Instead of confetti and candy, why not fill your Easter baskets with these colorful locally-produced culinary gifts? I have picked a few unique foods and kitchen accessories that will remind you of bright spring colors and will come in handy even after the holiday is over! Shop from the small companies that produce them, and ship directly to your home or to your loved ones.
V Smiley Preserves
These are the best tasting fruit preserves I have ever tried, and the flavors are so unconventional, you cannot find them anywhere else. There’s no sugar or preservatives – only honey and fruit in a jar! Try the Pear Lemon Sage White Pepper, Navel Orange Mission Fig Cardamom, Seville Orange and Bergamot Orange, or Raspberry Redcurrant Geranium Jam spread on toast or pair it with your favorite cheese. These jars are made in small batches with locally sourced fruits from farms in Vermont.
What’s more? 25% of this month’s featured flavor – Lavender Blackberry Rhubarb Jam – goes to the Trans Justice Funding Project.
Bees’ Wrap
Bee’s Wrap is a reusable and biodegradable alternative to plastic wrap. It is perfect for storing leftovers, wrapping up snacks for on-the-go snacking, and eliminating unnecessary waste at home. And they are so pretty and vibrant! Wrap your unused piece of fruit or cover a bowl of leftover lunch with prints that will also brighten the refrigerator shelves. Bee’s Wrap is made in Vermont by a woman-founded certified B Corp.
Opinel Essentials
Opinel’s Essentials+ collection brings bright colors together in practical everyday workhorses – a peeler, serrated knife, and paring knife. These are available individually or in a three-pack set. Designed for precise handling, these tools make it easier to keep that 2021 resolution to cook joyfully in the new year. Plus, the dishwasher-friendly polymer handles are good for both right and left-handed cooks.
Runamok Maple Syrups
The 100% pure Vermont maple syrup is also organic. The collection of Runamok cocktail mixers will sweeten your brunch mimosas and ice teas, without the added sugar. With flavors like Cinnamon+Vanilla-Infused, Ginger Root-Infused, Rum Barrel-Aged, and Pecan Wood-Smoked, the collection of syrups are just as good in baked goods, savory dishes, cocktails, and desserts, as they are on top of breakfast staples like pancakes and waffles. Runamok Maple is a family-run company based in Vermont.
3Bros Stroopwafles
Liven up your Easter basket with Easter egg and butterfly shaped stroopwafels dipped in white or milk chocolate with sugar icing.
Stroopwafels are classic Dutch cookies with a sweet caramel filling, enjoyed as a snack with a cup of hot coffee. But you don’t need to go to Netherlands to buy fresh tasting Stroopwafels. Fayetteville, Georgia-based family-owned and operated 3Bros Stroopwafels uses the original Dutch recipe. The recipe calls for butter and sugar beet molasses, pressed inside a cinnamon wafer.
Lastly, 3Bros supports organization by helping them host Stroopwafel fundraisers.
Delysia Chocolate Truffles
Obviously, you can’t entirely skip chocolate on Easter Sunday, but you can go gourmet with it! Delysia’s 16 piece Easter truffle collection features the beloved desserts of a pastel party on a warm spring day. The box contains pieces of carrot cake, lemon meringue, hot cross bun and caffe latte turtle chocolate truffles. Additionally, they sell painted chocolate eggs, golden egg molded chocolate, and handcrafted Easter gift baskets on their website.
Chef-owner and chocolatier Nicole Patel of Austin, Texas-based Delysia Chocolatier is a Top 3 chocolatier in the Americas. Patel uses only the finest quality chocolate from sustainable sources and freshest ingredients to create these delectable works of art. She also offers virtual chocolate tastings that you can enjoy with your friends and colleagues!
