What’s on shelf for Easter: Chocolate, of course, but also Fruit ‘n Yogurt Eggs, Almond Cake Mix and an inspirational food waste target

Baker & Baker has rolled out a Cadbury Mini Eggs Chocolate Cookie created to add Easter excitement in fresh bakery. The playful limited edition cookie is baked fresh instore and features Cadbury’s chocolate cookie dough packed with micro Mini Eggs. It’s the first time that Baker & Baker has utilized the Cadbury Mini Eggs brand within fresh bakery. However, it’s not the first time Baker & Baker has teamed up with the Mondelēz-owned confectionery brand for fresh cookies instore and the new cookie will complement the current three-strong range, which includes Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate & Orange, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel. Baker & Baker has also penned a licensing partnership with Mondelēz to produce fresh bakery treats using Milka, Oreo and Cadbury, distributed across key European markets. The Easter cookies are presented in a paper bag sporting Cadbury’s Mini Eggs branding – each containing four cookies – rolling out in Tesco, Asda and Co-op. “Our Cadbury Mini Eggs Chocolate Cookies include the number one Easter chocolate brand and address a growing consumer desire for fresh and exciting seasonal baked goods,” said Michael Bancroft, licensing director for Baker & Baker. “Creating a moment of delight for families seeking new flavor experiences within the instore bakery channel, we’re confident this new limited edition cookie will generate significant consumer appeal ahead of the Easter celebrations.” Because almonds are naturally egg-shaped, they represent spring fertility or resurrection among certain cultures and are a natural gift for Easter. Now, Pillsbury Baking has provided an easy way to work in almonds to your Easter spread with the debut of its Moist Supreme Creamy Almond Cake Mix. The mix has a slightly fruity and sweet flavor with a hint of amaretto essence, which gives the annual bunny cake a sophisticated upgrade. Available at Walmart online and in stores across the US. Birley Bakery’s executive pastry chef Vincent Zanardi and his team have been hard at work baking up the Colomba cake and this year’s basket of Easter Eggs in numerous playful shapes and sizes. Available to purchase online or onsite in the heart of bustling Chelsea Green in London, the range includes: A selection of Birley Bakery chocolate is also available all year round, created in Birley Bakery's own private chocolate factory in Battersea and packaged in boxes and pouches that emulate the bakery’s interior. A special reserve of bitter chocolate – mixed with cacao beans from the Philippines and created specifically for Birley – forms the basis of the range of chocolates. Flavors include White Chocolate Lemon Matcha, Milk Chocolate Sesame, Dulce De Leche, Dark Chocolate Pistachio, Milk Chocolate Coconut, Dark Chocolate Peanut, White Chocolate Coconut, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut. To be enjoyed over Easter and beyond, the Oreo brand has delivered a creative spin on the much-loved dessert. Likewise, the limited edition Oreo Churro sandwich cookies feature a fried dough flavored cookie with churro-flavor crème and sugar inclusions. The Oreo cookie will be hitting shelves in leading retail outlets across the US on March 27, but grab one soon. Only available while stocks last. Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Eggs are chewy, bite-sized snacks with a center that’s made with real fruit and surrounded by creamy yogurt. Made with natural flavors and gluten-free, this seasonal spin on Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks is designed to be a fabulous better-for-you edition for Easter baskets and egg Hunts. Available online from CVS and Walgreens for an RRP of $7.99 (16ct box of .4oz pouches) and $2.25 (1.4oz bag). The Easter magic doesn’t end there. The Welch’s Fruit Snacks Easter Edition come in seasonally inspired shapes, including a bunny, chick, egg and flower. Again, the festive fruit snacks are made with real fruit and are gluten-free. Available online from Target, Walmart and Sam’s Club for an RRP of $1.25 (2.25oz bag), $6.99 (26ct box of .5oz pouches) and $12.00 (85ct box of .5oz pouches). Popcorn Shed’s Easter collection is made to bring smiles to faces all over the UK. Highlights include a limited edition Popcorn Easter Egg and its best-selling luxury Easter gift time, along with Chocolate Trio Gourmet Popcorn. The Popcorn Easter Egg ($17) is a twist on the traditional Easter treat. With luxury caramel gourmet popcorn fully enrobed in Belgian milk chocolate, it’s unlike any egg you’ve tried before. Weighing over 300g, there’s more than enough to share with family and friends all weekend. Meanwhile, the team at Popcorn Shedquarters – being big fans of everything chocolatey – have created the Chocolate Trio ($4.50 for 80g; $1.70 for 24g snack pack). Packed in Easter-themed packaging, the mix includes Salted Caramel & Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate and Chocolate Caramel gourmet popcorn. “We are thrilled to introduce our exclusive Easter treats that combine the joy of the