Save the Chocolate Bunny: 10 Recipes for Leftover Easter Chocolate (2024)

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This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Don't just toss the chocolate covered Easter bunny. It isn't his fault he was over-produced. Try one of these 10 recipes instead.

Chelsea Dillon-Miller, Neighbor

Chocolate bunnies, chocolate bars, and chocolate eggs—oh my. Have too much chocolate to use as is? Feeling poorly about tossing it all? Or you can't say "no" to the 50 percent off chocolate at the store? Try a couple of these fun recipes to reuse and recycle that extra Easter chocolate into tasty treats and desserts.

We all have a little left over chocolate that we can use again. With a little creativity and of course an oven, anything is possible. Follow these simple steps for extra Easter chocolate recipes you’ll use every year, all year long.

Ice Cream: If you have Easter candy flavored with caramel or nuts, slice and dice away. Sprinkle over your favorite ice cream or go simple with vanilla. Drizzle with chocolate sauce, add a banana or fresh berries and you have an amazing chocolate sundae.

Find out what's happening in Santeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Milk Shake: Add chopped chocolate of any flavor to two scoops of ice cream and a splash of milk. Blend away and top with whipped cream. You’ve just created a one-of-a-kind milk shake to serve for movie night or a neighbor get together.

Bonus Tip: Lactose intolerant? Head to your local specialty grocery store for soy or coconut ice cream. The taste is outstanding for both and with a splash of soy, almond, or coconut milk you’d never know the difference.

Find out what's happening in Santeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

S’mores: Slice chocolate thinly and pair it with a roasted marshmallow and two graham crackers. Whether you’re camping and cooking over an open fire or just roasting marshmallows over your kitchen stove, this is a fun treat everyone enjoys, including the little ones.

Trail Mix: For the healthy go-getter, trail mix is a great snack. Chop extra chocolate and mix with your favorite dried fruit, nuts, or crunchy goodness. Add dried coconut or granola for an extra flavorful bang. Pour into individualized baggies so that your mix is ready to go when you are. Bring along for a hike or a days work. Snack away.

Chocolate-Covered strawberries: Drizzle melted milk, dark, or white chocolate over fresh strawberries. Let cool, refrigerate for 30 minutes, then serve. Remember, wax paper works well under the chocolate covered strawberries for a quick and easy clean up.

Chocolate Fondue: Melted chocolate can be poured into a fondue set with a small flame or candle underneath. Dip sliced breads, fruits, pound-cake, even cookies in the fondue and let the endless chocolate possibilities flow.

See more here for an amazing chocolate fondue recipe from Rachael Ray.

Hot Chocolate: Use your melted chocolate just like chocolate sauce or syrup. Pour it into a pan with several cups of milk. Stir constantly until ingredients are combined. Sprinkle with cinnamon and top with whipped cream in your favorite mug. This is a great recipe to wake up to.

Bonus Tip: Melting chocolate is easier than is seems. Chop at least one cup’s worth and place in a small, heat-safe bowl. The bowl is then placed over a small pan filled with water and over a steady flame. Stir the chocolate as it begins to melt. The heat from the boiling water will hit the bottom of the bowl and melt the chocolate to the perfect temperature. This technique is used around the world and successfully so the chocolate does not scald. From there you can use the melted chocolate as you wish! Here are some more ideas and recipes.

Brownies: Add chopped chocolate to your favoritepre-packaged brownie recipe. Instead of chocolate chips, chopped Easter chocolate will do the trick. Follow boxed recipe directions and bake as usual. When you bite into the brownies they’ll have an extra melty chocolate element. Yum.

Ever the baker? Try the iconic Hershey’s Brownie recipe here.

Pancakes: Chop and drop chocolate into your morning pancake ritual. Keep an extra eye on the pancakes this morning as the chocolate will melt faster than plain pancakes. Top with butter, serve and enjoy.

Cookies: Chop and drop extra Easter chocolate into your favorite pre-packaged cookie recipe or see Ina Garten’s recipe here to start from scratch. Bake as directed and enjoy chocolaty chunks that are bigger than average!

Reusing your Easter treats is easier than it seems. Who knows? The bunny rabbit might stop by again to nibble on these amazing, fun, and easy snacks.

