Guide to the Best Easter & Passover Sweets

On the surface, it might not seem like Easter and Passover have a whole lot in common.  But one thing the two celebrations definitely share?  Their association with delicious (and primarily chocolate-covered) treats.  So from candy eggs and sugar-dusted marshmallows to cocoa-coated jelly rings, and dense, flourless cakes, here’s where to stock up on sweets this holiday season!

Francois Payard: This acclaimed patissier has actually got you covered for both holidays, with a line of indulgent goodies for both Passover and Easter.  The S’mores are so scrumptious (matzoh meal sable topped with vanilla bean marshmallow, and smothered in Valrhona Lomo Sotavento 64% chocolate), as are the fleur de sel-dusted, slivered almond-topped Chocolate Caramel Matzoh, it’s hard to believe they’re also Seder-friendly.  And you can comprise an especially elegant Easter basket of extravagantly sculpted Valhrona Chocolate Eggs and adorable Guittard Bunnies, each filled with a variety of even more, handcrafted chocolates!

Breads Bakery: We get weak in the knees over Breads’ incomparable Babka, but it’s hardly Passover appropriate.  Luckily, Israeli baker Uri Scheft have devised a menu of flour-free treats — both classic and non — that are every bit as mouth-watering, from Coconut Macaroons, Almond Crunch Cookies, Haroset and Chocolate Mousse Cake, to Financiers, Brownie Cake, Chocolate Pistachio Cookies, and Date and Nut “Sausage” Petit Fours, made with walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and sesame.

Jacques Torres: Why shop the candy aisle at Walgreens, when you can source your Easter sweets directly from Mr. Chocolate himself, at locations throughout the city?  Think beyond your regular assortment of edible rabbits (although Jacques Torres has those too), with a wide range of adorably delicious animals, such as White Chocolate Lambs, handsome, hand-painted Roosters, plump Piggies holding daisies, and of course, chocolate-covered Marshmallow Chicks, as well as peanut butter-filled Robins Eggs, finely detailed Candy Bars, Easter Lollipops and more!

Russ & Daughters: This 100-year-old shop may be best known for smoked fish, but they’re certainly no slouch in the sweets department.  And their craveable (and entirely Kosher!) confections will happily see you through all eight nights of Passover, including Salted Caramel Macaroons, Chocolate Toffee Matzoh, Almond Kisses, Flourless Chocolate Cake, and all sorts of candies, such as Chocolate Espresso Beans, Cocoa Almonds, Pastel Lentils, Rum Cordials, Marshmallow Twists and Jelly Rings.

Zucker Bakery: A former pastry chef for Daniel Boulud, David Bouley and Johnny Iuzzini, Zohar Zohar’s creations are largely inspired by her own Israeli heritage.  So your Seder is bound to be extra special, if you follow your gefilte fish and brisket with one of Zucker Bakery’s especially elegant offerings, such as Almond Cake, piped with chocolate mousse and whipped cream, and the ingenious Chocolate Matzoh Cake; layers of coffee-soaked matzoh bound with a chocolate-halvah sauce.

Three Tarts: Located in the luxurious Plaza Food Hall, this classy little bakery has some extraordinary treats in store for Easter.  Chief among them are limited edition Easter Bunnies, made using heirloom molds from Gruning’s Ice Cream and Candy Company.  And adorable Coconut Bunnies put artificially flavored Marshmallow Peeps to shame, featuring housemade vanilla bean marshmallows, dusted with snowdrifts of fresh coconut.

Francois Payard Bakery
116 W Houston St., btwn.Thompson & Sullivan Sts.
(212) 995-0888
fpbnyc.com

Jacques Torres
66 Water St., nr. Main St.
(718) 875-9772
mrchocolate.com

Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St., btwn. East Houston St & 2nd Ave.
(212) 475-4880
russanddaughters.com

Breads Bakery
18 E 16th St. btwn.W Union Sq & 5th Ave.
(212) 633-2253
breadsbakery.com

Zucker Bakery
433 E 9th St., btwn. East 9th St & Avenue A
(646) 559-8425
zuckerbakery.com

Three Tarts
1 West 59 St., btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.
(646) 755-3232
3tarts.com