Betty's of Harrogate milk chocolate badger
Average mark: 4/5
£20, 330g (£6.06/100g)
Triumphing in its class is this undeniably "supercute" traditional chocolate Easter badger (no, me neither) with its "creamy" mix of "delicious chocolates". The only real criticism was the price, but if you can find an equally good-looking chocolate Easter badger elsewhere you'll be doing well Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Cocoa Loco thumpingly chocolately marbled rabbit (available via Abel & Cole)
Average mark: 3.83/5
£8.99, 200g (£4.50/100g)
Our panel appreciated the "balance of bitter and sweet" chocolates in this "nicely presented" "attractive" and completely solid chocolate rabbit (so solid, in fact, one remarked it could be used as a "lethal weapon"). There's a chicken made from the same stuff available too Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Chococo Mabel the chocolate hen
Average mark: 3.45/5
£9.50, 150g (£6.33/100g)
The "nice thick" "European-style chocolate" of this chicken reveals eggs within when broken. Generally liked, but considered "quite expensive" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
paul.a.young dark chocolate bunny
Average mark: 3.42/5
£13.95, 120g (£11.63/100g)
Made from "nice, bitter" "lovely dark chocolate" this bunny was considered "definitely one for the grown-ups" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Sainsbury's Swiss milk chocolate giant bunny
Average mark: 3.23/5
£5.99, 440g (£1.36/100g)
This is by some way the most inexpensive chocolate animal our panel tasted, and that seems to have impressed. "Smooth, good value" and "good for the price" was the general tone although it was felt by some that the chocolate "could do with more oomph" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Rococo gentleman hare
Average mark: 3.17/5
£38.50, 230g (£16.74/100g)
From a cheap bunny to a pricey hare, by weight this is the second most expensive animal we tried. The "beautiful" appearance won it marks, but the "not very chocolatey" flavour let it down; one taster said she would prefer to "keep it on my mantelpiece" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
M&S foiled hollow milk chocolate bunny
Average mark: 3.15/5
£3.99, 180g (£2.22/100g)
Of the legion of animal-shaped chocolates M&S are offering this year, this scored most highly with our panel. "Great value, looks good and tastes yum" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Artisan du Chocolat fluffy bunny
Average mark: 2.88/5
£14.99, 150g (£9.99/100g)
Covered in a "weird" edible flock, while it had its fans this bunny was generally thought to look better than it tasted Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Demarquette chocolate chicks
Average mark: 2.88/5
£18, 150g (£12/100g)
"These look so sweet but the chocolate has a soapy aftertaste" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
Maison du Chocolat chococotte milk chocolate chicken
Average mark: 2.75/5
£56, 240g (£23.33/100g)
One for those with deep pockets, this is the most expensive chocolate Easter animal we tried: "very, very cute; big egg, nice chocolate, mini egg lovely. But £56, hence low score" Photograph: Sarah Lee/Guardian
