1. Peeps: Invented in 1953, these marshmallow treats only take six minutes to make, which works out to four million Peeps being made every day! They come in yellow, blue, lavender, pink, and white and are featured as both chicks and bunnies. For a candy, these treats aren’t too detrimental to your waistline – each Peep only contains 32 calories. If you’re looking for a classic Easter treat, don’t forget to pick up a pack of these in the candy aisle. And – there’s now an entire Peeps store at nearby National Harbor.
2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs: We all love a good Reese’s. Something about the combination of milk chocolate and peanut butter just makes our mouths happy. With over 15 varieties, including Reese’s Dark and Reese’s Minis, Hershey finds new and improved takes on this candy every year. The Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg allows you to have your all-year-round favorite while also celebrating the spirit of the holiday. Make sure to include the Reese’s Egg in your Easter diet!
3. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans: When we reach for a bag of jelly beans, we reach for Jelly Belly. Invented in 1976, Jelly Belly was the first jelly bean brand to offer an array of different flavors. Today, they feature over 50 classic flavors, including blueberry, cinnamon, and green apple, as well as some unusual ones like buttered popcorn, chili mango, and toasted marshmallow. If you can’t decide what flavor you’re craving this Easter, grab a bag of Jelly Bellies and you can have them all!
4. Whopper Robin Eggs: If you’re already a Whoppers fan, then you’re sure to love these Easter variations. Although the Whoppers malted milk balls were first produced in 1939 by Hershey, their egg-shaped design was introduced sometime around 1950. These colorful candies pair egg-cellently with jelly beans flavor and presentation wise. If you need a last minute filler for your Easter basket, Robin Eggs should do the trick!
5. Cadbury Chocolate Bunny: For most of us, the chocolate bunny is the centerpiece of the basket. It may be hard to imagine an Easter without a chocolate bunny, but, surprisingly, this one only originated in 1990! Ever wonder why Easter is represented by a bunny? Easter is the goddess of fertility, and because bunnies are very fertile animals, they are the iconic figure for the holiday. Every year, 60 million of these chocolate creatures are produced and, hopefully, one will hop into your basket this Easter.
–Jennifer Linkins, The Patriot Press