Easter Baking: A Celebration of Indulgence and Tradition
Easter baking is rarely about restraint, writes Hannah Twiggs. In our collection of the best recipes to make now, a classic Simnel cake sits alongside Creme Egg brownies, overloaded cookies, and a hot cross bun turned ice cream sandwich—tradition, just with more chocolate, more fun, and a little less sense.
Easter baking, in theory, is about restraint. A neat Simnel cake, perhaps, its marzipan balls lined up like obedient soldiers. A batch of hot cross buns, lightly spiced, eaten warm with butter. But somewhere along the way—likely around the first Mini Egg—things got a little out of hand. This is not that kind of Easter.
Instead, this is the version where a hot cross bun becomes an ice cream sandwich, where brownies are studded with halved Creme Eggs and Kinder Buenos, and where "leftovers" are less a problem to solve than an excuse to melt, smash, and swirl everything into something better. It’s baking as it should be at this time of year: indulgent, slightly chaotic, and entirely unconcerned with moderation.
Nods to Tradition with a Modern Twist
There are nods to tradition, of course. A proper Simnel cake makes the cut, rich with fruit and history, the kind of thing that earns its place at the centre of the table. But it sits alongside rocky roads loaded with whatever’s knocking about in the cupboard, traybakes designed to use up the Easter haul, and cookies that lean unapologetically into excess.
Because that’s the real spirit of it. Easter, for all its roots, has become a season of abundance—of too much chocolate, too many sweets, and the quiet understanding that none of it needs to be particularly sensible. So whether you’re baking for a crowd, using up the spoils, or just leaning into the long weekend, these recipes meet the moment: nostalgic where it matters, and gloriously over the top everywhere else.
Featured Recipes for an Unforgettable Easter
Hot Cross Bun with Salted Caramel Ice Cream: Proof that a hot cross bun’s best destiny might be dessert. This recipe involves toasting, crumbing, and stuffing with ice cream for a decadent treat.
Simnel Cake: A traditional centrepiece dating back to the 11th century, featuring homemade marzipan and a rich fruit base. Perfect for Easter Sunday celebrations.
Easter Flapjacks: An easy way to turn leftover chocolate into a delicious snack, with rolled oats and melted toppings.
Mini Egg Cookies: Crisp edges and soft centres, packed with chopped mini eggs for a crunchy, sweet bite.
Squidgy Creme Egg Brownie: Rich and messy, this brownie incorporates halved Creme Eggs for a gooey, chocolatey delight.
Whack-It-All-In Chocolate Cornflake Rocky Road: A no-bake recipe perfect for using up leftover chocolate and biscuits, with cornflakes and dried fruits.
Biscoff and Nutella Blondies Traybake: A traybake that combines two popular spreads for a swirled, indulgent dessert.
Kinder Bueno Brownies: Layered and stuffed with Kinder Bueno bars, these brownies are unapologetically over the top.
No-Waste Easter Traybake: Designed to use up leftover Easter chocolate, this sponge cake is topped with a creamy chocolate ganache.
Oreo Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake: An assembly job that looks impressive but is easy to make, featuring a biscuit base and peanut butter ice cream.
Chocolate Cookie Pie: A deep-filled pie made with cookie dough, filled with chocolate hazelnut spread, hazelnuts, and wafer biscuits.
Chocolate Party Cake: A big, nostalgic cake with chocolate and orange flavours, perfect for feeding a crowd during Easter gatherings.
These recipes, sourced from various cookbooks and campaigns like UK Flour Millers' Easy Peasy Baking, offer a range of options for every baker. From classic to creative, they embrace the joy and excess of Easter, making it a memorable holiday for all.
