I was in a panic on Valentine’s Day when I waited until the last minute and the stores had already switched to Easter candy! I see you, Mom who got the Easter Bunny chocolate for the class Valentine’s boxes, and I applaud you. So, here we go again rolling into the grocery store in these last few days before the holiday, hoping that there is some of the “good” candy still left.
RELATED READING :: 150+ Easter Basket Fillers That AREN’T Candy
Good news! They stocked the shelves like it was Halloween. Grocery stores have large bags of Easter wrapped candies with awesome combinations like Twix, Snickers, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers for the chocolate lover. For the Gummy fan, they have bags of Skittles, Starburst, and Twizzler as well as bags of Sour Patch everything. Jellybeans have been a staple in my Easter basket since I was a kid. Thankfully you can find jellybeans year-round in the candy aisle. Jelly Belly can be found in a variety of small packs as well as large bags, and you can even pick up some of the wacky flavored ones. Generic brands get the job done too and add some nostalgia to any Easter basket. My personal favorite is Starburst jelly beans. My kids are getting those just so I can snag a few. Sprinkle them in that annoying Easter grass at the bottom of the basket for an activity for your kid that will give you at least a 5 min break from “can I eat this now?”.
Other signature Easter basket staples include the seasonal treasures, Peeps and Cadbury Eggs. In recent years Peeps has expanded beyond the yellow chicks of our childhood to festive, albeit a little creepy, colors and offers different sizes for your sugar fix. Pro tip: make sure your toddler doesn’t eat the whole box of peeps before Easter Service.
Confession, I have been buying Cadbury crème eggs since they hit the shelf in February. I love those things. I hear the other chocolate crème and caramel Cadbury eggs are pretty delicious too, but I will be hoarding all the original ones I can find. I mean putting them in my kids’ Easter baskets.
My Easter basket nostalgia requires a chocolate bunny–solid or hollow–choose wisely. If you can’t find one at your local grocery, check out the drug store. CVS and Walgreens are also stocked for the occasion and have all the signature chocolate brands and a variety of bunnies.
When it comes to candy are kids really going to notice they don’t have Easter packaging? I am hoping not. I decided to grab a few of my kids’ favorites. Some had an Easter theme and were in the seasonal aisle or displays but some didn’t, and the original will still do the trick. Gummy bears and push pops are snagging a spot in the Easter basket this year. Hubba Bubba is in pink packaging, so “on theme” if not Easter specific. Fluffy Stuff is a great alternative to Peeps and can be found in most candy aisles any time.
Looking for a little balance from the sugar overload? I love to put small–but not party favor annoying small–toys or games in an Easter Basket. Has your daughter been asking for that Barbie every time you go to the store? Son been waiting for that Hot Wheel or Transformer? Pop it in the Easter basket! Card games like Uno, Rat-a-Tat Cat, and Sleeping Queens make great additions to an Easter basket and are great activities for a looong day ahead or future family game night. Bubbles are also easy to find in all stores and can accommodate any size basket. This year, I picked up a Minnie topped bottle but have had great success with the bubble pouches in the past. With Summer, well Summer-like weather, just around the corner I take this opportunity to restock on water fun. You can find rings, sinkers, net games, floats, and more as the Seasonal aisles transition to the heatwave ahead.
For older kids who you just can’t resist making a basket for, or because they have a younger sibling like in our case, I filled hers out with a little less candy with an inexpensive necklace, and an Austin graphic tee. Both of them you can find in just about any shopping area. For the guys, another pair of athletic shorts or a must have sweatshirt would fill up the basket. Phone cases have been a hit with my teen too. I also can’t resist a cute small stuffed animal. They are great basket filler and usually become the instant favorite. This year, I am net zero on stuffed animals as I will be replacing a beanie boo that was shredded by our puppy. You can find them anywhere, even Michaels! Coloring books with crayons included, mystery ink activities, and puzzle magazines also make great Easter basket stuffers. You can snag most of them at any checkout line as you wrap up your shopping.
What goes in the basket shouldn’t stress you out. You have plenty of time left to make a great basket for your kid. Remember, Bunny, you know them best!
