Organising an Easter egg hunt
You’re looking for recognisable mini Easter eggs to hide. A variety of flavours or an extra treat can come later, once you have enough individual items for the game.
Which treat is right for you?
Hosting a group and checking allergens
You’re buying for a group where ingredients and warnings about possible traces matter. Always use the packaging of each chosen product as your guide.
Buying treats to share or give as a gift
You want something to hand out, put on the table or give as a gift alongside the hunt. A chocolate biscuit or box of chocolates could fit the bill without needing to be an Easter egg.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what you want to hide, then choose separately what you’d like to hand out or give as a gift afterwards.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and number of items to hide | Check that they’re mini Easter eggs and how many individual pieces are in the pack; weight or number of portions alone doesn’t always tell you this. | If I’m organising an Easter egg hunt, I want enough recognisable eggs to hide. Around 46% of consumers prioritise suitability for the game. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the exact product, including the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces. | When I’m buying for a mixed group, I need to check which treats are suitable for the people taking part. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Sharing or giving as a gift | Compare the product format and how it’s packaged with your plans for sharing, serving at the table or giving as a gift. | I’m looking for something to share or give as a gift after the hunt, not more items to hide. This is the main priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a biscuit or box of chocolates is suitable for hiding
A treat to hand out doesn’t automatically serve the same purpose as an Easter egg. Albert Heijn explicitly says its AH Excellent hollow animal mix Easter eggs are suitable for hiding; the biscuit products mentioned are described for a different occasion.
Choose the items for the game first, and add biscuits or chocolates only for a separate sharing or gifting occasion.
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Relying on the product name for allergen information
Ingredients and possible traces vary between products and varieties. Albert Heijn also warns that its online ingredient and allergen information may change.
Before handing out the treats, read the label on the pack you’ve actually bought, even if you’ve used the product before.
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Assuming a seasonal item will always be available
Jumbo and ALDI’s range pages show different availability messages for Easter products. So a particular variety may not be available when you plan to buy it.
Check your chosen shop or product page shortly before the hunt, and have an alternative type of product in mind.
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Using a cocoa certification as a complete product check
A Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance logo won’t tell you whether a treat is the right shape or quantity, or has the right ingredients for your group.
Check the occasion and the label first, then consider certification as an additional factor.
Relevant brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
A shop to browse for mini Easter eggs for the hunt, alongside chocolates or biscuits for another occasion.
- The AH Excellent hollow animal mix Easter eggs product page says they’re suitable for hiding and lists the pack size as 320 g.
- The same variety lists milk, soya and lactose, and warns of possible traces of peanuts, sesame and nuts. Check the current packaging.
Jumbo
A shop to compare mini Easter eggs with different flavours and fillings.
- Jumbo describes both solid and filled mini Easter eggs.
- Availability varies by product, so check your chosen variety and shop before relying on it.
Verkade
Chocolate biscuits for sharing or handing out after the hunt.
- Verkade describes Tops Milk Chocolate as a biscuit with a cream filling and milk chocolate.
- A biscuit isn’t an Easter egg. Check the ingredients and possible traces on the label for each variety, too.
Lotus Biscoff
A chocolate speculoos option to hand out separately from the Easter egg hunt.
- Lotus lists a pack of 3 × 7 pieces for its Speculoos with chocolate.
- The variety mentioned contains ingredients including wheat flour, milk products and soya; check the label for your group.
Favorina bij Lidl
Seasonal chocolate to consider if cocoa certification is an additional factor in your choice.
- Lidl says its Favorina seasonal chocolate is Fairtrade-certified.
- Check the packaging, ingredients and availability of your chosen variety; certification doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for the Easter egg hunt.
ALDI
A seasonal range that includes Easter chocolate and biscuits.
- For its Easter chocolate, ALDI points to Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance logos as additional information to help you choose.
- Check whether a specific product is available at the shop where you plan to buy it.
Joybuy treats for after the hunt
These biscuits, wafers and other treats are options to hand out separately after the Easter egg hunt. Choose recognisable mini Easter eggs separately for the game.
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Lu Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks 75 g
A biscuit treat to offer after the hunt, not a recognisable Easter egg for the game.
75 g pack. Check the label for wheat, milk and soya before choosing these sticks for a group.
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KitKat Gold Wafer Chocolate Salted Caramel Flavor, 9 stuks
A chocolate wafer for a treat after the hunt, not for a game centred around mini Easter eggs.
The product name lists 9 pieces. Before handing them out, check how the pack is divided and read the label, including information about wheat, milk, soya and possible traces.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A possible treat for after the hunt, but not an Easter egg to hide.
150 g pack. The product name refers to biscuits, while the description mentions soft cakes; check the packaging if texture matters to your choice. Also check the allergen information for milk, egg, wheat and soya.
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Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g
An oat biscuit with chocolate for a separate treat after the hunt.
150 g pack. If gluten-free food is important for anyone taking part, check the exact claim and other allergens on the current packaging.
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Meito Pukupukutai Chocolate Strawberry Wafer 16.5g/Pack
A wafer with chocolate and strawberry flavour for a treat after the hunt, not an Easter egg for the game.
The product name lists 16.5g/Pack. Check how many packs you’re buying, and read the label if wheat or milk is a concern for your group.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check allergens when buying treats for a group?
Yes. Check the label of each variety you’ve chosen before handing out the treats. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that labels on prepacked foods must list 14 allergens; also look out for any warnings about possible traces.
Can I use chocolate biscuits instead of mini Easter eggs?
For a hunt where people are looking for Easter eggs, chocolate biscuits aren’t an obvious substitute. You could serve them as a separate treat afterwards; for the game, check how many individual mini Easter eggs you have.
How should I store the chocolate before the Easter egg hunt?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says to store its AH Excellent hollow animal mix Easter eggs in a cool, dry place; for other products, check their own labels and stated best-before dates.
Is Easter chocolate readily available at every supermarket?
No, don’t assume a particular seasonal variety will be available without checking. Pages from Jumbo and ALDI show different availability messages, so check your chosen shop or product page shortly before buying.
Is a Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance logo enough to choose an Easter treat?
No. A logo like this can be an additional factor, but on its own it says nothing about the number of items to hide or the allergens in a particular variety. First check that the product is suitable for the game and the people taking part, then look at the certification on the packaging you’ve chosen.