Easter Treats
Easter is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen, and experiment with new and tasty flavours. So we’ve made a list of 4 easy to make easter treats, perfect to make and share with family and friends, this easter.
This classic easter treat can arguably be enjoyed all year round with new flavours. This is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone. Some options are dark chocolate and orange or white chocolate and cherry. Whatever you decide, there’s plenty of options for hot cross buns this easter.
Hot Cross Buns
Method:
STEP 1
Prepare the dough the day before baking. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a jug and put the flour, yeast, sugar, spices, orange zest, fruit and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. With the mixer running on medium speed, slowly pour in the egg mixture, until everything is incorporated into a soft dough. Add the butter and gradually increase the speed, kneading for 8-10 mins until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and clings to the hook. Scrape the dough off the hook, cover and chill overnight to prove.
STEP 2
Tip the dough onto a floured work surface. Briefly knead, then roll into a long sausage shape. Quarter, then divide each quarter into three pieces so you have 12 portions. Roll each into a ball and place on a lined baking tray, leaving some room between each ball for rising. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 2 hrs, or until almost doubled in size.
STEP 3
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the topping, mix the flour with the sugar, cardamom and about 3 tbsp water, adding the water 1 tbsp at a time until you have a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle. Pipe a line along each row of buns, then repeat in the other direction to create crosses. Bake for 20 mins until golden brown. Meanwhile, heat the apricot jam in a small pan or the microwave to loosen, then brush over the warm buns. Leave to cool before serving.
Tray Bake
An easter themed tray bake is the perfect treat to make with the family. It’s easy to make and you’ll have plenty to share with, and you can decorate it however you want!
Method:
STEP 1
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line a traybake tin, about 20 x 30cm, and 5cm deep. Put the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl and whisk until well combined. Sieve over the flour, cocoa and bicarb, and stir briefly until combined. Pour the mixture into the tin, and bake for 20-25 mins until the cake is well risen and springs back when pressed. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
STEP 2
Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water, or in short blasts in the microwave until melted. Leave to cool for a few minutes.
STEP 3
Beat the butter and icing sugar together until pale and fluffy, then drizzle in the chocolate and beat again until smooth and uniform in colour. Swirl the icing over the top of the cake, with a few peaks and swirls to decorate. Scatter with the Easter treats to serve.
Easter Egg Brownies
A classic favourite with an easter twist. Brownies are delicious, but with the addition of mini eggs they taste even better and are perfect for the Easter season.
Method:
STEP 1
Put the butter and the chocolate in a medium-sized heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted. Alternatively, cover the bowl loosely with cling film and microwave at 30 sec intervals until melted. Leave the melted chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature.
STEP 2
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20cm square tin with butter and line with 2 long strips of folded baking paper or foil – one running top to bottom, the other left to right then line the base with a piece of baking paper. The strips will help you lift it out later.
STEP 3
Break the eggs into a large bowl and tip in the caster sugar. With an electric mixer on maximum speed, whisk the eggs and sugar for around 5-8 mins or until they look thick and creamy and have doubled in size.
STEP 4
Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the egg mixture, then gently fold together.
STEP 5
Sieve the flour and cocoa into the wet ingredients then continue to fold the mixture gently with a spatula just until everything is fully combined, try not to over-mix.
STEP 6
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and carefully level the mixture with the spatula. Put in the middle of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
STEP 7
Meanwhile, cut the fondant filled eggs in half and set aside then place the mini eggs into a pestle and mortar. Crush a few of the mini eggs but leave some whole. After 20 mins take the brownie out of the oven and press in the fondant eggs, cut side up. Scatter over half of the mini eggs too then put it back in the oven for a further 5 mins.
STEP 8
Once baked, top with the remaining mini eggs, leave to cool completely then place in the fridge for about 1hr to firm up. Lift it out of the tin using the strips of baking paper and cut into squares to serve. Decorate with little Easter chicks if you like.
Easter Cupcakes
Cupcakes are a familiar favourite for everyone. They are simple to make and taste delicious. You can easily put an easter spin on cupcakes by decorating with eggs, bunnies and other themed treats. Perfect for an easter themed event, or for simply enjoying on your own.
Method:
STEP 1
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Tip the brown sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, oil and milk in a jug. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry, whisking until smooth. Line a 12-hole cupcake tin with paper cases. Divide the mixture between them, then bake for 20 mins until risen. Leave to cool in the tin.
STEP 2
Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the icing sugar and butter with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Whisk in some of the milk to loosen to a pipeable consistency, if needed.
STEP 3
For the chick decoration, colour a small piece of fondant orange using a drop of food colouring gel and another small piece black. Colour a few tablespoons of the icing yellow and spoon into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle. Pipe a yellow blob in the centre of the cupcake and a smaller one on top. Roll the black fondant into two small balls and place them as eyes. Roll a little cone of orange fondant for the beak. For each foot, roll three small, longer pieces and pinch them together at one end. Push the feet beneath the body, hiding the pinch.
STEP 4
For the bunny, beat the cocoa and 1 tbsp milk into a few tablespoons of the icing. Spread over the cupcake. Spoon a few tablespoons of the plain icing into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle and pipe a small blob on top. Stick a mini marshmallow on top of that for a tail. For the feet, shape two small pieces of white fondant into ovals and press down to flatten. Colour a small piece of fondant pink and form two balls and six smaller ones. Press the balls into the flattened ovals in a paw pattern. Place the feet on either side of the rabbit’s bottom.
STEP 5
To make the sheep, colour a piece of fondant black and shape a small piece into an oval. Use a skewer to press nostrils into the bottom end. Pinch two smaller pieces into ears and stick them on using a little water. Roll two small balls of white fondant and two smaller black balls to make eyes. Cover the cake with a layer of plain icing and fix the face in the middle. Surround with mini marshmallows for the woolly coat.