Tuesday
Mar112008
Batter Chatter: Interview with a Cadbury Creme Egg
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
To some, the first daffodils or crocuses (crocii?) are the harbinger of spring. For others, changing the clocks and "springing ahead" will indicate the change of seasons. For us at Cakespy, it's all about the Cadbury Creme Egg. From their first timid showing in January, their presence slowly grows as the days get longer, to the point where they're mercilessly taking over end cap displays in the weeks before Easter. If this doesn't say "spring" we don't know what does. But have you ever paused to wonder what's up with that dense little egg-shaped treat? Where did it come from? Whose idea was it? And why, if it's already unrealistically chocolate colored on the outside, do they still simulate the yolk color inside? These things in mind, we sat down with the Cadbury Creme Egg and asked some of these pressing questions:
Cakespy: How are you today?
Cadbury Creme Egg: It's a sweet day indeed! Easter is approaching and business is booming! An estimated 300 million of my brethren will be produced and devoured this year.
CS: Err...yes. Well, can you tell us a little bit about how you came to be?
CCE: It was a long and winding road. It all started in 1875, when the Cadbury brothers introduced their first chocolate Easter eggs--my first known ancestors. They were solid chocolate and far different from the creme eggs of today. In 1923 the recipe further evolved with the addition of whipped fondant; through the years experiments were made with marzipan eggs and different recipes, but it it was ultimately me, the soft and gooey fondant egg, that was perfected in 1971 and has been breaking hearts and melting in mouths ever since.
CS: And how is it that you are made?
CCE: Well, it all starts in a half-egg shaped mold, which is then filled with solid white fondant and a dab of yellow fondant to simulate the yolk. The two halves are joined very quickly and then immediately cooled to allow the chocolate to set. The fondant filling, while solid while the eggs are made, is then injected with an enzyme which causes it to liquefy into the gooey substance found in the finished product. The finished eggs fall onto a conveyor belt which transports them to the foiling machines and then to the packing and shipping area.
CS: That enzyme thing is kind of gross.
CCE: I won't deny that. But does it make you want to eat me any less?
CS: (Pauses thoughtfully) Touché.
CS: You originally hail from the UK, but you're all the rage here in America too. Can you tell us a bit about how American Creme Eggs differ from the European counterparts?
CCE: We're bigger in the UK. I mean, literally. Hershey, the US producer of Cadbury Creme Eggs, elected to make us smaller in the US. This was kind of a scandal for a while, what with the initial response from the Cadbury spokespeople that "No we haven't shrunk you've just grown up!"--but yes, it's true. But truly, even if we're a bit smaller in your hand, we're just as big in your heart. Nonetheless, if you want the bigger one, just go over to Canada--the "full-size" ones are available there.
CS: Who came first, you or the mini (candy-coated) egg?
CCE: Well, the mini eggs were introduced in 1967. While I wasn't released in my current form til 1971, I had been a work in progress since before the turn of the century.
CS: Is there any rivalry between you and the mini egg?
CCE: Those little *$%#@s? No, none at all. Why would there be? (Stares stonily).
CS: OK, Moving on. Why is it that your innards are made color-appropriate to a real egg, but we have to suspend our disbelief with the color of your shell?
CCE: (Blinks uncomprehendingly for several moments) Well, smartypants, perhaps you should suspend this interview with me and instead interview my cousin, the Cadbury Dream Egg (white chocolate shell with white chocolate fondant filling)?
CS: How many different variations on the Creme Egg are there in the Cadbury family?
CCE: Well, aside from the aforementioned Cadbury Dream, my relatives include the following:
Mini Creme Eggs (bite-sized Creme Eggs), Caramel Eggs (soft caramel filling), Mini Caramel Eggs (bite-sized Caramel Eggs), Chocolate Creme Eggs (chocolate fondant filling)
Orange Creme Eggs (Creme Eggs with a hint of orange flavor), Mint Creme Eggs (green "yolk" and mint flavor chocolate--would make Dr. Seuss Proud), Dairy Milk with Creme Egg bars, Creme Egg Fondant in a Narrow Cardboard Tube (limited edition), and of course, who could forget Creme Egg ice cream with a fondant sauce in milk chocolate? Of course, many of these variations can only be found in the United Kingdom.
