Hotel Chocolat & Vegan Easter Egg Guide 2018

hotel chocolat vegan easter range

There's an increasing range of dairy free/vegan chocolates in supermarkets these days, and Hotel Chocolat are really championing quality vegan eggs with their range this Easter. Today’s post will focus on vegan eggs available from there as well as a few other companies.

Hotel Chocolat 100% Dark Egg:
Hotel Chocolat 100% Dark Easter Egg

This is one I reviewed last year - check it out here. It includes 100% cocoa solids dark chocolate, Californian almonds and Turkish raisins in the shell, plus panned 100% dark chocolate Piedemont hazelnuts separately. It's definitely one for the serious dark chocolate lovers!

Hotel Chocolat Dark Egg Sandwich:
Hotel Chocolat Dark Egg Sandwich

The unique "egg sandwich" treat from Hotel Chocolat, suitable for vegans and dairy free!

Hotel Chocolat Dark Big City Bunny:
Hotel Chocolat Dark Big City Bunny

A cute hollow dark chocolate bunny without the dairy.

Hotel Chocolat Dark City Bunnies:
Hotel Chocolat Dark City Bunnies

Plus, mini city bunnies that are perfect for sharing!

Hotel Chocolat Dark Kids Easter Egg:
hotel chocolat dark kids easter egg

One for the kiddies is this smaller 70% cocoa Dark egg. Also contains dark orange bunnies - yum!

Hotel Chocolat Ginger Dark Chocolate Egg:
hotel chocolat ginger dark chocolate egg

This is one that tickles my fancy this year...a ginger flavour dark chocolate egg studded with Piedmont hazelnuts, plus Dark Chocolate Crunchy squares with hazelnuts and ginger pieces. Yum!

Hotel Chocolat Dark Chocolate Rabbert:
hotel chocolat rabbert dark chocolate

A bouncing 70% dark chocolate rabbit hops over dinky drops of dark chocolate. Cute!

Thorntons Dark Chocolate Easter Egg:
thorntons dark chocolate easter egg

Good old Thorntons are also doing a dairy free dark chocolate egg.

Lindt Dark Chocolate Noir Gold Bunny:
lindt dark chocolate gold bunny

Plus the classic Lindt Gold Bunny comes in a Dark version that is dairy free.

Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Eggs:
lindt excellence 70% dark chocolate eggs

There's also these Lindt 70% Cocoa Eggs available from most supermaarkets.

Lindt Excellence Dark Extra Fine 70% Easter Egg:
lindt excellence dark chocolate easter egg
Plus a larger Lindt Excellence Dark Easter Egg complete with mini dark chocolate eggs. 

Montezuma's Absolute Black 100% Cocoa Egg with Chocolate Buttons:
montezumas absolute black 100% cocoa easter egg

Montezuma's have promised me one of these to review, which I am rather excited to try. Features their Absolute Black sugar free dark chocolate studded with cocoa nibs, as well as Absolute Black dark chocolate buttons.

Montezuma's Dark Chocolate Egg with Mini Dark Peanut Butter Eggs:
montezumas dark chocolate egg with peanut butter eggs

For those who like a bit of sugar in their chocolate, Montezuma's are also doing this vegan friendly egg complete with mini dark chocolate peanut butter eggs, hurrah! Who said being dairy free must be boring?

Montezuma's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Mini Eggs:
montezumas dark chocolate peanut butter mini eggs

As well as the Easter egg, the Dark Peanut Butter Mini Eggs also come in their very own pack! Available from motezumas.co.uk.

Montezuma's Organic Dark Chocolate Eco Egg with Cocoa Nibs:
montezumas organic dark chocolate eco egg

One for the eco-conscious with eco-friendly degradable packaging, this egg has cocoa nibs in the shell.

Booja Booja Artists Egg:
booja booja easter egg hazelnut crunch

No post on Vegan Easter eggs would be complete without Booja Booja, who make some beautifully decorated gourmet eggs filled with their classic truffles in a variety of flavours, from Champagne to Almond Sea Salt to Hazelnut. Available online and from selected stores.

Moo Free Easter Eggs:

Available from Waitrose, Holland & Barrett and supermarkets like Morrisons, the Moo Free brand make an excellent variety of dairy free creamier eggs, in flavours such as Honeycomb (or "Bunnycomb"), Cheeky Orange and Original with Dairy Free Drops.