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Save the Chocolate Bunny: 10 Recipes for Leftover Easter Chocolate (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a chocolate bunny? ›

Just pour hot water into a cup and use it to heat up a sharp pruning knife (Image 1). Once hot, use the knife to cut the bottom quarter off of a hollow chocolate bunny (Image 2). Once removed, fill the larger part with freeze-dried mini marshmallows and a serving of hot cocoa powder (Images 3 & 4).

How to melt Easter Bunny chocolate? ›

Bring a small pan to the boil, heating several inches of water. Cover the top with a tightly fitting, heat-proof bowl. Make sure the surface of the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl - this may burn the chocolate. Allow the chocolate to melt in the bowl, stirring occasionally until it is completely melted.

What part of the chocolate bunny do 75% of people eat first? ›

The National Confectioners Association conducted a survey and the results say 78% of consumers eat the ears first while 17% of people eat the chocolate bunnies' feet first. 5% of consumers eat the tail first.

What to do with old chocolate? ›

Any chocolate that has bloomed shall taste a bit off, though it is still not in bad shape. Such chocolate is not ideal for eating as it is, but you can always use it in cooking or baking; you can also make a syrup, chocolate garnish, or cake icing.

How long do chocolate bunnies last? ›

If you store your bunnies the right way, you can safely keep solid milk chocolates for up to an entire year. Dark chocolate will even keep for up to two years! Or, if you're more of a filled chocolate fan, these can be saved for about three to four months.

What does the chocolate bunny symbolize? ›

Since before medieval times, the rabbit and the egg have long been a symbol of both spring and fertility. Because of this symbolism with renewal and rebirth, you can see why both have been adopted into many religions as sacred and beloved images.

Why does Easter Bunny chocolate taste different? ›

The Influence of Shape

Most easter chocolate is often smooth and has round edges, like the easter bunny ears we mentioned earlier, or our massive easter eggs! Studies show that the shape of chocolate affects its texture and taste. Even if the ingredients remain the same - which they do.

How to melt chocolate bunny in the microwave? ›

you want to set your microwave at 50 power. and only heat it for 30 seconds at a time. make sure to stir it well in between. you're gonna do this for 3 times, and then for the last time, you're gonna do it for 15 seconds, and that should give you the perfect melted consistency.

What is the most popular Easter candy in America? ›

Here are the top-ordered Easter candy choices nationwide, according to DoorDash's 2023 ordering data:
  • Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs Candies.
  • Cadbury Creme Egg Milk Chocolate Easter Candy.
  • Starburst Jelly Beans Original.
  • Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate Candy Share Pack.
Mar 28, 2024

Why are chocolate bunnies empty inside? ›

Why are Chocolate Bunnies hollow? One major reason Chocolate Bunnies are made hollow is that once a piece of chocolate is over about ½ inch thick it becomes nearly impossible to bite into and enjoy. Making bunnies hollow allows chocolatiers to make them larger for visual impact but still enjoyable to eat.

How are you supposed to eat a chocolate bunny? ›

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. The proper way to eat a chocolate bunny is to bite its ears off first.

Can you eat chocolate 2 years out of date? ›

Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.

Can I use expired chocolate for baking? ›

Chocolate has a long shelf life due to its stable ingredient base. This means that even chocolate that has developed a bloom, or white dust, as long as it still smells like chocolate and isn't giving off any funny odors, it's fine to eat or bake with.

Can you save leftover melted chocolate? ›

Due to potential contaminants and the likelihood that your chocolate is no longer in perfect temper, it's best to store that bag o' leftovers in the fridge. Refrigerated, the chocolate can be kept for a few months.

How do most people eat a chocolate bunny? ›

' Most consumers said they eat the ears first (78%), while some signalled they eat chocolate bunnies' feet first (17%) or tail first (5%). To help consumers navigate the season, NCA's Easter Central provides fun facts, tips for managing sugar intake and more Easter insights at AlwaysATreat.com/Easter.

How to eat a solid chocolate bunny? ›

The proper way to eat a chocolate bunny is to bite its ears off first. You know this: The ears are the narrowest part, the only satisfying chomps before you have to crack the torso into awkward pieces.

What should I do with my bunny? ›

Rabbits should be let out into a larger EXERCISE AREA to run, jump and move around for at least a few hours every day. If you don't want to give your bunny free access to the home, you can buy a pen or make one with exercise fencing panels for dogs, which are found at most pet stores.

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