Easter celebrations are over, but for many, there's plenty of chocolate left over to remind us the bunny has been.
If you're searching for ways to use up your Easter eggs, we've got a few ideas.
How to use leftover Easter eggs in baking
Solid milk or white chocolate Easter eggs make great substitutes for choc chips in baking.
Chop them into chunks to use when making muffins or cookies.
"[A solid egg] tends to hold its shape more so you can definitely break it [into chunks] and mix it in when you're making muffins, cookies or cakes," explains Jason Stockton, co-founder of a Melbourne chocolate factory and store.
Dark chocolate is perfect for using in baking for things like cakes, but you can still use milk chocolate too.
"You can use milk chocolate and choc chips, but you'll need to add cocoa," Jason says.
That's so the chocolatey flavour can come through.
Chocolate fudge
Slow-cooking enthusiast Paulene Christie has 40 slow cookers at home. She loves using leftover Easter eggs as the base for a special slow-cooker dessert.
"You just have to melt down your leftover Easter eggs to make a whole new chocolate treat," Pauline says.
A basic fudge uses up about 600 grams of chocolate, or you can make a fudge with other chocolate and decorate it with the eggs.
"But I guess at the end of the day you’re still stuck with the chocolate to eat," she laughs.
Homemade hot chocolate
A simple way to get through that Easter egg stash is to use them in homemade hot chocolate.
"If you've got a mixture of dark and milk chocolate eggs, just melt them down and add some milk to create a hot chocolate — it's amazing," Jason says.
This also works for white chocolate eggs, but they are sweeter than milk or dark chocolate.
Or if you're like one of my besties, you can just pop a whole chockie egg into your morning coffee.
Melt and dip
My favourite way to use up leftover eggs is to melt them in a bowl in the microwave (or using a double boiler method on a stovetop).
I then take whatever fruit is floating around — preferably strawberries or raspberries — to dip and enjoy.
You can also drizzle the melted chocolate over pancakes and other treats.
Thank me later!
How to store Easter chocolate
To make your leftover Easter chocolate last as long as possible, correct storage is important.
- Chocolate is best stored between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius in low humidity. A wine fridge is great if you have one!
- The next best place is the bottom of your pantry.
- If your pantry starts to get warm, then your regular fridge is a better option, stored in something airtight, such as a plastic container.
