Easter, artfully curated: Make your own Easter hamper with Hotel Chocolat

When it comes to culinary delights, Easter certainly delivers. From springy, fragrant hot cross buns to succulent Sunday lunch with all the trimmings, there are so many tempting things to taste. And most of these indulgences (bar the roast lamb) are perfect for tucking away inside an elegant Easter Hamper.

Which Easter confectionery should be at the heart of any homemade Easter hamper? Easter Eggs, of course. And whether you’re planning to make an adult Easter Hamper with lavish Luxury Easter Eggs, or like the idea of surprising the little ones with playful Kids’ Easter Chocolate, these Easter-themed cacao creations are guaranteed to go down a treat.

A brief history of the gift hamper

An Easter hamper is both a joy to give and to receive. But where did hampers come from in the first place?

According to the history books, hampers were first introduced to the English in around the 11th century by William the Conqueror, but it wasn’t until much later in the Victorian period, when hampers became popular as gifts. 

Initially, hampers were gifted by wealthy families to their staff at Christmas, but later advancements in the railway meant that perishable goods could be transported more efficiently, allowing hampers to be sent as gifts to friends and family across the country.

Nowadays, hampers have become more than just a gift for Christmas. We have hampers for Easter, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s, and all throughout the year. Clearly, every occasion is better with a basket of treats.

Tips for creating personalised chocolate Easter hampers

Crafting your own chocolate Easter hamper to give to someone as a gift? Make it even more memorable by personalising it to your giftee’s tastes.

Think about their particular palette. Are they a lover of intense dark chocolate? Or do they prefer the allure of creamy milk? The more you can cater to your recipient’s taste, the more thoughtful they’ll find your Easter gift. 

You could even theme your hamper — perhaps a novelty selection of playful Easter-themed treats for someone who doesn’t take life too seriously. Or even an Easter bunny themed box for that animal lover in your life. 

Don’t forget: variety is the spice of life. So, be sure to mix and match different nibbles to keep your giftee guessing. Although it’s hard to be disappointed by a basket full of high-quality cacao chocolate eggs, a few unexpected surprises will make it even more impressive. 

For the hamper itself, premium chocolate deserves a premium presentation. Stun your recipient by tucking your treats away inside our sophisticated 24” Wicker Hamper or 20” Medium Wicker Hamper. Made with handwoven willow and finished with a crisp linen lining, these chic black hampers are the only way to gift quality chocolate at Easter.

Playful picks for a children’s Easter hamper

While we don’t believe kids should have all the fun, we do believe that most children’s Easter chocolate is a bit lacking in the playfulness department. We’re here to change that.

Want to create a kids’ hamper that causes wide eyes and endless excitement? Don’t forget to include these imaginative Easter goodies:

The classic egg

Start with your staple: The 40% Milk Chocolate Easter Egg 150g. If sunny weather permits, it may well end up next to the garden gnome as star prize for the Easter egg hunt. Just don’t leave it outside too long. While the thick shell might be tough to crack (tougher than a real egg, at least), it won’t take long to melt. This indulgent egg contains smooth 40% milk chocolate and is finished off with a vibrant yellow yolk splatter — all natural colouring, of course. Let it take pride of place in the centre of the hamper and watch their eyes widen with wonder.

Bountiful bunnies

Need the perfect playful nibble for after Easter lunch? Who can resist a Chocolate Easter Bunny? This one’s dressed in his Sunday best with a bow tie and shiny buttons to boot… he certainly wouldn’t look out of place at the Easter dinner table. Made from classic creamy milk chocolate with ‘more cacao, less sugar’, it’s impossible to not be mesmerised by his ear-risistible charm. 

Cute characters

Room in that hamper for a few more farmyard friends? Meet our adorable Milk, Caramel and White Chocolate Pen Pals — Elizapeck, Woolliam, and Rabbert. Creamy with a subtle hint of sweetness, these three are ideal for a tiny tot Easter egg hunt. Slip them into the hamper and ask an older sibling to get them ready for the hunt. It’ll be a great way to engage all the kids in the endless Easter fun. 

Quirky treats

Ready for a final novelty touch? Our Sunny Side Up Easter Milk Chocolate Truffles and Caramels are packed with personality. Some of these eggs aren’t giving much away. Others are a little eggz-traverted. With perfectly-imperfect googly eyes and a range of fun expressions, these charming chocolate half-eggs will bring all the excitement you need to any Easter get-together. 

An adult’s Easter hamper packed with grown-up goodies

Planning something for the grownups? With these treats in tow, you’ll have just as much fun — if not more — putting together this adult Easter hamper.

Easter is all about decadent desserts, so why not include a chocolate egg inspired by classic puddings and pastries? Our exquisite Extra-Thick Patisserie Easter Egg houses miniature cheesecakes, crumbling tarts, hearty pies, and gooey brownies, all reimagined in quality cacao. Whether your recipient is enjoying a nibble after dinner or tucking in on their tea break, they’ll adore the perfect fusion of patisserie charm and undeniable chocolate decadence. 

Oh, and don’t be fooled by the ornate exterior. This heavenly hamper addition also happens to be wrapped in 100% recycle-at-home packaging — better for your Easter basket, and even better for the planet.

