Tag Archives: Easter Bunny

Chocolate Bilbies

In Australia chocolate bilbies are an alternative to chocolate bunnies for the Easter holiday. This prominence on store shelves keeps these little guys in the public eye and could help save an endangered species.

A chocolate bilby:

(Haigh’s Chocolates)

If you are unfamiliar, rabbits are a non-native species in Australia. After its introduction into the ecosystem with European settlers 200 years ago the bunny’s aggressive nature and quick breeding talents have taken a toll on native wildlife. Especially at odds with the rabbit is the native bilby – which once filled the niche that rabbits are taking over.

What is a bilby? They are rabbit sized nocturnal marsupials. Currently numbering in the 1000s, these little guys used to bounce all over Australia. Now they are endangered, from habitat loss due to people, to rabbits pushing them out of their burrows and eating their food supply, and from being eaten by foxes and feral cats. They are omnivores who have poor eyesight but very acute hearing and smell. Like the Koala, they do not drink water because their food provides it all.

A bilby out at night:

A 9 year old girl wrote a story called “Billy the Easter Bilby” in 1968 and published it 11 years later. This story helped to change public interest to move from using an Easter bunny to native wildlife, and in 1991 the Easter Bilby Campaign was started by the Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia. Chocolate makers too began to support the Bilby effort and two major chocolate makers donate the profits made from the chocolate bilby sales to groups helping the real animals.  A lot of the money goes to fencing projects that keep cats and foxes out of bibly territory and into breeding programs.

Haigh’s chocolates has a page on their website dedicated to the bilby and how to help them, found here.

So if you live in Australia, please choose a chocolate bilby this year for your Easter Basket and not a chocolate rabbit. The program has already helped bring awareness to many Australians who will never see a bilby in the wild.  I hope that it continues to help and these little guys make even more of a comeback!

You can read more about this on NPR “Chocolate Bilbies, Not Bunnies, For An Australian Easter“.

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Chocolate Easter Bunnies

Have you ever wondered which of the many available chocolate Easter Bunnies out there is worth your money?

For some people, they have one classic favorite. Maybe because it is the bunny they always received in their Easter Basket, like the basic chocolate bunnies made by brands like Hershey or Palmer. Some are not so loyal to one bunny, and are seeking the best for their tastes and price range. I found a few sites offering reviews of a good sampling of bunnies, and want to share the results with you. Many of them were chosen in blind taste tests for flavor, while others were chosen for cost effectiveness.

1. Lindt Milk Chocolate Bunny

Price: $4.50 for 3.5 oz

This little guy won at epicurious.com for its wonderful smell, creamy texture and taste, and elegant packaging. It is a hollow bunny. There are some varying opinions about the flavor of Lindt chocolate, but that like anything else depends on your tastes. I have had this bunny and agree that it is my favorite of the more “well known” brands available at my local super market. I have purchased a couple of these little guys just to keep around for me to eat. The only down side to this guy maybe that it is not the cutesy bunny form you are seeking for your kids.

Can’t find it at your local market? Purchase it at Lindt’s website for $4.50.

2. Hershey’s Bliss Milk Chocolate Hollow Bunny

Price : $4.99 for 4 oz

At epicurious taste testers enjoyed the colorful and detailed foil packaging, and the dark chocolate like taste of the bunny itself. The downside is that some find that it has a chewy texture. And of course, if you do not like the taste of dark chocolate then this bunny is not for you. This bunny should be easy to find at your local super market.

3. Godiva Bertie the Milk Chocolate Bunny

Price: $25 for 9 oz

The testers at epicurious loved this rabbits packaging, saying it was cute and classic. The taste of the bunny is rich and creamy, with maybe a too sweet aftertaste. The downside to this treat is its cost. I am also not sure if you will be able to find this little guy locally if you do not have a Godiva store.

You can order this bunny at godiva.com.

4. Reester Bunny

If you love Reeses or know someone who does than this is the best cholcolate bunny choice! It is surprisingly good, and has all the flavor that you love in Reeses peanut butter filling.

These bunnies are also avialble in a smaller size:

For those who are not a fan of the cartoon bunny packaging, there is also another large chocolate bunny option, the Milk Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Bunny.

All three of these options I have found at my local super market. I am afraid though that I do not have exact prices on these items, but they should be comparably priced to the Hershey’s bunny above.

5. See’s Candy Bunny –

Price: $9.10 for 10 ounces

This bunny was suggested by sweets.seriouseats.com, as being a good amount of chocolate for the price, having a nice presentation, and as having a taste not overly sweet, nor fake. I have never had Sees candy, but I know quite a few people who love it and claim it as their favorite brand.

Can’t find it a local store or mall kiosk? Find it at Sees website here.

6. Fran’z Chocolate Bunny

Price: $8.00 for 4 oz

Another choice at sweets.seriouseats, this bunny has no frills in packaging complete in just its golden foil wrapper. This is single origin Venezuelan chocolate which has a wonderful cremey texture, that is not too sweet. This is probably another bunny better for the chocolate lover rather than for a child’s easter basket.

Want to order one? Please visit franschocolates.com.

7. Hershey’s Snapsy Bunny

Nothing truly special here in taste or quality, but it is easy to find at the local supermarket and if you love the taste of Hershey’s chocolate this bunny is for you. It also features a unique design so that it is easy to break apart – for easy consumption or to share. This is especially nice for kids who cannot consume a whole bunny on their own. While I do not have the exact cost, it will be comparable with the above Hershey’s bunny.

8. Dove Milk Chocolate Bunny

This can be considered one of the “upper end” super market chocolate bunnies. The packaging is just like many of the other available bunnies, but this bunny has an advantage in taste. Dove has a rich chocolate flavor without any strange after tastes or textures. If you love Dove chocolate, or want to get a little bit more for your money in flavor this year, then this guy is for you. Comparably priced to the Hershey’s bunny above.

Palmer – honorable mention. The picture at the top of the article is of a larger offering of the company’s products. They have them in all shapes and sizes. I will eat their chocolate, but it is not my favorite and I have found some of their offerings to have bad after tastes. But if you are looking for a well priced bunny with lots of choices, Palmer is your brand.

 

I really wanted to do this myself this year! But lets face it – I cannot purchase and taste test all of that chocolate myself! Maybe in the future, but I hope that you enjoyed these reviews.

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