Chocolate Bunnies Are First To Go On Easter Morning

VIENNA, VA. — The chocolate bunny continues to hop to the top of kids’ lists for Easter basket treats.

Just in time for Easter, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) conducted a national survey to uncover kids’ favorite Easter traditions. It found that more than half of kids polled grab for bunnies first in their basket and 75 percent are willing to do extra chores for extra Easter candy.

NCA, the major association representing candy manufacturers, polled kids (aged nine to twelve) to find their favorite Easter basket treats, uncover which traditions they ranked highest and discover how early they get up in the morning in anticipation of the holiday. It found that like Christmas morning deliveries from Santa, kids rise early to check out what the Easter bunny delivered. More than half — 57 percent — of kids get up before or at sunrise on Easter morning.

“The survey shows that kids continue to enjoy and embrace the Easter holiday. Every year the Easter season brings alive traditions our families have celebrated for centuries – whether it’s Easter baskets filled with treats like chocolate bunnies, jelly beans or marshmallow treats or the family’s annual Easter egg hunt,” said Larry Graham, president of NCA.

In addition to chocolate bunnies, other Easter candies ranked high. Kids also grab for marshmallow treats (18 percent), malted milk balls/eggs (17 percent) and jelly beans (16 percent) first when checking out their Easter baskets.

Although kids love chocolate bunnies, the survey revealed that there are other Easter morning traditions kids like even more.

Most kids pick either Easter baskets (46 percent) or an Easter egg hunt for candy-filled eggs (39 percent) as their favorite traditions.