Spring Chocolate

Spring is officially here! The days are longer, the air is warmer, and the flowers are starting to bloom (at least, we hope they are where you are. In Maine, each day is a toss up between balmy bliss or six inches of snow.) With the arrival of this season comes a whole slew of occasions to indulge in spring chocolates. 

Hop don’t walk

First, let’s start with the obvious: Easter. Whether you’re handpainting eggs with loved ones or opting for the plastic variety, we have a handful of seasonal offerings that’ll pair wonderfully with your festivities. 

• Mini bunnies: how can you resist these little guys? Coming in all dark, all milk, or a mix, our mini bunnies are sure to delight everyone. The dark chocolate bunnies are also dairy free, making them a great option for anyone looking for vegan sweets.
• Chocolate bunnies: looking for some Easter-themed creatures on a larger scale? Say no more! Our floppy-eared bunnies come in small, medium, or large and in milk, dark, or white chocolate. We also offer a foot-tall traditional bunny, so consider your rabbitty requirements met. 
• Buttercream eggs: these eggs are as hefty as they are delicious. Filled with raspberry, espresso, or vanilla buttercream, then dipped in chocolate and beautifully decorated by our chocolatiers, these tasty treats are guaranteed to delight. 

Midterm motivation

While Easter-themed treats are the most popular form of spring chocolates, they aren’t the only kind. At this time of year, students across the country are toiling away at exam prep and midterm papers—and finals aren’t far off either. With that in mind, we’d like to suggest some of our favorite chocolates to keep you awake and alert (at least until that 11:59 pm submission deadline). 

• Mocha latte bar: take crushed espresso beans and cover them in a double layer of white and dark chocolate, and you’ve got our mocha latte bars. Great late at night or early in the morning, this is a great option for those weeks when you’re burning the candle at both ends. 
• Espresso buttercream truffle: more a fan of truffles than bars? We’ve got you covered. Our espresso buttercream truffles are dipped in milk or dark chocolate. The combination of sugar and caffeine is sure to give you the extra boost you need to keep the study session going. 
• Double espresso squares: continuing on with our caffeine theme, these squares pair espresso with both 70% and 56% Belgian cacao, creating a perfect blend of richness and sweetness. 
• Seriously 70 and Midnight 80 squares: a great option if you’re a dark chocolate lover. Also, as our previous blog post discussed, dark chocolate has been linked to numerous cognitive and mental health benefits, making it a nice way to help soothe any exam-day stress. 

And once midterms are over, how about a Tequila Lime truffle? You might not immediately associate these flavors with chocolate, but trust us—it’s like a bit of spring break in every bite. 

What else? 

Ok, we’ve talked about Easter sweets and study snacks…but what about some general spring chocolates? Well, as the flowers start to bloom and new fruits hit the produce stands, we’ve got a couple of ideas for when you’re needing to satisfy a chocolatey craving. 

• Lavender Honey squares: Even if you’re not a white chocolate fan, everyone at Dean’s Sweets agrees it’s the perfect base for this sweet and floral bark. Take a bite and imagine yourself running through the lavender fields of Provence, birds chirping all around. 
• Blueberry truffle: Wild Maine blueberry blossoms are a spring thing, and as Mainers, we couldn’t be more excited. While you wait for that first batch of fresh blueberries to hit your local farmer’s market, why not enjoy a blueberry truffle from your favorite Maine-based chocolatiers? 

These are just a few of our favorite spring chocolates. However, if we didn’t list your favorite chocolate here, don’t fret! We’re never one to tell someone they can’t enjoy their favorite sweet treat. Whatever your tastes, we hope our chocolates will make this season even sweeter, whether you spend it hunting for Easter eggs, cramming for a test, or frolicking among flowers.