Chocolate chicks - made with creme eggs for Easter!

These Easter chocolate chicks are simply made from creme eggs and chocolate buttons - don't they look great?!

They're a popular treat and lots of fun for the family to make together, so they make a great family-friendly Easter activity.

My chicks have been super popular every Easter since 2012, so I've produced this step-by-step tutorial to show you just how easy they really are!

Below you'll find the ingredients list and some instructions - plus you can print the recipe card to save for later.

Instructions

Turn a clean, empty mug or bowl upside down. Place two milk chocolate buttons on top, side by side.

Using a teaspoon, put a small blob of melted chocolate between the two buttons.

Stick a creme egg on top, pointy end up and hold it in place until the chocolate sets. If your kitchen is warm, this may take a while. If you like, you can push half a cocktail stick into the lower back of your egg and use this as a stand to hold the egg in place until the chocolate sets.

When the chocolate is completely set, turn the bowl right side up, holding the egg carefully underneath. Pour a tiny bit of hot water into the bowl. Within seconds, you should be able to rotate the egg underneath and free it from the bowl with its legs still attached.

Using a dab of melted chocolate as 'glue', stick a milk chocolate button to the lower part of the egg to make a tail. If you used a cocktail stick earlier, this is an easy opportunity to cover up the hole.

Flip the egg over and stick two more milk chocolate buttons either side of the egg to make the wings.

Make the eyes by sticking two white chocolate buttons to the upper front of the egg.

Use a sharp knife to carefully cut an orange button into a triangle shape. If you're doing this activity with kids, I find it's easiest to cut these to shape for them before you start.

Stick the orange beak to the egg, just below the eyes. It's really starting to look like a chick now!

Use a little black writing icing to apply a pupil to each eye. You can also do this with melted chocolate and a cocktail stick, if you prefer.

Done!

Or for an optional crest, stick half an orange button to the top of the egg. It helps to trim a slight curve into the cut edge of the button to that it fits neatly against the curve of the egg.

Repeat for the other eggs and you're done!

If you're feeling extra creative, you can use the offcuts to make different types of crest, different coloured feet, wings or eyes, different candy details, or use different coloured writing icing pens for extra detail.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for perfect Easter chocolate chicks

Are Easter chocolate chicks easy to make?

These Easter chocolate chicks are the perfect mix of looking fantastic while being easy to make. My son and I first started making these chicks when he was just four years old, and he was able to make them almost completely by himself from the get go.

The only trouble you may have is if your home is rather hot, as a high ambient temperature means it will take longer for the chocolate to set. Ideally work somewhere that’s nice and cool, but if that’s not possible a little patients while the chocolate sets will be all that you need.

I wouldn't advise trying to cool anything down in the fridge as I find chocolate that isn’t too cold ends up sticking the best when ‘gluing’ everything together with melted chocolate.

Will I need any special equipment to make these Easter chocolate chicks?

No equipment that you wouldn't find in the average kitchen is needed for these chicks, apart from maybe toothpicks, which are used to prop up the eggs while they set. You can also use wooden kebab skewers if you have any to hand, or any other method you can think of to keep your eggs upright.

Where can I buy creme eggs? Where can I buy orange buttons?

In the UK creme eggs are available all year round but especially prominent in the run up to Easte. Check the chocolate aisle or the ends of the chocolate aisle where there are often promotional and seasonal items.

Orange chocolate buttons or ‘melts’ are also available in some UK supermarkets, although not all. Careful to get the kind that are actually orange rather than orange flavoured if you want your chicks to have some colour to them.

There are quite a few different manufacturers of orange chocolate buttons, so if you can't find them in-store you should certainly be able to find them online. You could also consider making them yourself by melting white chocolate and a little orange food colouring together, then spooning them onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper to create little chocolate rounds once cooled.

How do I melt chocolate?

Melting chocolate is nice and easy, but there are a few gotchas to be aware of, mostly related to if it gets too hot or wet.

The first step is to make sure your pieces of chocolate aren’t too big. In this case we’re using chocolate buttons, but if you’re using something bigger cut the pieces up with a knife on a chopping board or break them up with your hands until they’re thumbnail size or smaller.

To avoid the chocolate becoming too hot (only a little bit of chocolate needs to overheat to make the whole batch gritty) don’t melt it in a saucepan directly.

My preferred method is to use a microwave and a microwave safe/heat resistant bowl, especially for tiny amounts such as this chocolate chick recipe. Just zap it in 15 second bursts, give it a stir and then continue microwaving until melted, or almost melted. A few little unmelted bits can be melted with the residual heat in from the bowl/melted chocolate. Careful handling the bowl as it may have become hot, and make sure not to let any moisture creep in such as from an undried bowl or wood spoon.

You can also use a double boiler or bain-marie if you prefer, which heats the bowl through steam, meaning it can’t get above 100C and begin to burn. Just allow the chocolate to melt and stir often. Again, don’t let any wetness get near the bowl!

