complex with time (much like our girl Cersei).

Vietti Castiglione Barolo on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

Mourvèdre

Drizly

Frequently paired with ripe, juicy Grenache and meaty, pepper-spicey syrah in blends, mourvèdre is the grape that adds muscle and dark force to the group. It gets high marks for body, alcohol, and tannin, producing wines that are broody and powerful. Think blackberry, currant, and plum mixed with the flavor of game meat, tobacco, soil, and herbs. It’s fierce, especially when made as a single-varietal wine, the most famous of which come from Bandol in southwestern France. (Side note: The mourvèdre-based rosés from the region are also fantastic and intensely dry for rosé. Who knows, perhaps something Cersei would have enjoyed before winter came?)

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

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Pinotage

Drizly

South Africa’s signature red grape, pinotage makes what you might call an abrasive, love-or-hate-it kind of wine. High in alcohol and body, it smacks you with flavors of red and black berries, campfire smoke, roasted meat, licorice, and steely cool herbs like mint and eucalyptus. The best examples of the style deserve to be savored, for sure, but it’s worth noting that like Cersei, it can also be quite volatile. If not made well, the wine is known to give off unpleasant notes of burnt tar and nailpolish remover.

David & Nadia Sadie Pinotage on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

Zinfandel

Drizly

An iconic red grape of north and central California, Zinfandel is known for making medium-bodied wines with lush red and black fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and hints of tobacco, smoke, and spice. Cersei’s a fan because, one, the wines the typically quite boozy (and evil though she may be, the woman’s definitely been through enough to have earned a good strong drink); and two, it’s a great red for barbecues. So, you know, something fitting to sip on as you watch the Great Sept of Baelor go up in flames.

Ridge Estate’s ‘Lytton Springs’ Zinfandel on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

Negroamaro

Drizly

What better grape to represent Cersei Lannister than this Italian varietal, whose name literally translates to “black bitter”?  Native to Puglia, the southeastern region that sits at the heel of Italy’s “boot,” the lesser-known negroamaro makes a dark-fruited, earthy, full-bodied red with a firm tannic structure and notes of black licorice and smoke.

Rocca Bella Negroamaro on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

Albariño

Drizly

Ok, so, Cersei doesn’t seem to have ever been a white wine gal, but if I had to pick one to represent her it would definitely be albariño. The signature white variety of Rias Baixas, the region on Spain’s northwestern coast, it produces easy-drinking, fiercely high-acid dry whites with a distinctively salty edge. And in “Game of Thrones,” no one is saltier—and gulps down wine more easily—than Cersei Lannister.

Nessa Albariño on Drizly

Price and availability varies.

Buy Now

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A “Classic Meets Modern” Passover Menu

What's on your menu for Passover dinner this year? We're thinking poached salmon and matzo ball soup (of course), as well as some modern recipes like a layered matzo bake and deviled eggs with horseradish!

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How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Hard-boiled eggs aren’t just one of the most nutritious foods around, but they also have the potential to be some of the most gorgeous. With a multitude of dyes, stickers, and patterns on the market, their decorative potential is endless. However, if you’ve outgrown those basic PAAS kits and are craving something a little more sophisticated this Easter season, why not try a more natural approach?

It turns out your can color your eggs using food-based ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. As a sustainable, creative way to make use of leftovers, it’s hard to say no. After all, what else are you going to do with those old onions or that last sip of grape juice in the bottle?  Below are six of the best ways to wet your toes, err, we mean eggs, in the natural dye arena.

Grape Juice 

Earth to Eats

By mixing one cup of grape juice with one tablespoon of white vinegar, you can turn your eggs a lovely shade of lavender. Let them soak for at least 15-20 minutes to let the color really sink in. Get the Grape Juice Dye recipe.

Bellemain Porcelain Ramekins, Set of 6 for $12.95 on Amazon

Just the thing you’ll need for your egg dyeing party, plus every other thing ramekins are great for.

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Red Wine

Everyday Talks

If a darker purple is what you’re after, you’ll have to go for something a little harder. Red wine is sure to do the trick. Plus, you can pour yourself a drink while coloring your eggs. That’s always a bonus! Get the Red Wine Dye recipe.

Turmeric

Mommypotamus

Turns out the trendiest spice of the year is also super useful in the egg dyeing department. If you’ve ever wanted a golden egg, here’s how to get it. Just add one tablespoon of turmeric per two tablespoons of vinegar to achieve this vibrant yellow color. Get the Turmeric Dye recipe.

Beets

Design Mom

Finally, a good use for beets! Just kidding, we love the earthy vegetable, but only in small doses. While this dye takes a little longer to prepare (the beets require advanced boiling), it’s totally worth it to get the array of pink and red shades it provides. Get the Beet Dye recipe.

Red Cabbage

Collecting Tokens

This might seem counterintuitive, but get this—red cabbage turns eggs blue! Depending on how long you let the eggs soak, you can even get a vibrant turquoise color out of it. Who would have figured?! Get the Red Cabbage Dye recipe.

Onion Skins

Ciao Florentina

Next time you peel onions, don’t throw out the skins! When soaked overnight, they can work as a natural dye to provide a rich orange color to your Easter eggs.  Get the Red Onion Dye recipe.

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.

Related Video: How Are Fresh Eggs Different?

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