Every occasion is a great excuse for chocolate! Easter is no exception. We are all familiar with chocolate Easter bunnies and the chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs of small and large size. But there are other chocolate goodies that can be incorporated into making a fabulous and memorable chocolate-themed Easter Dinner Party.
The Invitations
The invitations sent to guests set the tone for the party. A chocolate-themed Easter Dinner Party requires appropriately themed invitations. A few suggestions are listed below which may get your own creative juices flowing.
- A chocolate Easter bunny with a tag tied around his neck. The tag has all of the dinner party information on it.
- A small Easter basket filled with chocolate Easter goodies. Tied onto it is the paper invitation.
- A large chocolate covered marshmallow egg decorated and including the name of the guest on it. Attached to its box is a paper invitation.
- Paper invitations with a picture of chocolate Easter goodies.
Decorating for Your Chocolate Party
It is a given that any chocolate-themed party will have a fondue pot with chocolate in it, a chocolate fountain, or both. In either case, you will need plenty of great things to dip into the chocolate such as cut up pieces of fresh fruit, pretzels, marshmallows, graham crackers, cookies, and mini pastries. The fondue pot or fountain may be used as a centerpiece or as an edible decoration on a table at the side of the room.
The color-scheme you use can be colors you would normally see with chocolate items such as cherry red, orange, raspberry pink, and mint green. White, chocolate brown, and the deep brown reminiscent of dark chocolate are all appropriate color choices as well.
Centerpieces
Rather than an ice sculpture, why not try a chocolate sculpture? Big blocks of chocolate can be sculpted, or molds can be filled with melted chocolate to create many fabulous Easter-themed items such as bunnies, eggs, baskets, and flowers. Melted chocolate can be used to help ‘glue’ various chocolate sculptures together.
Chocolate graham crackers can be used to construct a ‘gingerbread’ house. Use wrapped chocolate candies as well as chocolate mini eggs, bunnies, and non-chocolate candies to decorate it. Place a chocolate Easter bunny outside of it on Easter basket ‘grass’ and place small ‘eggs’ around in the grass to set the scene of an Easter Bunny coming to visit.
Place Cards
Instead of traditional place cards use a chocolate-covered marshmallow egg with each guest’s name on it in icing. These decorated eggs are lovely to look at and a delicious treat your guest may consume at the party, or take home with them to enjoy later.
Mini baskets with a few chocolate candies in them, and a small name card may be used at the setting of guests. A chocolate Easter bunny with an attached nametag may be used in place of a traditional place card as well.
The Menu: Chocolate for Dinner
There are recipes for ‘real food’ that incorporate the usage of chocolate. I have a friend who regularly wins awards for his cooking, and he regularly uses dark chocolate in his cooking. Some of his favorites are barbeque, stew, and chili. Chocolate is not sweet unless sugar or some other sweetening ingredient is used. In most recipes for meat using chocolate it is dark chocolate that is used. The strong flavor and the bitterness of dark chocolate used in small quantities can add just the right flavor flare to traditional recipes.
Chocolate Appetizers
Appetizers are a great tool for whetting the appetite of guests for the great things yet to come.
Chocolate Appetizer Recipe Collection
Chocolate Beverages
What chocolate themed party is complete without a selection of beverages utilizing the smooth sweet taste of chocolate? Be sure to keep some pure drinking water on hand to help cleanse the palate of your guests, as well.
Chocolate Beverage Recipe Collection
The Chocolate Main Course
A selection of online recipes for entrees that use chocolate may be found at the following recipe links, sorted by the type of meat used:
Beef
Award-winning Beef Burgundy Stew
Catalonian Beef Stew
2 Beef Curry Recipes with Chocolate
2 Beef Tenderloin Recipes using Chocolate
Spanish Roast
Calzone Beef Pie
Sweet and Salsy Meatloaf
Braised Short Ribs with Chocolate
Chocolate rub for Grilled Tri-Tip Roast
A Variety of Chili Recipes using Chocolate
Pork
Pork Tenderloin Mole’
Pork Chops Mole’
Chocolate Pork Chops
Poultry
Chicken and Chocolate Recipe Collection
Turkey and Chocolate Recipes
Cornish Game Hens in Chocolate Sauce
Mole’ Poblano
Mole’ Coloradito
Quick Chicken Mole’
Veal
Veal with Chocolate and Orange
Commercial Rubs and Spice Blends
Companies such as Diva Chocolates make and sell chocolate rubs and spice blends for salads, vegetable side dishes, and a variety of meats.
Chocolate Side Dishes
Every meal needs some great side dishes to compliment the entrée. Below is a list of a few recipes to use or inspire you as you create some mouth-watering side dishes to please your guests.
Mole’-Style Baked Beans
Chocolate Rissoto
Mixed Greens with Chocolate
Soups with Chocolate Recipe Collection
Chocolate Breads and Pastries
Breads and Pastries can be a great complement to a meal. An assortment of recipes for various breads and pastries containing chocolate may be found below.
Chocolate Easter Buns
Chocolate Bunny Bread
Chocolate and Walnut Bread Panini
Chocolate Breads Recipe Collection
Chocolate Candies and Desserts
For some, the dessert is the piece de resistance. From simple to dazzling, delicious to decadent, chocolate desserts can satisfy all taste buds.
White Chocolate Easter Cake
Chocolate Fudge Eggs
Chocolate Caramel Easter Eggs
White Chocolate Orange Mousse
Bittersweet Chocolate Ravioli
Chocolate Easter Candy and Dessert Recipe Collection
Avoid Chocolate Overload
Sadly, even with chocolate there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so be sure to offer lighter chocolate fare as well as chocolate items that incorporate other flavors and ingredients. The point is not to make your guests ill or come to hate chocolate.
Everyone will have a wonderful time and want to come back to another party hosted by you, if you are careful to avoid going overboard with a strong chocolate flavor in every food and beverage item.
Guest Gifts
If you choose to send your guests home with gifts, consider having a drawing for the centerpiece, or sending them home with the name card creation you made for them. Other options would be chocolates or items relating to chocolate such as a tin of flavored hot cocoa; a box of chocolates; a collection of the recipes used for the meal; chocolate molds with chocolate to melt and mold into them; or a chocolate shaver (usually combined with a cheese grater).
Plan for Fun
A well thought out and carefully planned dinner party can be a fun event for guests and host alike. Allow your creative juices to flow, and have a great time!
