Bunny baskets and Seder staples: Alaska's Easter and Passover trends

During the seven-day period ending on Easter Sunday, several categories surged far beyond their typical share of sales throughout the year.

Easter dinner centerpieces had a major moment, alongside candy-filled baskets and playful toys. As families headed outdoors for egg hunts after a long winter, gardening supplies also surged, signaling the unofficial kickoff to green thumb season.

It's good news for the kiddos. The spike in sidewalk chalk and bubble wands signals that backyard season has officially begun.

When it comes to Easter basket-building, one candy reigned supreme.

During Easter week, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs ranked as the top-selling Easter candy by item share for the fourth year in a row.

Chocolate clearly dominates carts, but the presence of Sour Patch Kids, Starburst Jelly Beans, and Nerds shows that sour and fruity favorites still hold their own.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when we mapped the top-selling Easter candy by item share in each state, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs topped the charts in 38 states, including Alaska, reinforcing its status as the undisputed MVP of Easter baskets.

However, 11 states (plus Washington, D.C.) opted for something else.

The Milk Chocolate Loyalists

States along both coasts as well as the Dakotas showed their love for Hershey's Milk Chocolate as their top candy:

• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Maryland
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• South Dakota

The Bunny Believers

In Hawai'i and Maine, customers favored the seasonal classic Lindt Gold Bunny Milk Chocolate.

The Cup Crowd

And in Washington, D.C. and South Carolina, customers preferred Reese's Peanut Butter Cups over the popular Easter egg-shaped version. Either way, it's clear Reese's peanut butter perfection is key for holiday enjoyment. 

Where Jelly Beans and Chocolate Bunnies Shine

Beyond overall top candies, we also looked at how strongly certain Easter staples over-indexed in each state compared to the national average, and two classics stood out: jelly beans and chocolate bunnies.

Jelly beans surged nationally during Easter week, up 863% above their yearly average, but some states embraced them even more enthusiastically.

Alaska ordered 25% more jelly beans as a share of candy items compared to the national average, ranking as the #9 most among all states.

The biggest jelly bean fans were concentrated in the Midwest and Upper Plains:

• Iowa (39% over national average)
• North Dakota (37%)
• Minnesota (37%)
• Vermont (35%)
• Wisconsin (35%)
• Ohio (31%)
• Michigan (30%)

In these states, jelly beans made up a significantly larger share of candy purchases than the national average, reinforcing their status as an Easter essential.

Meanwhile, states like California (21% below the national average), Hawai'i (22%), and D.C. (39%) purchased jelly beans at notably lower rates than the national average.

Chocolate bunnies also saw clear regional differences. Alaska ordered 9% less chocolate bunnies as a share of candy items compared to the national average, ranking as the #11 least among all states. The biggest chocolate bunny enthusiasts included:

• Hawai'i (68% above national average)
• Vermont (55%)
• Rhode Island (50%)
• Maine (50%)
• New Hampshire (31%)

In these states, chocolate bunnies made up a significantly higher share of candy purchases compared to the national average.

One of the more surprising findings was Hawai'i topping the country for chocolate bunny purchases. The state typically under-indexes on highly seasonal purchases, so seeing it lead on such an iconic Easter item really stands out. What makes the trend even more interesting is that Hawai'i ordered jelly beans less often than average — suggesting that in the Aloha State, chocolate bunnies are in and jelly beans are out.

On the other end of the spectrum, Utah (31% below the national average), D.C. (30%), and Nevada (25%) ordered chocolate bunnies the least often, showing that while bunnies may be iconic, they are not equally beloved everywhere.

Utah's chocolate bunny demand also caught attention. The state is usually at the forefront of seasonal shopping trends, so its lower-than-average demand for chocolate bunnies is a notable departure. For a state that often embraces holiday moments, the inverse this year stands out.

Looking at the week leading up to Passover (April 7-13, 2025), traditional Seder essentials rose sharply compared to their typical yearly share with matzah (+1,239%), matzo ball mixes (+673%), gefilte fish (+742%), and horseradish root (+1,120%).

Purchases of these key Passover staples follow a sharply seasonal pattern, with their most significant surge of the year occurring in the week leading up to Passover. Compared to their typical baseline, demand for these items skyrockets during the holiday, far outpacing any other point in the calendar year. While smaller lifts appear again around Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah, those increases are modest in comparison, underscoring Passover as the clear peak moment for these traditional foods.

Baskets, Blooms and Seder Tables Await

With both holidays fast approaching, customers are leaning into the traditions and seasonal favorites that define spring.