Seek out sweet deals on chocolate eggs for a cracking Easter
For Christians who celebrate Easter, eggs are an important symbol – and with a sizeable population in the UAE celebrating the festival this weekend, there’s no scarcity of options for where to get them.
Cadbury is associated with creating the modern version of chocolate Easter eggs using pure cocoa butter. And while this custom is common, there are many alternatives.
Here are some to check out in the UAE.
Marks & Spencer
Varieties include the newly launched loaded caramel crunch egg stuffed with caramel and shortcake pieces and one with salted and caramelised peanut pieces (both Dh49).
Eggs aside, Marks & Spencer also has an Easter heroes collection with animal-shaped chocolates, from Nibbles the Bunny (Dh24) to Dougal the Puppy (Dh42), as well as one that is shaped like a robot (Dh42).
▶ marksandspencerme.com
Kibsons
From local brands to international vendors, there are plenty of choices for every budget here. There’s the Cadbury pack of mini eggs (Dh43), a creamy truffle version from Galaxy (Dh42) and a chocolate egg with a Mars bar inside (Dh36.70).
There are also local-made choices, such as the gourmet egg from Not Just Desserts (Dh135). The 600g pack includes a hollow egg with creamy praline and 11 pieces of assorted Belgian truffles.
▶ kibsons.com
Spinneys
There’s an extensive selection of Easter eggs at Spinneys. The Ferrero Rocher golden Easter egg comes with six individually wrapped Ferrero Rocher chocolates inside (Dh135); the Toblerone Easter egg with honey and almond nougat pieces comes with six mini Toblerones (Dh100), while Maltesers, Lindor and Twix also have their own versions.
There is also a 1kg Lindt gold bunny covered in gold tin foil (Dh350).
▶ spinneys.com
Bijou Patisserie
The French patisserie at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk has a limited-edition Fabergeinspired chocolate Easter egg, handcrafted with 63 per cent dark chocolate. It is lined with chocolate hazelnut ganache, filled with chocolate truffles and embellished with confectionery jewels.
It can be ordered until April 7 at Dh280 for a 25cm tall egg with about 2kg chocolate.
▶ sofitel-dubai-theobelisk.com
Neuhaus
Gift box options include limited-edition berry-flavoured chocolate eggs. The box of 15 has five flavours (Dh280). There is a bigger option with 30 chocolate pieces in a floral-printed egg-shaped box (Dh465).
There is also a spring hamper, which comes with different Neuhaus products, from bunny-shaped chocolates to eggs and chocolate bars (Dh780).
▶ neuhausuae.com
The Flower Shop at Palazzo Versace Dubai
More elegantly designed Easter eggs are available at The Flower Shop. Available to order per piece (Dh550) or a box of three (Dh1,500), the royal Easter eggs are adorned with sophisticated design elements and come with glossy finishings for a touch of opulence.
▶ flowershop.palazzoversace.ae
Forrey & Galland
The Easter egg box (from Dh230) comes in small or large floral printed packaging. It includes praline speculoos and gianduja half chocolate eggs, mini praline eggs and praline chocolate rabbits.
There’s also 500g hollow eggs with mini praline pieces inside (Dh255). Easter-themed cookies are also on offer.
▶ forreyandgalland.com
Mirzam
Mirzam has egg-shaped chocolates inspired by popular local animals in the UAE. There are fireworks eggs made with popping sweets (Dh45), pinkhued flamingo raspberry white chocolate eggs (Dh45) or the Arabian bee-eater made with 62 per cent dark chocolate and crushed pistachios (Dh45).
▶ mirzam.com