Gimme Some Sugar

No matter how old I get, there’s something so magical about uncovering colorful sweets tucked into a grass-filled Easter basket. This year, I’m loving the idea of filling baskets with non-egg-shaped gourmet treats. These Candied Violet Petals, from Dean & Deluca, are a luxe take on a classic symbol of spring. Venerable Austrian confectioner, Demel, takes fresh violet blossoms and candies them in sugar, then tucks them into a charming Victorian-style bonboniere. Trust me, I love a good ole’ Cadbury as much as the next girl, but these treats take the Easter basket to a whole new level…Follow the jump for lots more!

This year, Sprinkles unveiled its “Hop Box” (can they get any more adorable?!) Each box is full of red velvet, carrot cake, & brown sugar praline cupcakes adorned with adorable pink & green bunnies.

A few weeks ago, I did a post on sweets from one of my favorite new local bakeries, Paige’s Bakehouse. Paige is a master at creating stylish confections that taste as scrumptious as they look, so I was thrilled to discover her new offerings for Easter: these colorful cake balls in an assortment of decadent flavors.

Who says marshmallows are just for winter? These pastel lovelies from Dean & Deluca are light, tender, & flavored with Rose, Passion Fruit, & Violet. Drop them into hot chocolate or devour them all by themselves.

I know I said this was a feature on non-egg-shaped goodies, but these Chocolate-Filled Robins’ Eggs from Williams-Sonoma were too good to pass up. Candy makers at Two Hearts Bakery in San Francisco fill natural egg shells with milk chocolate, than hand-paint the shells with golden speckles. A gorgeous spin on nature’s artistry!