With Easter just around the corner, chocolate aficionados all around are looking to see what different chocolate institutions will indulge them in this year. Max Brenner has done his best to be the Easter Bunny himself and deliver some extravagant creations. To coincide with the Easter collection, we were invited to have an early tasting of the treats, and to be the first group to delve into the “Not Cross Bun” and “Max’s Egg-Clair.”
Going to the newly opened Max Brenner Pastry Kitchen in Alexandria (Sydney) is somewhat like what I would imagine entering Willy Wonka Factory to be like. There is a buzz in the air, and excitement as we await the first tour to see where all the hand made desserts begin.
The factory itself produces desserts for all 41 Max Brenner stores across Australia, with every dessert being hand made from start to finish to ensure the best possible chocolate delight for each customer, before freezing and sending it off to your nearest Max Brenner store.
The Max Brenner is also home to all those brainiacs with Willy Wonka ideas, developing extravagant new desserts for every time of the year. Luckily opening just in time for Easter. The creators tell us the aimed to incorporate both a love of chocolate while creating a twist on the traditional Easter favourites.
The “Not Cross Bun” is constructed into an ice cream sandwich, because, how better to eat this delicious Easter dessert? The Not Cross Bun itself is a choc chip spiced hot cross bun, which is then plated with a side of melted chocolate to drizzle all over your sandwich. The dessert is a great one for those who love a little of the Easter treat but can find chocolate a little overwhelming. Providing an almost choose-your-own-adventure style of eating, while off setting the choc chip hot cross bun with the spiced flavour and ice cream, you have the choice of how chocolaty to make it. This was overall my favourite dessert, and may just be my favourite Max Brenner piece of chocolate heaven of all time.
The “Max’s Egg-Clair” is not for the faint hearted. This is your pre-curser to all things Easter and to all things chocolate. The Egg-Clair themselves are custard filled éclairs topped with white chocolate. These are then decadently bathed in a pool of melted chocolate before being garnished with candied pecans. Some fresh fruit best accompanies Max’s Egg-Clair, so we include a side of strawberries to break through the chocolate. The éclairs are lovely and fluffy, and the custard is creamy.
Throughout Easter, Max Brenner does continue with their classic menu as well, so you can always get yourself one of those Giant Bald Head Truffles, or if you’re gluten-free don’t feel as if you need to miss out with the flourless Orange and Poppyseed Cake.
As you’re leaving you’ll be hard pressed not to take away one of Max’s Pure Chocolate Easter Eggs. And why not? It’s Easter after all.
For more information on Max Brenner’s limited edition Easter desserts, and store locations, go to maxbrenner.com.au