Plamil Organic Easter Eggs:

Also available from Holland and Barrett, online or at selected stores are these Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative eggs from Plamil, which are Fairtrade and made with rice milk.

Plamil Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative Half Eggs:
Plamil Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative Half Eggs

Also available from Plamil are these "half eggs", a dairy free alternative to mini eggs. Available from plamilfoods.co.uk or selected stores.

Plamil No Added Sugar Dairy Free Half Eggs:
Plamil No Added Sugar Dairy Free Half Eggs

For those who want to go a step further, Plamil also make these Dairy Free Milk Chocolate halves without sugar, using the sweetener xylitol instead. Available from plamilfoods.co.uk and selected stores.

Coco Caravan Vegan Caramel Easter Eggs:
coco caravan raw vegan caramel easter eggs

Made with raw chcoolate, these caramel filled eggs from Coco Caravan are vegan and dairy free, with caramel made from coconut sugar, coconut cream and cashew paste. I have some of these to review so stay tuned for that soon! Available from the Coco Caravan Webstore.

Asda Extra Special Belgian Dark Chocolate Cherry Egg:
asda extra special cherry dark chocolate easter egg

Asda are also doing some rather special dark chocolate eggs this year, including this Extra Special Cherry Egg!

Asda Free From Chocolate Bunny:
asda dairy free chocolate bunny

And for fans of sweeter chocolate, there's this Free From Bunny!

Tesco Finest Free From Salted Caramel Flavour Egg:
tesco finest dairy free salted caramel egg

Tesco also increased their Free From range this Easter, with this Salted Caramel Flavour Egg complete with Fondant truffles.

Tesco Finest Free From Belgian Dark Chocolate Egg with Orange Truffles:
tesco finest dairy free egg with orange truffles

Plus a Blegian dark chocolate egg with dark orange truffles.

Lidl Deluxe Ecuadorian Single Origin Dark Chocolate Egg:
lidl deluxe ecuadorian single origin dark chocolate egg

Even Lidl are doing dairy free dark chocolate eggs this year, with this Deluxe Ecuadorian Single Origin 73% Cocoa egg...

Lidl Deluxe Madagascan Single Origin Dark Chocolate Egg:
lidl deluxe madagascan single origin egg

Plus a 66% cocoa Deluxe Madagascan Single Origin egg. Fancy!

Marks & Spencer Made Without Dairy Dark Chocolate Egg:
marks and spencer made without dairy dark chocolate egg

As always, M&S are not doing just any Dairy Free egg, but a Made Without Dairy Dark Chocolate Egg complete with fancy wrapping in both blue and pink.

Green & Blacks Organic Dark 70% Easter Eggs:
Green & Blacks Organic Dark 70% Easter Egg

It would be wrong for Green & Blacks not to do a dark chocolate egg at Easter! I have only seen these in 70% versions - no 85% unfortunately.

Waitrose Salted Hazelnut & Raisin Dark Chocolate Egg:
Waitrose Salted Hazelnut and Raisin dark chocolate egg

Waitrose also do a few dark chocolate eggs in their own label range, including this Salted Hazelnut & Raisin Egg. Sounds a bit different!

North Chocolates Hot Cross Fun Bar:
North Chocolates Hot Cross Fun Bar

Last but not least, these Easter bars from North Chocolates are available from Fenwicks and consists of dark chocolate with spices, orange and sultanas.

Well, that's all for this post - there's a few other companies making vegan Easter treats so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Hopefully though it will help anyone needing dairy free chocolates find something suitable!




Lurve is all around...it's Valentine's In Shops!

the chocolate smiths love is bizarre

It's nearly time for the day of luuuuurve, so I thought I'd do a round-up of some special Valentine's Day treats I've seen in the shops recently. Enjoy!

First up is the latest limited edition from The Chocolate Smiths, "Love is Bizarre", a milk chocolate bar containing strawberry and caramel. Potentially sweetness overkill? Available from Fenwicks.

Hotel Chocolat Raspberry Heart Lolly:
Hotel Chocolate Raspberry White Chocolate Heart Lolly

This white chocolate and raspberry lolly looks super special, and is one of the more affordable items from HC's range this Valentine's Day. Available from Hotel Chocolat stores, online and John Lewis.

Hotel Chocolat Melting Hearts:
Hotel Chocolat Melting Hearts

Also on the more affordable end of the scale, these Hotel Chocolat Melting Hearts sound scrummy. Spotted in John Lewis.

