From Humble Beginnings to Artistic Creations
The sweet history of Chocolate Eggs for Easter
From ancient times, eggs symbolize new life and rebirth, and this tradition evolved to one of the most beloved Easter gifts – the giving and receiving of chocolate Easter eggs. Let’s take you on a brief journey of the history of chocolate eggs.
The chocolate egg first appeared in Europe, mainly France and Germany in the early 19th century. At this time, chocolate was still a luxury item, and handcrafting each piece of chocolate was time-consuming and expensive because the chocolate consistency was not as refined as it is today, making it more difficult to work with. This lead to chocolatiers using molds that could produce multiple chocolate pieces at once and create uniform shapes and sizes. However, the molds used at that time were made of metal or tin, which made it challenging to release the chocolate once it had hardened. This often resulted in broken or damaged chocolates, which was not only frustrating for the chocolatiers but also affected the overall quality of the product. Furthermore, the climate of Europe also posed challenges for chocolate makers. In the warmer months, chocolate would melt and become unusable, while in the cooler months, it would harden and become difficult to work with.
It wasn’t until The Dutch inventor Coenraad Johannes Van Houten created a press that separated cocoa butter from the cocoa bean. This invention revolutionized the chocolate-making industry and paved the way for the mass production of chocolate as we know it today. At this time, Dutch confectioner John Cadbury (sounds familiar?) began experimenting with this new chocolate technique in the late 19th century. The first Cadbury chocolate eggs were made from dark chocolate and were filled with sugared almonds and decorated in pastel colors. These eggs were quite large, about the size of a hen’s egg, and were sold in decorated boxes. They were initially marketed as Easter gifts and became popular as a seasonal treat.
In the early 1900s, Cadbury started producing milk chocolate eggs, which were more popular than the original dark chocolate eggs. The company also began to experiment with different fillings, such as cream, truffles, and fondant. In 1923, Cadbury launched its most famous chocolate egg, the Cadbury Creme Egg. This egg-shaped confectionery has a milk chocolate shell and is filled with white and yellow fondant that resembles a real egg. The Cadbury Creme Egg has become a popular Easter treat in many countries around the world.
Confectioner, John Cadbury (sound familiar?) experimented with this chocolate technique and created the first decorated chocolate Easter egg in the late 19th century. These eggs had pastel-colored candy shells making them an instant success and lead Cadbury to become one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. In 1975, Cadbury created the popular cream egg to capture the excitement and joy of Easter. The egg-shaped chocolate was initially filled with a yellow and white fondant that was meant to resemble a real egg yolk and egg white.
In 1975, The Cadbury Creme Egg was created by a team of Cadbury employees in 1975who wanted to create a product that would capture the excitement and joy of Easter. The egg-shaped chocolate was initially filled with a yellow and white fondant that was meant to resemble a real egg yolk and egg white. The fondant was made using a secret recipe, and the process for creating the eggs was closely guarded by Cadbury.
Around the world chocolatiers soon began experimenting with different flavors, fillings, and designs, creating a wide variety of chocolate Easter eggs to suit every taste and preference. Today, chocolate Easter eggs come in a range of flavors and designs, from classic milk chocolate to dark chocolate with hazelnut filling. At Chocolate Storybook, we create handmade, personalized hollow-filled chocolate eggs and fudge-filled chocolate Easter eggs. Join this 30-year-old celebration and order online today!