season with our passion for creating exceptional popcorn experiences and sharing moments,” said founder Sam Feller. “Our new Easter Egg and gourmet popcorn flavour showcase our commitment to delivering innovative and mouthwatering products that elevate any celebration." The Easter popcorn is handmade with all natural ingredients and joins Popcorn Shed’s abundant portfolio of over 30 flavours and a broad variety of pack sizes and gifting options. Available online and in specialty retail in the UK (Debenhams, Harrods, Ocado) and around the world. Easter means chocolate, so Cake or Death has created its most bonkers brownie yet, but as always, its completely vegan. The classic fudgy brownie is topped with a tempting truckload of treats, including Doisy & Dam Good Eggs, Vegan KitKat, Moo Free White Chocolate, Freedom Marshmallows, dark chocolate drops and drizzle. Gifters can include a personalised note in each box, which has an RRP of £21.50 (includes six cookies). Get it in time for Easter by ordering online before March 29. Pepperidge Farm has introduced the new flavor to its portfolio, which offers an elevated pairing of zesty lemon and sweet blueberry delicately swirled into every slice. The Lemon Blueberry Flavored Swirl is a permanent addition to the collection, which features thick slices of bread perfect for toasting. Great for everyday breakfast to that full-on Easter brunch. Fresh bakery continue to increase in popularity for breakfast occasions and Lemon Blueberry was the top consumer choice for the next flavor of Pepperidge Farm Swirl bread. “As America's number one breakfast bread, our Pepperidge Farm Swirl collection has long been a staple on breakfast tables nationwide,” said Ama Auwarter, VP of Bakery Marketing at Campbell Snacks. “Lemon Blueberry Flavored Swirl bread is a refreshing new combination with a mouthwatering aroma that fills the home and adds excitement to the start of each day.” The Lemon Blueberry Flavored Swirl Bread is rolling out in national retailers this spring for an RRP of $4.69. With a new spring in their step, Betty Crocker and Reese’s have collaborated to introduce a new line of decadent mixes – made, of course, with chocolate and peanut butter – specifically designed for sun-filled picnics and other springtime activities, like Easter. The full lineup includes: The trio join a feast of other Easter (and beyond) treats, including: All available now at various retailers across the US. Round off this roundup is a brand that is proudly punting its Easter message. Wonky and surplus food subscription service Earth & Wheat has saved 600 tons of food waste – the equivalent of 50 double decker buses in weight – in three years. However, the brand is not resting on its laurels and to celebrate its 3 rd anniversary has set a new target to ramp this up to 1,000 tons of food waste – typically destined for landfill – by the end of 2024. Earth & Wheat works with independent bakeries to redistributing food that would have otherwise been thrown out due to size, shape or color that doesn’t conform to the strict standards in retail. In fact, around 16% of all food waste in the UK occurs at the point at which it’s produced, according to Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). This is the ‘waste’ that Earth & Wheat redistributes, because “no good food should go to waste,” said founder James Eid. Eid, a 4 th generation baker, started rescuing baked goods from his own family bakery in Dunstable, Hertfordshire, after witnessing the eyewatering amount of bread it was forced to throw out every day. He launched the world’s first ‘wonky bread box’ and sold 10,000 boxes in the first six weeks. Earth & Wheat has grown exponentially since 2021 and now works with independent farms to help save veggies from going to waste, too, packed in wonky bread and veg boxes, along with selection of plant-based offerings. “It has certainly been a whirlwind three years,” said Eid. “Earth & Wheat started as just a concept and our mission was to reduce food waste from the point at which it is created and help save the planet. “Three years on, it’s incredible to think that our efforts – thanks to the support of our wonderful wonky warrior customers – have resulted in us collectively being able to stop 600 tonnes of good food from going to waste. “This is food that would have been thrown away even though there was absolutely nothing wrong with it and it still tastes delicious. It was just too big, too small or too odd-looking but through our mission, we’ve seen people change their mindset and the numbers we see sign up to our food waste rescue mission continue to grow. “Now we want to try and rescue a total of 1,000 tonnes by the end of the year which we don’t think is too much to ask.” Eid’s award-winning brand recently joined The King’s Coronation Food Project’s cause and donated 2,894 ‘meals’ to FareShare, which redistributed it to frontline charities. I wonder if there’s a possibility here to redistribute any Easter goodies not sold…

What’s on shelf for Easter: Chocolate, of course, but also Fruit ‘n Yogurt Eggs, Almond Cake Mix and an inspirational food waste target

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