Mini Creme Eggs (bite-sized Creme Eggs), Caramel Eggs (soft caramel filling), Mini Caramel Eggs (bite-sized Caramel Eggs), Chocolate Creme Eggs (chocolate fondant filling)
Orange Creme Eggs (Creme Eggs with a hint of orange flavor), Mint Creme Eggs (green "yolk" and mint flavor chocolate--would make Dr. Seuss Proud), Dairy Milk with Creme Egg bars, Creme Egg Fondant in a Narrow Cardboard Tube (limited edition), and of course, who could forget Creme Egg ice cream with a fondant sauce in milk chocolate? Of course, many of these variations can only be found in the United Kingdom.
CS: A lot of vegans like to read Cakespy. Is there a vegan version of the Creme Egg available?
CCE: While none are sold under the Cadbury imprint, vegans can make their own using the recipe posted on this site.
CS: How do you feel about other novelty eggs inspired by you (Russel Stover, Snickers eggs, etc)?
CCE: Well, Cakespy, I could tell you that the Cadbury Creme Egg outsells every other chocolate bar during the time it's on sale each year. I could tell you that it's the number one brand in the filled egg market, with a market share of over 70% and a brand value of approximately 45 million pounds (UK). But really, isn't proof in the pudding? I'm the most delicious and therefore am not threatened by these inferior eggs.
CS: You're all the rage between January and Easter. Where do you go the rest of the year?
CCE: While I am only sold for a few months of the year, the demand does call for year-round prep and production. So while you won't see me in stores the rest of the year, I'm very much at work.
CS: Finally, in the UK you have the successful "How do you eat yours?" ad campaign, whereas in the US we have that clucking bunny. What's up with that?
CCE: No idea, that bunny's always freaked me out. Really, I have always identified much more with the UK campaign.
CS: So...how do you eat yours?
CCE: I think this interview is over (looks nervously around).
CS: I think we both know how this is going to end.
Fade to black.
Cakespy Note: We'd be nothing without our sources, and for this interview our sources were:
tagged batter chatter, cake history, cakespy mischief
batter chatter, cake history, cakespy mischief
Reader Comments (78)
haha that was funny. I still don't know what you are talking about, though, I've never seen these eggs.
i think i like the glasses the best.
NICE!!!
I used to love creme eggs, but I can only handle 1 or 2 a year anymore becasue they are so sweet. Loved the write up!!
Lol. Cadbury Creme Eggs are definitely a staple during easter!
I'm still laughing you clever devil... this is a keeper. Merci beaucoup you witty one!!!
All best, Jan
Your story reminds me of the tootsie roll pop commercial with the owl. How many licks? I'm not afraid of that macho man! haha cute post. I feel like I'm one of the characters
What a fantastic post!!!! Loving this!
We've also got Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurrys in McDonalds in the UK btw
ooooooh how i miss cadbury creme egg!!! the last time i had one was many, many years ago, i was 14 and i was living in ireland... we have some cadbury in mexico now, but no creme eggs yet... how sad! i wish we did. so bad.
please enjoy one for me :)
I adore creme eggs! Though I have to admit, your was a lot more talkative than mine generally are. I'll have to try doubly hard to engage my next one in conversation. Maybe I'm just asking the wrong questions...?
Loved the interview. I was cracking up. You cakespies are funny!
I've awarded you a "You made my day" award. See details on my blog.
Smashingly funny; the photos are great! And, I even read parts of the interview aloud to my staff. =)
You are too funny! I love the interview! I do, but no offense, I love those little candy coated shits, I mean eggs! Those are my absolute favorites in the whole wide world. Every year at this time, I buy two bags. One to share with the kids, one to eat all by myself.