Hotel Chocolat So Good Together Slab:

A blend of rich milk chocolate and caramel chocolate with a melting pink strawberry heart in the middle...this sounds delicious! Spotted at John Lewis, also available in Hotel Chocolat stores.

Holdsworth Handmade Peanut Butter Caramel Truffles:
Holdsworth Peanut Butter Caramel Truffles

One for the #peanutbutterlovers, these sound divine! Available online or at John Lewis.

Holdsworth Milk Chocolate Banoffee & Chilli Truffles:
Holdsworth Milk Chocolate Banoffee & Chilli Truffles

Something for the more adventurous, Holdsworth also produce these Banoffee truffles with a spicy chilli kick. Available at John Lewis or from Holdsworth Chocolates website.

Holdsworth Sensational Sea Salt Caramel Truffles:
Holdsworth Sensational Sea Salt Caramel Truffles

And the classic combination of sea salt and caramel. Also available at John Lewis or online.

House of Dorchester Carrot Cake Truffles:
House of Dorchester Carrot Cake Truffles

Featuring white chocolate and carrot cake spices, these don't actually contain cake so are #glutenfree. Thank goodness. Available at John Lewis or Selfridges.

Montezuma's Mini Chocolate Library:
Montezuma's Miniature Chocolate Library

One for fans of richer chocolates is this Mini Chocolate Library from Montezuma's. Available from Montezuma's stores, John Lewis or online.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures 56 Ounce Bags:
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures 56 Ounce Bags

Another one for the #peanutbutterlovers are these huge 56 ounce bags of Reese's Miniatures Cups, available from Home Bargains. What a treat!

Tesco Heart Chocolate Cubes:

Cube shaped cakes with chocolatey hearts on top. Find them in Tesco and Tesco Express.

Tesco Finest Rhubarb, Orange and Vanilla Bean Creme Pots:
Tesco Finest Rhubarb, Orange and Vanilla Creme Pots:

These pots sound lovely and come complete with white chocolate hearts!

Tesco Finest Passion Fruit & Raspberry Cheesecake Slices:
Tesco Finest Passion Fruit & Raspberry Cheesecake Slices

Also with little white chocolate hearts on top!

Mr Kipling You're Baking Me Crazy:
mr kipling youre baking me crazy

Also available in Tesco are these Special Edition Mr Kipling slices.

Mr Kipling Pink Fancies:
mr kipling pink fancies

As well as these Mr Kipling Pink Fancies. Because cake is always a sign of love!

Waitrose Raspberry Mousse Hearts:
Waitrose Raspberry Mousse Hearts

Heart shaped raspberry mousses, one for you and one for your lover!

Waitrose Sicilian Lemon Cheesecakes: 

Mini cheesecakes with a heart shaped splodge of jam on top. Cute!

Waitrose Strawberries in Heart Boxes: 

A simple, but lovely touch. If you're into #cleaneating or have any food allergies these would make a lovely gift. Providing you're not allergic to strawberries of course!

Marks & Spencer Chocolate Heart Gift Cake:
Marks & Spencer Chocolate Heart Gift Cake

Featuring a pink Jazzie heart on top, this looks like the perfect gift for your Valentine!

Marks & Spencer Chocolate Heart Cupcakes:

Perhaps one of the nicest looking Valentine treats in today's post, these cupcakes contain pink chocolate hearts on top.

Marks & Spencer Pink Himalayan Salted Caramels:
Marks & Spencer Pink Himalayan Salted Caramels

You can't beat a good salted caramel, but M&S have gone a step further and made not just any salted caramel, but Pink Himalayan Salted Caramels. Yum!

Marks & Spencer Blackforest Rose Desserts:
Marks & Spencer Blackforest Rose Desserts:

The perfect way to say I love you - rose shaped black forest desserts!

Marks & Spencer Raspberry & Prosecco Spheres:
Marks & Spencer Raspberry & Prosecco Spheres

Ignoring the fact these potentially look like something else, these look really cool with their heart shaped white chocolates on top!

Krispy Kreme Donut Shaped Chocolates:

Who needs a chocolate donut when you can have a donut chocolate? (see what I did there? har har). Spotted in Next.

Heart Marshmallows:
heart shaped marshmallows

Last but not least are these heart shaped marshmallows, featuring corny Ed Sheeran lyrics. Available from Home Bargains.

Well, that's all for this years Valentines In Shops - if you are lucky enough to receive any of these treats do let me know in the comments! And have a great Valentine's Day!