Whole Story

Here comes Peter Cottontail. Hoppin’ down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppity baskets of ho-hum goods are on the way. Traditional Easter confections with neon-colored candies and bland bunnies disappoint my kids no matter how excited they (okay, we) are for our baskets. So I’ve gathered recommendations from experts here at Whole Foods Market^®, as well as our friends at SAVUER and Kiwi magazine so we can all easily build a better basket without well…laying an egg!

Candy Quandaries
Candy-laden Easter baskets are an essential at my house but we could do without all the unnecessary ingredients. If you too are hunting for great-tasting treats you can feel good about, all these confections meet Whole Foods Market’s quality standards — no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats.

• Divine Chocolate Milk Chocolate Easter Egg Hunt Kit, Milk Chocolate Bees with Honeycomb or Chocolate Bunnies (Milk and Dark): Divine Chocolates is owned by cocoa farmers and made for chocolate lovers. You can read more about their story in this previous blog post, but know that by purchasing Divine products, you support the farmers in Ghana by ensuring that they receive a Fair Trade price for their cocoa beans. All that and big, rich flavor and smooth texture too.
• Whole Foods Market™ Chocolate Bunnies Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate: These aren’t just tasty holiday bunnies, they’re Whole Trade^® chocolates! The Whole Trade® Guarantee seal means it meets four key criteria: quality, premium price to the producer, better wages and working conditions and the environment.
• Whole Foods Market™ Assorted Chocolates: Fill a basket with favorites like dark chocolate with caramel and sea salt, milk chocolate with raspberry ganache and white chocolate with vanilla buttercream. These premium Belgian chocolates come at an affordable price too.
• Confectious^® Candies and Confections: Jelly beans. Dark chocolate almonds. Gummy bears. Milk chocolate almond toffee. Milk chocolate malted milk balls. Dark chocolate goji berries. The list goes on – Confectious knows how to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Think Outside The Basket

While the kids may be candy crazy, you can put together creative Easter baskets for family and friends who will appreciate more than just the thought.

• Bunny’s Delight. Boost the health factor with a small bunch of carrots, red bell pepper, English cucumber, broccoli and a container of hummus. Include a paring knife or veggie peeler for the adults and a copy of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” for the kids.
• Tropical Fruit Basket. A basket of pineapple, mango, papaya, bananas, kiwi and coconut water makes a colorful hostess gift.
• Spa Day. Thanks to 365 Everyday Value^®  every bunny can relax for less. Reach for 365 Everyday Value^®  Bath Salts, Citrus Grapefruit Shampoo and Conditioner, Lavender Body Lotion, French-Milled Vegetable Glycerin Soaps. Add a loofah and exhale.
• Mom and Dad’s Easter Basket. Hey Mr. Bunny, the best big-kid basket would have an Argentinian Malbec, a wedge of Manchego cheese, jar of fig jam, 365 Everyday Value^® Water Crackers, Marcona almonds and a cheese knife.

Homemade Holiday

From kitchen to basket, these homemade goods make the holiday special.

• SAVEUR suggests scrumptious Strawberry Marshmallows. Dried strawberries give a naturally pink hue and deep fruit flavor to these fluffy delights. (Tip: cut them with a rabbit-shaped cookie cutter!)
• Color your Easter eggs with dyes made at home using fruits, vegetables and spices with this Naturally Dyed Eggs recipe. (Tip: every whole egg we sell is cage-free.)

The Hunt Is On

The real fun is in the hunt, so consider skipping the candy. Our friends at Kiwi magazine suggest using dried fruit or yogurt-covered raisins instead of candy at your Easter egg hunt.

Hip hop hurray; a delicious Easter is on the way!

Are you building a better basket this Easter? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Visit our spring gatherings site for more expert tips on what to cook and how to cook it, being the host- or host-ess with the most-est and fun ideas for cooking with kids.

Like this post? You might also like:

• Food52’s Early Spring Easter Menu
• Relaxed Hosting: What to Buy, What to Make
• Kitchen Basics for Children: 3 Easy Tasks for Little Chefs

(Marshmallow photo by Michael Kraus)