This time of year is the best time for chocoholics! Easter has long been associated with chocolate, and we look forward to cracking open our eggs on Easter Sunday.
Did you know…?
- Chocolate is made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels.
- It’s been eaten or drunk in some form for at least 5,300 years.
- Its use started in what’s now Ecuador in the Mayo-Chinchipe culture, and it was later used by Mesoamerican civilisations. The Maya used a chocolate drink in their ceremonies and the Aztecs associated it with their god Quetzalcoatl.
- Cacao seeds were brought to Europe in the early 16th Century by Columbus and a drink made from them became hugely popular after Spanish friars introduced it to the Spanish court.
- In 1662, Pope Alexander VII said drinking it did not break a religious fast so it became associated with religious holidays.
- Solid chocolate became popular in the 18th Century and companies began to sell boxes of it in the 19th Century.
- The first Cadbury Easter egg was produced in 1875 after technology was developed to mould it into different shapes.
- Now, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in west Africa are the world’s leading producers, with 60% of the world’s cocoa supply.
What sort of treats can we make at home this Easter?
Tiffin – A wonderful combination of milk and dark chocolate, raisins, cocoa powder, and crushed biscuit.
Mousse – Make an easy mousse with egg whites, dark chocolate, golden caster sugar, and crème fraiche.
Chocolate, olive oil, and hazelnut cake – Toast the hazelnuts and add a pinch of sea salt for extra flavour and whisk your egg white to make this cake light and crumbly.
Hot cross buns – Add candied mixed peel, orange marmalade, and ground cinnamon for a classic hot cross bun flavour, add chopped dark chocolate to the mix and glaze the buns with more marmalade. Delicious!
Espresso, chocolate, and chilli cake – Top with a coffee cream made with instant espresso powder and double cream.
Rich gooey brownies – Use a combination of milk, dark, and white chocolate, cocoa powder, and golden caster sugar for a sure-fire Easter hit.
Find out the sort of sweet treats we make in our sample menus.
