An Eggs-cellent Review

If you have been in any supermarket or shop in the last couple of weeks, you cannot have failed to notice the shelves are filling up with an assortment of egg, bunny and chick shaped chocolates. Yes, Easter is now only forty days away, and the chocolatey options are abundant.

I am sure for some people, you will be looking to give up the likes of chocolate and sweets for Lent. I am not one of those people, and there is a good chance I will eat more chocolate in the next month and a bit than I would otherwise.

One of the reasons for this, and the more popular options for chocolate in the run up to Easter is the small, filled chocolate egg. About the size of a chicken egg, and filled with a variety of sweet delights, they offer a perfect bite or two for the chocolate-deprived person.

Until a few years ago, the main option available was the Cadbury’s Cream Egg, but especially in the last couple of years more and more choice has appeared on the market, and I have taken it upon myself to test them so that you do not have to! I know, you can thank me later…

I have found seven egg choices in the shops around my local area. I am sure this is not an eggshaustive (sorry) list, and if you have tried another eggs then let me know in the comments. For each egg I will give a little of my impression, considering chocolate quality, filling quality and quantity, and size as particularly important qualities, before giving them the all important score out of five.

So without further ado, let’s get cracking (OK, I’m not sorry really)

Cadbury’s Creme Egg

It seems only right we begin with the original and easily most popular egg. When Kraft bought out Cadbury, there was outrage at the idea of the chocolate recipe being changed, with people saying the Creme Egg tasted different as a result. To be honest, if there is a difference I cannot tell, with the Creme Egg tasting much as I remember it.

It is of course chocolatey and sweet, and brings with it nostalgia and delight in equal measure. The size is good, being eatable in one or two mouthfuls, and the filling quantity is adequate. My only real gripe, and the reason it’s score is not higher, I do find Creme Eggs sickly. One egg is ok, but I would struggle to eat a second. For that reason, and really only that reason, it scores lower than you might expect.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 4/5

Cadbury’s Caramel Egg

Cadbury’s second entry on the list is the Caramel Egg. Although they have been around for a while, this is the first time I have tried one, and I am more than a little disappointed.

Yes the chocolate and size is much like the Creme Egg, the Caramel Egg has none of it’s cousin’s pizzazz. I should be clear here, I am not a fan of caramel, but I have tried to be objective, and even so I found the egg boring. Added to this, the filling quantity was less than ideal, unless you really love Cadbury’s Caramel, I would give this egg a wide berth.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 2/5

Cadbury’s Oreo Egg

With a third entry on the list, Cadbury is certainly winning the award for most variety. Being sold to Kraft was not all doom and gloom, because it brought to Cadbury the erstwhile American favourite, the Oreo, and I love Oreos. It probably comes as no surprise that I love this egg, but I should tell you why before scoring it.

Once again the chocolate and size are great (unwrap the Cadbury’s options and you would be hard pressed to tell them apart). The filling consists of a version of the Oreo centre with bits of biscuit broken in, and it is delicious. Like most of the entries in this list, the filling quantity could be better, but it more than makes up for it in the flavour. Definitely one I could eat a second or third helping of…

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 4.5/5

Lindt Lindor Egg

I love all things Lindor. At Christmas, my wife buys me a box of Mint Lindor chocolates, and whenever I am offered a Lindor chocolate, I find it impossible to refuse. It will come as no surprise then that I love the Lindor Egg. Essentially they are a Lindor ball, just, well egg-shaped.

As you might expect, the chocolate and ganache filling is top quality, and the size is just right for two bites. I might have liked a little more filling, there was an empty end without filling, but otherwise the Lindor Egg is a first favourite.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 4/5

Lindt’s Little Chick Egg

I might have missed it last year, but I think the second Lindt entry in the list could be a new option. Smaller than its Lindor cousin, the Little Chick Egg is a single mouthful for most people, but where it is lacking in size, it is certainly not lacking in flavour.

Filled to around two-thirds full (not bad) with a white chocolate ganache, the filling complements the Lindt chocolate of the shell well. I really like white chocolate, and this option left me wanting more. A great new find which I will certainly try again.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 4/5

Thornton’s Chocolate Caramel Egg

Another relatively new entry to the field, this was my first time trying the Thornton’s egg. Usually Thornton’s chocolates are a favourite of mine, but I am afraid this offering left me disappointed.

Of course, it is a caramel egg, so has all the problems mentioned in the Cadbury version. But this was eggsacerbated (I’ll stop soon, I promise) by fairly poor quality chocolate. Definitely not the best offering I have had from Thornton’s and one I shall be avoiding from now on.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 1.5/5

Reese’s Peanut Butter Creme Egg

The name is a mouthful, but the egg certainly is not. For the final egg in this review, I have sampled the Reese’s offering from across the pond, and it is fair to say we end on a high. I know American chocolate has a reputation for being bland to European palates, and if I was eating just a bar of Reese’s chocolate I would be inclined to agree.

But the Reese’s egg comes with a peanut butter creme filling, and I love peanut butter. The filling works really well with the chocolate, the egg is a good size, and the filling quantity is the best of the seven eggs reviewed here. While there is no such thing as perfection, some things do come close, and for me the Reese’s egg is damn close.

Jamie’s Cracking Score: 4.9/5