There is always a sense of excitement and a certain thrill relating to every season and holiday here at The Fudge Shoppe. Each time of year brings its own unique plethora of handcrafted products off our production lines, through our stores and into your homes. We love the smell of caramel that accompanies the changing of the leaves in autumn, humming along to our favorite Holiday tunes while making peppermint bark, and singing “All the Single Ladies” while packing endless chocolate hearts which men have waited until the very last second to order for Valentine’s Day.

 But of all the seasons and holidays, many of us find that Easter is one of the most exciting here at The Fudge Shoppe.

 While we love the warm breezes promising of summer, the blooming of those vivid greens beneath stormy, gray, winter skies and the ever increasing moments of soaking up extra Vitamin D, it’s the smells, tastes and designs of Easter products that have us *hopping* for joy. 

  WOOF! I promise I won’t try anymore bunny puns. I’ll go cry in the corner and be back in a second.

  I’ve collected myself.

   Now, as so many of us find this time of year to be so electrifying, what follows is a variety of amazing people sharing their favorite products which can only be enjoyed at this very exact time of year! 

Enjoy!

   Becca was part of our retail team while getting her nursing degree and has been a nurse at Saint Peters for the last six months. But on a weekly basis, you can still find her laughing and using her razor sharp wit in our store fronts. When asked which Easter product she loved most, she replied, “Little Bunny! The cute and chubbish one!” 

“I mean look at him! It’s so cute and delicious. He’s been my favorite since last year because he’s just adorable. I look at this bunny and it immediately brings a smile to my face. I should mention that I like him best in dark chocolate though.”

   As many of you know, Rich has been the President of our organization for over 20 years and has been making our Handcrafted Fudge for over 30. He also happens to be my dad so I, fortunate soul that I am, was able to obtain an exclusive 5:00am interview with him.

  “Fudge and Nut Eggs are an Easter product I look forward to a lot because I’m very proud of them.      

  “First of all, they take all these varied ingredients that we already have throughout the year and blend them in a unique way. Chewing it, there’s a complexity of texture and flavor that makes it a super culinary experience.”

Ally is a Marketing Specialist and Head of Design here at The Fudge Shoppe. She spends her days working through and implementing beautiful improvements in the way we communicate. 

  “I feel like it’s really hard to choose a favorite, but I think I’d go with Gourmet Pectin Jelly Beans.”

  “With these in particular, you just never know what you’re going to get! I love eating them without looking at which one you picked and you guess the flavor. I love the way the speckled beans look but the cotton candy is probably my favorite. Also, hear me out, Buttered Popcorn is so good. Like weirdly good.” 

  “PEANUT BUTTER EGGS!” responded both Alysia and Christina. While Alysia works in Accounting, Christina is part of our production team as well as our Marketing and Process Coordinator. But what brings them together is obviously Peanut Butter Eggs.

 “I love them because they’re only around once a year, and they’re way different than our Peanut Butter Meltaways” says Christina. “It’s saltier” she says with mirth. (Christina, Alysia and Susan are well known for their love of all foods with an extra pinch of salt.)

 “No! That's right!” joins in Alysia. “It’s saltier and I love the texture, where it’s a little thicker.”

 “So how many do you eat per week?” I ask.

 “Do you mean besides the ones we’re eating right now?” Christina counters with a laugh. “At least two a day!”

 “And if I’m drinking wine at night, it could be upwards of four” Alysia laughingly joins in.

  From here, they proceeded to one-up each other on how addicted they are to Peanut Butter Eggs, all the while the laughter grew in proportion to their obsession. We’ll leave them to it.

Throughout her high school years, Taylor found herself diligently moving through our midst, accomplishing every task with a smile and a story to tell. She is currently studying Forensics at West Virginia University but on breaks, she walks in the doors like no time has passed and blends into the busy mix flawlessly. 

  “I love the foiled eggs. Especially the crispy ones.”

  “They remind me of growing up when my mom would come here and buy them for my Easter baskets. My basket would be full of all kinds of exciting gifts but these just really send me back.”

 Okay, my turn!

  Growing up in The Fudge Shoppe, I had the unique experience of looking up to our Three Foot Chocolate Rabbit. 

   I loved watching my grandfather pouring out 16 pounds of chocolate into this enormous mould, sealing it up with giant screws and tossing the frame to achieve an even interior chocolate spread. When I took over moulding 13 years ago, he’d come watch, giving me the same tips each time I began and would tell me how challenging it was to create this giant rabbit in the earliest days of our company. 

We’ve perfected the craft since our founding 61 years ago, and produce these chocolate monstrosities with precision but the excitement remains. The appearance of the first 3 Foot Rabbit seems to signal that our Easter season has, in truth, begun and everyone feeds off the excitement and the nostalgia.

There is absolutely a sense of satisfaction as the rabbit breaks free of its mould and stands towering above us on the table, but the real thrill for me comes from the decorating. Almost three pounds of elegant, colorful decorations are strategically placed all over to bring this classic Fudge Shoppe Easter Rabbit to vivid life. The finished product always requires a moment to step back and admire.

Now it’s your turn! 

  What Easter chocolates and candies bring the most excitement to you and your home? How do you celebrate the season with taste and texture? 

The best answer will receive a $50 Fudge Shoppe gift card by April 6th!