15 Mar 2026 Hop into Easter

By Kelli Reep

This spring, Kilwins is celebrating the season with an Easter lineup that promises to delight children and grown-ups alike. Owner David Lister is especially excited about what’s hopping into the store.

“We are going to have chocolate bunnies and chocolate bunny ears,” he said. “Because everyone eats the bunny’s ears first anyway.”

The solid bunnies and ears will be available in white, milk and dark chocolate, offering something for every chocolate lover. And this year, there’s something extra special: a limited number of 12-inch artisan white chocolate bunnies, hand-painted and weighing in at more than two pounds each. They’re showstoppers, the kind of centerpiece that makes an Easter basket unforgettable.

Of course, the baskets themselves are part of the fun. Kilwins will offer a variety of Easter baskets filled with seasonal favorites. Alongside the classic chocolate bunnies, shoppers will find stuffed eggs in flavors like chocolate, peanut butter, strawberry and lemon, all a colorful and flavorful nod to spring.

For Lister, who purchased the Little Rock franchise after originally searching for a small ice cream venture, the store quickly became much more than a business opportunity. He visited once and, as he said, “fell in love with it straight away.” Within months, he was the proud owner.

His passion? It’s simple. “I love ice cream,” he laughed. But there’s more to it than that. Lister is proud of the quality behind every scoop and every piece of chocolate. Kilwins’ Original Recipe Ice Cream is known for its high butterfat content and premium ingredients, creating what the company calls a super-premium experience. The ice cream is shipped in climate-controlled vehicles to maintain quality and consistency, then is served up in a dazzling array of flavors from classic vanilla and chocolate to sea salt caramel and New Orleans praline.

Lister’s current favorite? Strawberries and cream, a perfect nod to spring. But Kilwins’ magic doesn’t stop at ice cream. The store’s confections are crafted from proprietary recipes that have remained unchanged for decades. Founded in 1947 by Don and Katy Kilwin, the company built its reputation on handcrafting chocolate and fudge the old-fashioned way. That tradition continues today in Little Rock, where fudge is poured onto marble slabs and paddled by hand until it reaches silky perfection.

Visitors can even watch this process unfold. The kitchen is surrounded by glass, allowing guests to see caramel being stirred in copper kettles and fudge being worked on marble. It’s part performance, part nostalgia and entirely delicious.

Kilwins candy cooks also create caramel popcorn and peanut brittle in-house several times a week. The caramel apples, which are dipped fresh and coated in premium toppings, are a fan favorite as well. Among the more unique offerings is the chocolate-covered Twinkie, which is dipped in milk chocolate and striped with white and dark chocolate for an even more indulgent twist.

You’ll also find chocolate-dipped marshmallows, strawberries, cherries, pretzels and cookies lining the display cases. Even trending treats like pistachio-filled Dubai Delights have made their way into the shop, proving that while Kilwins honors tradition, it’s not afraid to have a little fun.

Kilwins proudly uses Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate to ensure quality, and every product, whether made on-site or in a Kilwins kitchen, is crafted exclusively for Kilwins stores. It’s not mass-produced candy; it’s artisan confectionery with a family-business heart.

That heart extends beyond the sweets. Though Kilwins has grown significantly since 1947, the Little Rock location remains locally owned and operated. “We think the world of our customers,” Lister said. “We’d be nothing without them.”

Perhaps that’s what makes Kilwins so special at Easter. It’s not just about the chocolate bunny waiting in a basket. It’s about families strolling through the River Market, children pressing their noses to the glass to watch fudge being made, and parents sneaking a sample “for quality control.”

That quality control is something Lister believes in: balance. “Everything in moderation,” he said. “You know, a little treat every now and then is good for the soul.”