Make it elegant

After some chocolates with serious dinner party appeal? It’s hard to find a more stylish box than The Easter Sleekster. Hidden away under the pristine gold and white lid, you’ll find a mesmerising assortment of vibrant tiddly eggs that are almost too elegant to eat. From Gianduja so ‘good it’s illegal’ to Tipsy Amaretto-infused Simnel Cake, this is what happens when our chocolatiers are given free rein to innovate and indulge.

Alfresco Easter

Like the idea of a picnic-style hamper? Okay — we confess — there are no real sandwiches on the menu at Hotel Chocolat, but our Lamb and Mint Chocolate Sandwich and Chocolate Spread Egg Sandwich certainly look the part. A charming take on classic Easter taste combos, these indulgent chocolate sarnies are seriously delightful. Don’t forget to check out our Caramayo Chocolate Easter Sandwich and Cookie Dough and Ice Cream Sandwich, too. Modelled upon real slices of 3D-scanned bread, they make a guaranteed conversation starter and a memorable gift. 

Why not pair them with something to sip on? Prosecco picnic, anyone? 

A heavenly vegan hamper with no compromise on taste

Determined to do a vegan hamper that won’t compromise on taste? You’re in safe hands.

Start your vegan hamper with a crowd pleaser: our Unbelievably Vegan* Extra-Thick Easter Egg — it’s creamy, indulgent, and every bit as good as its milk-based counterpart. Nestled away inside you’ll find dreamy nutty pralines, smooth, salty caramels, and classic Nutmilk creations. Because everyone deserves a moment of cacao bliss, dairy or no dairy. Like many of our other Easter treats, this egg allows your giftee to eat well and recycle easily, thanks to our new 100% recyclable-at-home packaging. Although it looks rather lavish, it’s actually made from paper pulp and cacao bean husks. Genius.  

Know your recipient adores dark chocolate? Pop a few of our dangerously indulgent Vegan* Dark Chocolate Bunnies into their hamper. Don’t be fooled by their cute appearance, these dashing, bow-tied bunnies are made from smooth 70% dark chocolate. Intensely rich and oh-so satisfying. 

Fancy throwing in something they can share? Perhaps a humongous chocolate Ostrich egg will do? Our Unbelievably Vegan* Chocolate Ostrich Easter Egg combines an absurdly large crunchy cookie and cornflake egg with tantalising truffles, peanut butter jelly cups, and tangy orange batons. Elegantly housed in a chic reusable tin, you don’t need to be vegan to appreciate this masterpiece.

Buying for one person? A whole kilo of chocolate might be a bit too much for them to handle. If you need something smaller, opt for our Unbelievably Vegan* Nibbly Egg. They’ll still get our signature crunch, but this time from nutty granola, and on a slightly more manageable scale for a single human… 

*We believe our dark and Nutmilk chocolate is suitable for vegans; however, as it is made in the same environment as our milk chocolate, we cannot guarantee it is free from milk

Embrace the magic of an Easter family hamper

Need to impress the kids, in-laws, aunties, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents — even that relative you only see once a year? Take a breath. This hamper’s ready-to-gift. 

Our exclusively online Abundantly Easter Hamper contains goodies for every generation in one 14-piece curated collection. Inside you’ll find creamy bunnies, rich chocolate eggs, delectable full-size delights, and magical miniature treasures. Alcohol-free and abundant with only the most imaginative treats, it’s guaranteed to turn heads at your Easter family gathering. All you need to do is add it to your basket.

Determined to create a family hamper from scratch? 

Here are a few more Easter goodies that definitely deserve a mention:

• Extra-Thick Everything Egg – An extra-thick showstopper that satisfies everyone. A half milk-dark praline fusion egg hiding some of our most coveted HC treats. One bite and everyone will be sold. 

• Extra-Thick Tipsy Truffles Easter Egg – This one’s a delightful grown-up indulgence. A chunky milk-dark shell houses boozy mojito, gin, and rum-infused treasures. Comes dressed in recyclable-at-home packaging that’s as sophisticated as its contents.

• Exuberantly Fruity Chocolate Easter Egg – Every fruit-lover’s fantasy. A strawberry-white and milk chocolate fortress protects a treasure trove of vibrant fruity delights. This is spring in edible form.

• A Dozen Chocolate Quail Eggs – Twelve colourful chocolate quail eggs nestled in a surprisingly sophisticated egg box. We’ve gone with classic recipes cast in a layer of smooth chocolate, because every taste note deserves to shine.

Add a touch of personalisation to every Easter hamper with Hotel Chocolat

From charming animal characters to exquisitely balanced thick chocolate eggs, these treats won’t stay tucked away for too long — they’re far too good to hide.

Match your chocolate-mad friend with our darkest creations, surprise your sweet-toothed sibling with caramel-filled treasures, or dazzle the little ones with googly-eyed treats that’ll have them hopping with joy. However you choose to do your hamper, make it personal with Hotel Chocolat.

Need even more Easter Inspiration? Our Easter Gift Boxes certainly don’t disappoint…