Opinion The best dairy-free chocolates in Australia for Easter 2024

Whether you’re about to enjoy your first dairy-free Easter or your 21st, the vegan market in Australia has made incredible gains on store shelves this year, ensuring you’re spoilt for all the luxuriously smooth and creamy choice you can handle – and then some!

When it comes to eating chocolate, I like to think of myself as a seasoned veteran. I’ve spent over a decade watching the vegan Easter ranges in stores progress in both quality and quantity, and this year … boy, oh boy, oh boy! Shelves across Australia are literally choc-full of offerings – pun intended. There are so many options that for the first time in my life, I can’t possibly try them all in one holiday period – which, if you ask me, is a great problem to have!

If you’re looking to treat yourselves and loved ones this Easter, get out your pen and paper (or prepare to take screenshots), because this will be one doozy of a shopping list!

NOMO

The range:

• Creamy Chocolate Egg & Bar
• Caramel Easter Egg & Bar
• Cookie Dough Crunch Easter Egg & Bunny
• Caramel & Sea Salt Egg
• Cookie Dough Bunny

Available from Woolworths, Big W, Kmart, ALDI, Vegan Perfection and specialty stores.

Vegan Chocolate Co.

The range:

• Caramel White Choc Bunny
• Classic Chocolate Bunny
• Freckle Eggs (6pk)
• Oreo Eggs (6pk)

Available online from Vegan Chocolate Co.

Mummy Meegz

The range:

• Chuckie Eggs (individual, 3pk, 5pk)
• Choccy Balls (12pk, 3pk)

Available from Vegan Perfection and specialty stores.

Totally Vegan by Charlie

The range:

• Yolkie Filled Eggs
• Caramel Filled Eggs
• Peppermint Filled Eggs
• Strawberry Filled Eggs
• Mini Mylk Choc Solid Eggs (10pk, 25pk)
• Mini White Choc Solid Eggs (10pk, 25pk)
• Mini Choc Deck Solid Eggs (10pk, 25pk)
• Marshmallow Bunny
• Marbellous Bunny
• Hunnycomb Bunny
• Caramel Bunny
• Mylk Bunny
• Cookies & Cream Bunny

Available online from Totally Vegan by Charlie.

HAPPi Choc

The range: 

• Milk Chocolate Egg
• Salted Caramel Egg

Available from Harris Farm Markets and specialty stores.

Pana Organic

The range: 

• Caramel Hot Cross Bun
• Peanut Butter & Strawberry,
• Dark Mint Crunch
• Golden Comb
• White Macadamia

Available from Pana Organic and specialty stores.

Buttermilk

The range: 

• Honeycomb Blast Egg and Bar
• Salted Caramel Crunch Egg and Caramel Nougat Bar
• Zingy Orange Crisp Bunny

Available from Vegan Perfection and specialty stores.

Lindt

The range:

• Dark Chocolate Gold Bunny
• Milk Chocolate Block
• Hazelnut Block
• Salted Caramel Block

Available from Coles, Kmart, Big W, Easter Egg Warehouse and specialty stores.

Ferrero Rocher

The range:

• Grand Ferrero Rocher (Dark)

Available from Woolworths, Coles, and Easter Egg Warehouse.

Gingerbread Folk

Who says gingerbread is just for Christmas?! If you’re looking for a gift for yourself or others, gingerbread bunnies can be a great way to break up the seasonal chocolate to chocolate ratio. Y’know … a palate cleanser of warmly spiced biscuit, with chocolate flavouring.

The range:

• Gingerbread Easter Bunny
• Chocolate Gingerbread Easter Bunny
• Mini Choc Gingerbread Bunny Gift Basket

Available from Gingerbread Folk and specialty stores.

Animals Australia

Choosing dairy-free is one of the kindest choices you can make for cows, but this Easter, you can extend that kindness even further with one of these beautifully curated gift packs from Animals Australia. (That’s right, a shameless plug for our own org, because we think it’s a gorgeous little pack!) Aside from being deliciously cruelty-free, all proceeds go directly towards our team’s vital work to create a kinder world for all animals. And isn’t that really the sweetest gift of all?

The range:

• Easter Gift Pack
• Plush Bunny (Symbolic Adoption)
• Plush Cow (Symbolic Adoption)
• Luxury Chocolates from House of Nestar

Available from Animals Australia directly here.

One final Easter tip

For those celebrating Greek Easter and wishing to keep things plant-based, I come bearing good news! The Greek Orthodox tradition of dyeing and smashing hard-boiled eggs need not be abandoned, just slightly amended with one small sub…

Simply pick up a bag of potatoes and boil them whole, leaving the skin on. Once they’re cool and you can pat them dry, get out your food dye and a paint brush, and get to work. The best thing about this version is – post-smashing, you can simply combine potato pieces, mash with some plant-based butter, and create your own rainbow creamy potato mash! It’s kind to chickens, cheaper than eggs, and a deliciously colourful addition to your Easter lunch spread.

But wait, there’s more!

As mentioned earlier, there are so many vegan offerings on shelves this year that even I – the self-proclaimed ‘Augustus Gloop of vegan chocolates’ – cannot try them all. This list is in no way exhaustive, so check out your local stores to see what’s available. A great starting point is Vegan Perfection but be warned: viewing this page is likely to induce drooling, which can only be treated by snacking on such quality Easter treats. So, y’know … it’s kinda like a medical emergency. That’s all the justification you need to go forth and treat yo’self! (you’re very welcome 😉 )

Chocolate aside, vegan hot cross buns are on the shelves too, at major supermarkets, bakery chains and independent grocers – so keep an eye out for those treats, and let’s celebrate all there is to indulge in, on this super sweet holiday.

Happy Easter, chickens! 

Header image: © NOMO