The best Easter chocolate for all age groups

Chocolate chains and independent boutiques are all set for the Easter rush this week and the range is bigger than ever. But is it really worth shelling out on artisan choccy for a six-year old who digs up the garden at the slightest suggestion of coloured foil? This year we've divided our Easter chocolate list into age groups. From the fun, to the Instagramable, to pure luxury, there's something for every bunny.

Ages 4 to 8: Fun first

The only thing that beats cracking into a Kinder Surprise is cracking into a Kinder Surprise Maxi. The toys are bigger too and within the white chocolate-lined milk chocolate egg could be either a mermaid or dinosaur. Clues are on the packaging so parents can pick what their little one prefers.

$15 from supermarkets and Big W

For those without the dexterity to assemble toys, the Peppa Pig Surprise includes a hollow milk chocolate egg and a separate plastic egg containing a toy and a small packet of jellybeans (spoiler alert: the surprise could be a pencil topper, keychain or comb).

$6 from Big W

Ages 9 to 12: Novelty rules

The Cocoa Loco Mr Funny Face egg from Oxfam is 225 grams of comedy gold thanks to an oversized white chocolate moustache. He's filled with jumbo milk chocolate buttons and better yet, is Fairtrade, organic and 100 per cent ethically made.

$34.95, oxfamshop.org.au

Got a munchkin who would rather be booting a Sherrin than chasing bunnies? Head straight for an impressively large milk chocolate official AFL Football Egg (300 grams).

$10-11 from supermarkets and Big W

Ages 13 to 15: Hard to please

Give young teens Chocolate Box's real, hand-painted eggshells and regretfully tell them the Easter Bunny only delivers chocolate to believers. When they peel back the boiled egg-like shells they'll realise they're filled with hazelnut praline – and then roll their eyes.

$16.95, chocolatebox.com.au

Play it safe with Cadbury classics. Much-loved bars such as the Crunchie and Cherry Ripe are available in chocolate egg or bunny form and they won't break the bank. . Our pick is the Marvellous Creations Bunny with popping candy (190g).

$6.50-7 from supermarkets and Big W

Ages 16 to 20: Social media friendly

Treat late teens to something they can Instagram this Easter. The Burch & Purchese Boy in a Chicken Suit is an adorable fellow with pink cheeks and a Belgian white chocolate chicken costume. He is as delicate as he is delicious.

$35, burchandpurchese.com

Can't decide between a chocolate bunny, fish or chicken? Zumbo stores have released a couverture chocolate diorama of all three hanging out at the foot of edible mountains.

$25, adrianozumbo.com

Ages 21 to 30: The gift box

"Raw", "organic" and "guilt-free" are not usually words associated with Easter, but Pana Chocolate offers a Happy Easter Gift Box containing four signature 45-gram bars. There's coconut and goji berry, fig and wild orange, sour cherry and vanilla and straight-up mint.

$29.90, panachocolate.com

For a little less dosh and a lot more indulgence, try San Churro's Easter Truffle Collection. Another Happy Easter gift box but this time with nine truffles from salted peanut to dark chocolate chilli.

$19.90, sanchurro.com

Ages 31 to 40: Hide from the kids

Melbourne's Om Nom Kitchen & Dessert Bar has opened a pop-up Easter shop with take-home goodies. The Egg-dulgence is a half egg of 58 per cent cacao chocolate filled with chunks of banana brownie, chocolate cream, caramel toffee and roasted mixed nuts. The whole thing is covered in chocolate lattice and decorated with edible petals and gold leaf.

$30, omnom.kitchen

Although less intricate than Om Nom's creation, Haigh's Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Egg (also available in a milk version) is smooth on the outside and bumpy with well-dispersed honeycomb bits on the inside. It comes in an elegant box, too.

$19.95, haighschocolates.com.au

Ages 41 to 50: Something different

Ever heard of Eggception? It's Easter's answer to the babushka doll, where Kakawa Chocolates in Sydney takes one of its hand-painted chocolate quail eggs, places it in a milk chocolate half egg, covers it with a slightly larger half egg (twice), and then hides all of that beneath a nest that resembles a wig of chocolate fettuccine. Much easier to eat than comprehend.

$42, kakawachocolates.com.au

Uphold the luxury but cut the price tag with Aldi's premium Easter Range. The pick of the bunch is the bulky milk chocolate Specially Selected Rocky Road Half Egg, packaged in a plastic dome with a black ribbon.

$9.99, aldi.com.au

Ages 51+: You've earned It

Sydney-based Just William Chocolates offers a milk chocolate egg fix in a gorgeous handmade felt hen basket, available in white, red or grey-blue (regular or large). When the chocolate's long gone, you'll still have something practical and beautiful with which to remember the day.

$65 or $90, justwilliam.com.au

Koko Black's Egg Carton packaging is as endearing as the speckled quail eggs inside. Expect a satisfying crunch followed by velvety hazelnut praline. Divine.

$24, kokoblack.com