Clark County bakers, candymakers create Easter goodiesSubscriber Exclusive

Chaotic Easter egg hunts, sumptuous brunch buffets and large family get-togethers aren’t happening this Easter. Fortunately, one thing remains the same: Local bakers and candymakers are mixing, pouring and baking a multitude of sweet treats to celebrate this spring holiday of rebirth.

For chocolate lovers, Brittnee Klinger and her husband, Michael (formerly a chocolatier at Moonstruck Chocolates in Portland), combined their culinary talents to create a special line of chocolate bars. They start by pouring high-quality chocolate into Italian molds forming bars with one flat side and diamond-shaped raised grooves on the other side. Toppings like shortbread cookies, hazelnuts and almonds are affixed to the textured side.

The Klingers offer three flavors of their unique chocolate bars for Easter – strawberry shortcake, brown butter milk chocolate with Oregon hazelnuts, and orange-scented dark chocolate with almonds. Bars are sold individually ($9) or as a set of three ($25). Orders can be placed by direct messaging Michael via his Instagram account (@mk_klinger). They’re also available at Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters (703 Grand Blvd., Vancouver; 360-553-7900).

Cocoa bombs dominated social media this winter. Kristen Johnson-Slate of Sugar Spruce created her own twist for a special Easter treat – breakable giant chocolate eggs with candy inside. The large chocolate shell comes in a box with a mallet. Tap the egg to break its shiny exterior, and candy spills out. Orders can be placed by email (sugarsprucebaking@gmail.com) or through Instagram (@sugarsprucebaking).

Local bakers are stocking their shops with Easter-themed treats like cookies, buns, cupcakes and assorted pastries. Some goodies will be left for last-minute pickup, but it’s best to order ahead of time to get your favorites.

Dana Carpenter of di Tazza and her pastry chef, Kyley Grabner, always keep the east Vancouver cafe (2004 S.E. 192nd Ave., Suite 102; 360-210-7087) stocked with freshly baked cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, cakes, turnovers, scones, gluten-free treats and vegan sweets. For Easter, they’re adding hot cross buns and decorated sugar cookies.

At Chandelier Bakery in the historic Padden House (5206 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver; 360-718-2175), Monica Kersey and her crew are baking Easter-themed decorated sugar cookies, chocolate-covered egg-shaped cake bites, Easter cupcakes and watercolor cookie kits. The kits have a decorated sugar cookie with a drawing outlined in black and white like a coloring book picture. Kids (or adults; no judgment here) paint on the cookies with a brush and cookie paint provided in the kit. All of these Easter goodies will be on the shelves and available for order after St. Patrick’s Day.

Former downtown Vancouver favorite Simply Sweets relocated to the Carter Park neighborhood in January 2020 (3100 Columbia St.; 360-896-7321). Owner Jen Allpress stocks her gorgeous pastry case every day with cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls and other baked treats. For Easter, she will offer treats decorated with bunnies and flowers to brighten your holiday table. Like everything else that comes out of Allpress’ kitchen, these treats are Instagram-ready and taste as good as they look.

Bonnie Brasure of Bleu Door Bakery in Uptown Village (2411 Main St.; 360-693-2538) has a full menu of sweets including hot cross buns, triple coconut cake, carrot cake, lemon cake, coconut cream pie, lemon meringue pie and chocolate cream pie available for pickup on April 3, the day before Easter. Cakes come in 6- or 8-inch sizes. Pies are 6-inch mini deep-dish pies or 9-inch deep-dish pies. All of these goodies must be pre-ordered.

European bakery Sweet Touch (4804 N.E. Thurston Way, Vancouver; 360-896-6694) fills glistening glass pastry cases with stunning macarons, pastries and cakes all year long. For Easter, the bakery is offering a special Eastern European Easter bread made with a rich egg dough, similar to challah bread, slathered with white frosting and topped with sprinkles ($3 for a cupcake size, $13-$20 for other sizes).

Sweet Touch’s signature Golden Dom cake and honey cake are the bakery’s most popular for Easter. The Golden Dom is a white sponge cake with a meringue and cherry layer, topped with dark chocolate and white chocolate flakes. The honey cake has a honey sponge cake filled with vanilla or caramel cream layers covered with sponge crumbs. A pastel rainbow of tender macarons also are for sale to tuck into Easter baskets, serve for dessert or nibble in front of the TV.=