Italy's Chocolate Easter Eggs: Big, Bold And Full Of Bling

Enlarge image

In Italy, elaborate chocolate Easter eggs are considered the food gift of choice this time of year.

In Italy, there are no Easter egg hunts, no marshmallow Peeps and definitely no jelly beans.

Instead, there are chocolate eggs — massive, elaborately decorated, beautifully wrapped chocolate Easter eggs that now fill shop windows across the country. The sweet treats are considered Italians' food gift of choice at this time of year. And each one comes with a surprise tucked inside.

"You want something that really gives a big effect," says Rome-based food writer