Cadbury's festive lineup for Christmas 2026 has sparked a social media storm, with shoppers accusing the iconic chocolate brand of recycling Easter eggs under a new guise. The backlash comes as the company faces ongoing criticism over palm oil and cocoa content in its Dairy Milk bars.
New Products Unveiled
On Instagram, @newfoodsuk showcased two new items: the Dairy Milk Smash Bauble (£2.70) and Cadbury Biscoff-filled Baubles (£3.29 for a pack of three). The Smash Bauble is a hollow chocolate ball filled with chocolate buttons, while the Biscoff-filled Bauble is essentially a spherical version of the Biscoff-filled Creme Egg. Both are available online at Cadbury Gifts and are expected to hit supermarket shelves soon.
However, the 'new' products drew immediate comparisons to Easter treats. One user, @emj_pgh, commented: 'Repurposed, relabelled left over Easter egg, anyone?' Another, @rootinhooton, said: 'Basically an Easter egg.' @go_chill_yoself added: 'Brand new? They just changed the shape from an egg.' @alexrood expressed frustration: 'They're taking the p*** now… Easter under the guise of Christmas!!'
Consumer Reactions
Many were also disappointed by the amount of chocolate buttons inside the Smash Bauble, calling it a 'rip off'. Some suggested that Cadbury should have filled it with chocolate Snowballs instead, which would have been more festive. However, not all feedback was negative. @thiccnick3rd said they 'loved' the idea of Christmas Easter eggs, and @gingerninjadoeslife thought the products were 'absolutely genius'.
Cadbury's Response
Metro reached out to Cadbury for comment. A spokesperson for Mondelēz International said: 'It seems it's never too early for a little festive magic! We can confirm the rumours are true: the Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons Smash Bauble and Cadbury x Biscoff Filled Centres will be joining our Cadbury Christmas line-up this year. Whilst some of our eagle-eyed fans may have caught an early sneak peek, we're keeping the full details of our festive range under wraps for now. We'll be unveiling them nationwide soon, so watch this space!'
Comparison to Supermarket Rivals
In related news, a recent milk chocolate taste test conducted by Metro pitted supermarket own-brand bars against Cadbury Dairy Milk. The Morrisons Milk Chocolate (£2.30 for 200g) emerged as a standout, scoring 74 out of 100, tying with Cadbury Dairy Milk. Testers described the Morrisons option as having an 'amazing' taste, 'sweet and creamy' but not too intense, and noted it was 'very similar' to Cadbury in texture and scent. The main difference was appearance, with the Morrisons chunks looking richer and glossier. Notably, the Morrisons bar contains no palm oil and is cheaper.
As the debate over Cadbury's products continues, the brand's Christmas range is set to launch nationwide soon, but it remains to be seen whether the baubles will win over sceptical shoppers.
