For us, Easter is the start of the spring and summer entertaining season. And since we love to get together, share a special meal and exchange gifts, Easter brings with it fun-filled celebrations of family, life and love.

Welcome this springtime holiday with fresh ideas and new twists on tradition.  From festive adornments to delectable, slow-cooked flourishes, this collection of Easter Sunday brunch recommendations will help you bring together those dearest to you, show you how to share a delicious meal and highlight creative ways to enjoy each other’s company.

Signature Drink

Start your guests off with a unique-to-the-occasion drink.  Try a themed concoction like a carrot mimosa or whip up a delicious grapefruit-mint Bellini. For more inspiration, Country Living has a wonderful guide to spring cocktails. Lots of under twenty-ones attending your brunch?  It’s easy to craft non-alcoholic versions of most drinks by replacing alcohol with a splash of soda.  For an added festive touch, provide Easter glass charms.  These let each guest mark his or her glass while adding an unexpected hint of holiday decor to the festivities. 

Easter Eggs

An Easter brunch wouldn’t be complete without Easter eggs.  Go beyond the traditional dyed egg this year.  Woman’s Day Magazine offers some wonderfully creative Easter egg ideas, including decorating with metallic paper, real flowers, watercolors and even twine.  Whatever you choose, your Easter eggs will look lovely as a part of an Easter tablescape.

Easter Egg Hunt

Setting up a child’s Easter egg hunt is easy. This year, add another dimension to the traditional egg hunt and invite adults to participate. With a few simple changes you can transition this children’s activity into fun for everyone. By hiding your eggs in hard-to-spot locations, implementing a time limit, turning it into a scavenger hunt/puzzle-solving adventure or switching out the traditional candy fillings with mini bottles of specialty liquor, golf balls and tees, lottery tickets, high-end sweets, and other adult favorites, you'll challenge mature guests to participate in the game. Find a complete guide to an adult level Easter egg hunt here.

Floral Arrangements

Give your celebration a fresh burst of color with a floral arrangement. Use as a centerpiece or place on your buffet to brighten your space and give your home a warm, spring-like feel. The most common flowers used in Easter bouquets include lilies, azaleas, tulips, and daises.

Place Cards

Easter presents a great outlet to let out your creative DIY side. Personalize your brunch with homemade place cards. From bunnies and fresh sprigs of flowers to these inspired eggshell place holders, it’s a great way to bring a touch of personality to your place settings

Easter Favors

Surprise guests with a small favor at each place setting. The best favors are personal and creative, such as McCrea’s Candies caramels. With a range of distinct flavor profiles, you can select the caramel that best suits your menu or choose a flavor unique to each guest. For scotch aficionados, try Single Malt Scotch Caramels.  The foodie guest will enjoy Rosemary Truffle Sea Salt (add some fresh rosemary sprigs to really make it festive), while the coffee lover will appreciate Dark Roasted Mocha or Café Noir.

Lamb Cake

For many, the annual Easter brunch lamb cake is a time-honored tradition. Often baked in treasured, handed-down cake pans, they make for the perfect after meal dessert when served with coffee and aperitifs.  Don’t have grandma’s cherished and well-loved pan?  Find a lamb mold here.

A Good Holiday Spread

We all know the basics of Easter brunch: ham, rolls, greens, and fruit; but why limit yourself to the expected? At McCrea’s we’re all about thinking outside of the box, so here are a few of the items that we’ll be serving up in our holiday spread:

• Asparagus, Pancetta, and Puff Pastry Bundles
• Build Your Own Tart Station
• Herbed Cucumber Bites
• Mini German Pancake Bites
• Smoked Salmon Breakfast Casserole

 From our family to yours, Happy Easter!

Written by Diane Parazin

At McCrea’s we know scotch. We searched high and low for the best high quality scotch to add to our award-winning caramel, making us something of an expert on the subject. In fact, we’ve been known to raise a toast (slàinte!) to this fine beverage every now and then. It’s this passion for scotch that makes creating the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift list for the scotch lover in your life a piece of cake…or should we say piece of caramel.

From fun accouterments to treats that have been infused with the rich drink, this collection of gifts is sure to please any whisky aficionado.

A Cool Gift: Novel Ice Molds

Sometimes a good scotch is enjoyed best on the rocks, so why not elevate your ice game to match that of your high-class beverage of choice? There are multiple companies out there that craft everything from stunning to strange ice molds. For the classically inclined scotch condenser, you could go with a globe or koi fish mold. Or, if your loved one is more in tune with pop culture, you can opt for a Tardis or Han Solo mold. The choices are nearly endless.