I have to pick up a few of the Cadbury Creme Eggs every Easter. :)
oh yummm...my favorite...I love the CCEs...this was a great post and I love how you added glasses to it...so cute...
bahahahaha. (still laughing as I type)
I lurve cadbury creme eggs. Mmmmm.... Great interview. Too bad Mr. Cadbury had to make a hasty exit ;)
Jessie is so fierce!
Dear cake spy(s)
Loved the concept of Cadbury Creme Egg. At the end what matters is inner happiness. Good work done !
Oh Cadbury Creme Egg, how I used to love thee! And a mint version? It's a good thing I never encountered that or my childhood Cadbury intake would have risen sharply!
I loved the pics of Mr. Cadbury in his glasses, too cute!
I used to love those creamy sugarbombs so much! Excellent, groundbreaking interview here, hee hee. :D
This is one of the funniest things I've ever read, ESPECIALLY with the photography! You are so awesome, Cakespy!
But I have to say that Cadbury cream eggs have always given me the creeps, with that oozy yellow center....and now that I know they use an enzyme!!!!! creeeeeepyyyy...
I find myself mysteriously drawn to him......perhaps it is the glasses......i think you are onto something here....hmmmmm...i feel all tingly inside.
A cool interview! I've never had any of those...
Cheers,
Rosa
Ricki: Thanks! And yes--canadians have them bigger!
Wandering Coyote: oooh, please, please, please send on that picture! :-)
Glamah: Get with it! Many easter eggs to be dyed before then!
Stickygooey: Thanks! It was fun ;-)
A. Grace: Ha! The glasses make it don't they?
Aran: Ha! Notice how no mention of actual ingredients or nutritional info was mentioned...
Cakelaw: Same here!
TW: I'm sure that some specialty stores in NYC would have one! Let's see if I can get that Peep out of the microwave long enough to interview...
Happy Cook: Ooh, what fun Cadbury memories! Enjoy when you go to London!
Slush: I'm right there with you. Road trip to Canada?
Amy: Ha! At least it gave a laugh even if it was too early to *eat* one.
Phil: I wish I could live by that factory. I love those Reese's ones too.
Asha: Ha! I don't know if you really ARE kidding...
Melissa: Thanks!
Tea or Wine: Thank you!
Curly Glamour Girl: I would like to see a Russell Stover / Cadbury faceoff!
Dana: Our favorite part too!
Recipegirl: Oh the pics MADE it! You should check back!
EB: Yeah, saw those...I was like "who are they trying to fool?"
Golightly: Ooh, you've had both? :-)
Breadchick: Thanks! And yes, he is dearly departed. But hey we had a good run.
Obsessive foodie: Ha!!! No more innards, a promise. Innards.
Jules: I'm sure you could find them! Let us know if you do.
Hannah: Thanks! We tried to have fun :-)
Alicia: Oooh, I won't tell. :-)
Amy: Really!?! I've even seen them in Puerto Rico!! You have been missing out!
Kate: Us too!
Jaimee: Thanks!
Deborah: Well, enjoy that 1 or 2 :-)
Jessy: Yes indeed!
Janice: Ha! Glad you enjoyed it. I was diggin' on those cinnamon rolls over in your neck of the woods too...
Cakewardrobe: Ha! We had that commercial in mind actually!
RuthEBabes: Like...WHOA! McFlurries?
Jo: We will.
Indigo: Maybe you're just not listening in the right way. Or maybe yours need glasses?
Southern Hostess: Thank you! :-)
Anne-Marie: Thanks! Glad you guys enjoyed it :-) Do we see perhaps a cadbury creme inspired soap in the future??
Ello: Yesssss! I used to have a trick to get at the mini eggs before easter. I would cut into the bag from the back and take some out, then retape it. So watch out for your kids is what I am saying.
Kevin: Us too (clearly!)
Diana: Thanks!
CB: Yeah, guess there will be no follow up questions for Mr.Creme Egg...
Anamika: Yes! Inner happiness = inner fondant.
Rural Vegan: You should try out the vegan version!
Liz: Thanks! Journalistically some of our best work.
Bmoresweet: Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed. Yes, they are creepy--but we still love 'em!
This blog makes me so happy!!!
You complete me!!
The End