Why did my chocolate chicks ‘sweat’ or become dull?

Chocolate can take on a dull appearance or gather water droplets on the surface when it is stored in the fridge as moisture from the air will begin to condense on it. With this in mind, if you are going to store them in the fridge be sure to store your chicks in an airtight container to protect them from excess moisture.

Are Easter chocolate chicks suitable for vegetarians? 

The Easter chocolate chicks I made are suitable for vegetarians, but it’s always best to check the labels on the ingredients as some brands may use animal products. For instance the food coloring in some orange buttons or gelling agent in some creme eggs can be derived from animals.

Are Easter chocolate chicks suitable for vegans?

Due to the milk in the milk chocolate they are unsuitable for vegans as is. However, in the UK at least, there are now vegan creme eggs available in some health food shops and online. Vegan chocolate buttons are also available, so I believe it would be possible to make this recipe vegan.

The only thing I haven't seen is vegan orange chocolate buttons that are actually orange in colour, but it would be possible to make these yourself using vegan white chocolate and orange food colouring melted together and spread out as thick discs on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. 

Are Easter chocolate chicks gluten-free?

Depending on the brands you use these chocolate chicks can be gluten-free, but double check all your ingredients to make sure as this can vary in either gluten containing ingredients or guarantees about possible cross contamination in the factory the ingredient is produced in.

Are Easter chocolate chicks safe to eat while pregnant?

There is nothing in this recipe that would usually pose a risk to a pregnant woman as long as all the ingredients are in good condition and the chicks have been prepared hygienically. 

If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a health professional. A Mummy Too does not give medical advice

What goes well with Easter chocolate chicks?

These chocolate chicks are the perfect size for a treat all on their own, but they go down very well with a cup of tea, coffee or milk.

If serving as part of a party they’d go fantastically with these healthier Easter chocolate nest cookies. https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/healthier-easter-chocolate-nest-cookies/

I haven’t got creme eggs, can I use any chocolate egg?

If you can't find creme eggs or don't enjoy the filling in them then you can use any chocolate egg of a similar size that is hollow or contains something like praline. You could even make hilariously chunky chicks with a chocolate orange or smaller truffle chicks with big feet. 

Kinder Egg style eggs also work really well, and you can check out this recipe for more details and other tips for creating a similar and very cute chick.

How should I store Easter chocolate chicks?

These chicks should be stored in an airtight container and upright. As they are somewhat delicate, be careful not to jostle them to the point they bump into each other or fall over in the container. You could also put each chick in a cupcake case which will act as a bit of a protection to stop them bumping into each other.

How long do Easter chocolate chicks keep?

If stored in an airtight container and in a cool, dark place they will last for at least a week. If kept refrigerated they will last at least a couple of weeks or longer, and will last for many months in the freezer.

If keeping your chicks in the fridge or freezer allow them to come up to room temperature in the container they were stored in, or if you only want to get out a few chicks then place them in another airtight container while they come up to room temperature. This is to avoid moisture in the air condensing on the surface of the chicks and getting the outside wet.

Can I make Easter chocolate chicks ahead?

You can absolutely make these Easter chicks up to several days ahead without any problems, just make sure to store them as directed above in an airtight container and in a cool dark place, fridge or freezer depending on how far ahead you are making them.

Can I keep Easter chocolate chicks in the refrigerator?

While these chocolate chicks will be fine for a week at room temperature (if stored in a cool dry place and in an airtight container), if you were to store them in the fridge you can extend their shelf life by several weeks.

Can I freeze Easter chocolate chicks?

While I haven't tried freezing these chicks chocolate does freeze well, so as long as the chicks are in an airtight container they can be frozen. They should also be defrosted in an airtight container so moisture in the air doesn't condense on the outside.

You only really need to store these chicks in the freezer if you wish to keep them for many months though.

Can I make Easter chocolate chicks in a different quantity?

You can make these chocolate chicks in any quantity that you want! Just use the handy slider found in the recipe card on this page to adjust the serving size, which will automatically adjust the ingredient quantities you need. Do be aware however that the melted chocolate you're using will begin to harden as time goes on so you may need to give it a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave every so often to keep it at a workable consistency.

What is the origin of Easter eggs and Easter chicks?

Easter chicks can naturally trace their popularity to Easter eggs. Decorative eggs have been popular among groups of people throughout the world and for a very long time - there have been engraved ostrich eggs found in Africa that are 60,000 years old! Exactly how and when some of these cultures will have influenced early Christian traditions isn't quite known .

It’s also likely Easter eggs are so popular due to the celebrations at the end of Lent. Eggs can’t be eaten during Lent, which is why Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and Mardi Gras use them up before it begins. However, as chickens would not have stopped producing eggs during this time it's likely that they would have featured heavily at the end of Lent to avoid food waste.

Pin these chocolate chicks

More Easter recipes to try

If you enjoyed this recipe you'll love my chocolate chick in a wheat nest family craft activity.