A Smokin' Hot Gift: The Corkcicle Cigar Glass

If your scotch lover enjoys a nice cigar along with his or her drink, then the Corkcicle Cigar Glass is just what you need. Part rocks glass and part cigar rest, the Corkcicle makes for an unexpected gift. The glass, which can be personalized with a single initial for an elegant touch, is sure to spark conversation in any setting.

A Fashionable Gift: Personalized Whiskey Barrel Oak Wood Cufflinks

Enable your whiskey enthusiast to proclaim his love of the drink wherever he goes. Subtle yet stylish and made to order, these Whiskey Barrel Oak Wood Cufflinks will accentuate your loved one’s style whether he’s all business or out for a night on the town. Each cufflink set is made to order and can be engraved with his initials. Because no two sets of cufflinks are the same, this gift makes the perfect addition to any scotch lover’s wardrobe.

A Classic Gift: Teroforma Original Whisky Stones

A scotch on the rocks is a time-honored tradition and the use of whisky stones can elevate this classic approach to imbibing single-malts. They can lower the liquor’s temperature, while preserving that delicious straight-from-the-bottle taste. Teroforma Original Whisky Stones are made from soapstone sourced at the country’s oldest mill. Take in both a chilled scotch and some history with these cutting-edge stones.

A Decorative Gift: The Survey of Scotch Print

Paying homage to the origin of scotch, this specialized print illustrates Scotland and the distilleries that reside in each region; from Highlands to Lowlands and beyond. It makes the perfect addition to any home or office. Your whisky devotee will be able to find where favorite blends hail from while perusing a list of single malts and full-bodied blends. This piece of art will be the pièce de résistance for any scotch love’s art collection.

A Refreshing Gift: Sheridan Personalized Scotch Glasses

The finest of drinks deserves the finest of glasses. Made from premium glass, these 11 oz glasses can be engraved with your family’s initials and last name. With a signature rock-like finish to the underlying glass within the base, they make for a dignified and eye-catching drinking companion. We’ll raise a glass to that!

A Delicious Gift: Single Malt Scotch Caramels

If your scotch lover has a serious sweet tooth then we have the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for you; McCrea’s Candies Single Malt Scotch Caramels. For the perfect combination of mouth-watering caramel and decadent single malt scotch, we slow cook our caramels for hours while gradually infusing the blend with premium single malt scotch. Your scotch aficionado is sure to smile when trying these delectable and intoxicating scotch flavored caramels. Start with just one pack or opt for a monthly subscription, the choice is yours.

An Artistic Gift: Scotch Tasting Chart Print

From novices to experts, any scotch lover can benefit from having a tasting guide on hand. This unconventional work of art guides scotch lovers through over 80 different flavor profiles. Smokey, rich, light, or delicate; learn how to identify any scotch based on taste alone with this functional piece of art.

Find the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift With McCrea's

Whether your scotch lover is a beginner or master, any of the gifts listed above will be well received this Valentine's Day. The pleasure and luxury of a thoughtful scotch-inspired gift doesn’t have to stop with Valentine’s Day. With one of our prepaid subscription boxes, you can have our handcrafted caramels delivered to your scotch lover every month.  A gift from the heart is a gift that anyone will love. Happy Valentine’s Day from McCrea's.

Written by Diane Parazin

The holidays are here! And if your team is anything like ours, you’re all gearing up to spread some holiday cheer within your office. From decking the halls to holiday office parties, celebrating the holidays with your close, or at least close-ish, work-family is an important part of ringing in the new year.

Each year, secret Santa games start in offices around the world and coworkers struggle to find meaningful gifts to give one another. You can only give someone a coffee cup so many times. No one wants a Clark Griswold situation happening in their office, so you're going to need some unique secret Santa gift ideas to get you through the holiday season. But what’s the best gift to give? What’s something that your coworkers will enjoy but is within your budget? And how on earth are you suppose to find a gift for that one coworker that you know absolutely nothing about?

In our opinion, the best gift you can give to someone in your office is a foodie-centric present. What’s better than a gourmet edible gift? They come beautifully packaged, making wrapping a cinch, if you even need it. Plus, these items will give your coworker immense satisfaction without putting pressure on them to demonstrate their appreciation of the gift year-round. An edible gift is a one and done deal. They’ll say thank you, and they won’t have to keep it on their desk year-round or wear it to the office later that year to prove that “they really did love it!”

At McCrea’s Candies we’re all about out of the box gifting, from our own unique caramels to other small business goods. Plus when you support small business with a purchase this holiday season, you help your local community and the small business community at large. This year, say no to big box store cookie cutter secret Santa gifts, and say yes to thoughtful gourmet presents! 

A Maple Gift From Ben’s Sugar Shack 

If your coworker’s favorite meal of the day of breakfast then you need to check out this original sweet treat. Ben’s Sugar Shack has been collecting syrup and crafting delicious concoctions for years. What started as a childhood obsession bloomed into a full-time business endeavor for this hard-working New Hampshire man. We recommend the Maple Syrup in 8.45 oz. Leaf Marasca Bottle. Not only does it taste great, but the syrup is available in three grades so that you can select the formula that best fits your coworker’s tastes. 

A Cookie Gift From Lark Fine Foods 

Who doesn’t like holiday cookies, or even better, gourmet holiday cookies? Lark Fine Foods is a 100% female owner bakery that was founded in 2008 in Boston inside the historic town of Essex. The Holiday Trio box set contains some of their most scrumptious holiday flavors, including Salted Rosemary, Burnt Sugar, and Espresso Chip. Each box comes packaged in an eye-catching gift box complete with grosgrain ribbon. Give the gift of shortbread for a very merry holiday indeed.

A Chocolate Gift From Lake Champlain Chocolates

The Holiday & Christmas Chocolate Truffles set from Lake Champlain Chocolates will make anyone’s taste buds sing for joy. These fresh, all natural chocolates from Vermont come packaged in a stylish holiday box. Each box contains five assorted milk and dark chocolate truffles including cappuccino, dark rum, hazelnut, legendary dark, and raspberry flavors. If you wish to give the gift of effortless elegance, then specialty chocolate is the way to go.

An Olive Oil Gift From Cucina Aurora 

For some, savory tastes outway sweets, and for those more discerning coworkers, a gift that takes savory textures and flavors to the next level is a must. For these particular coworkers, we recommend infused olive oils, our favorite being the Roasted Garlic Infused Olive Oil from Cucina Aurora Kitchen and Witchery. Don’t let this name spook you; this potent oil has the dual purpose of tasing amazing while simultaneously warding off harm. The perfect conversation starter, this secret Santa gift will be the talk of your office for weeks to come.

A Vanilla Gift From Nielsen-Massey

Does your coworker enjoy cooking, or are they a true foodie? If so, the thought of giving them a premade food gift can be a little daunting. For these chic condensers, we recommend skipping whole foods altogether and moving on to the spice realm, more specifically Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract. The very name of this product is exotic and romantic in a way that will capture the attention of even your most highfalutin peer’s attention. Nielsen Massey specializes in crafting singularly out of this world vanillas and flavors. What better gift than one that your coworker can use over and over again while enjoying their meal prep rituals. Each bottle of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract is created from premium, hand-selected beans cultivated in Madagascar. If that doesn’t grab your foodie’s attention then nothing will.

A Caramel Gift From McCrea’s Candies (Single Malt Scotch Caramels)

Have a coworker who craves the best? One who loves his sweets and his single malts? You know that they appreciate a quality scotch, so the solution is easy, McCrea's Single Malt Scotch Caramels. Our spirited caramels are one of those items that will bring a smile to anyone’s face, especially the office whiskey aficionado. We’ve taken the art of caramel making to a whole new level. These intoxicating delicacies provide the smooth, luxurious goodness of aged single malt scotch without the hangover! What’s not to love?

Finding Your Perfect Secret Santa Gift With McCrea's Candies 

Whether you’re searching for business gifts or a secret Santa gift for your boss, find all that you need and more with McCrea’s. Still not sure what to get for the secret Santa coworker on your list? You could try some of our other favorite secret Santa gifts that include Prosperity Candle’s Café Candle, Soluna Garden Farms Teas, Qs Nuts, Coops MicroCreamery caramel sauce (which we help to create), unique tea mugs from Fishcakes, or Wicked Joe Coffee. And if you’re still not sure, you can always try a McCrea’s Candies gift box or party box of your choice, that way they’ll receive a variety of mouth-watering treats, and you can complete your entire purchase in one fell swoop. From our family to yours, happy holidays, and best of luck with your shopping!

Written by Diane Parazin