The spring season is almost upon us, and it's time to get ready for the Easter weekend!
Whether you celebrate Easter or not, the celebration of Springtime is a great way to spruce up your cookbook and introduce new and refreshing recipes that delight the entire family.
The following recipes are full of springtime flavour, but the best thing is that they take under 30 minutes to prepare!
So, if you want to make or bake something spectacular for East Sunday but think you may be a little strapped for time, check out these speedy snacks for your delicious Easter feast.
No-Bake Chocolate Cornflake Nests
A true Easter classic. Cornflake nests are such a simple recipe but never fail to delight eaters of all ages. Here is our quick and simple recipe for cornflake nests, always done best the night before!
Skill: Easy
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: Chill for 30 minutes, but overnight is best
You will need:
- 100g milk chocolate
- 2tsp golden syrup
- 50g butter
- Mini sugar-coated Easter eggs
- 100g of cornflakes
The Method:
1. Divide the chocolate into squares and place and glass bowl over a saucepan of boiling water.
2. Place the chocolate squares into the glass bowl with the butter and syrup. As the chocolate begins to melt, mix the ingredients together to form a chocolatey paste. Simmer the water down and keep mixing until the mixture is smooth.
3. Take the bowl off of the heat and mix in the cornflakes until they are coated.
4. Put 12 paper cupcake bases in a tin and fill them with the chocolate cornflakes.
5. Decorate with the eggs and place them in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Easter Mini Meatloaf with Boiled Egg
Impress your guests with this easy baked mini meatloaf with a surprise hard-boiled egg! The Easter edition of this firm family favourite will go down a treat at any springtime dinner table. Just serve with salads and sides for a light snack or with warm vegetables as a main meal.
Skill: Moderate
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
You will need:
- 4 medium-sized eggs
- 500 g of minced beef
- 1 cup of wholemeal breadcrumbs
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 onion, grated
- 1tbsp tomato sauce
- 1tsp dried thyme
- ½ cup of BBQ sauce
The Method:
1. Line a baking tray with heatproof paper and preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (Gas mark 6)
2. Boil 4 eggs for 7 minutes until hard-boiled, drain, and allow them to completely cool. Peel the eggs and set them to one side.
3. Mix the mincemeat, breadcrumbs, onion, carrot, tomatoes, and thyme together with your hands until completely combined.
4. Separate the mixture into 4 and roughly ball them, making an indent in the centre.
5. Place one of each of the eggs into each indent and reshape the meat mixture around the eggs.
6. Wrap each meatloaf with baking paper and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
7. Take them out of the oven and baste with BBQ sauce and continue to bake for a further 10 - 15 minutes.
8. Allow each meatloaf to completely cool before cutting.
Easter Biscuits
What is Easter without a chocolate biscuit or two? These easy chocolate biscuits are great to make with kids. They are fun and easy to decorate, and you can take as little or as much time as you want to perfect them.
Skill: Easy
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Decorating: As easy or as hard as you want!
You will need:
- 350g of light soft brown sugar
- 250 of softened butter
- 350g of self-raising flour
- 100g cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 pack of mini sugar-coated easter eggs (optional)
- A colourful selection of glaze icing
- Sprinkles (optional)
- Sea salt (optional)
The Method:
1. Mix together the butter and sugar with a pinch of sea salt (optional) and continue to beat together until fluffy.
2. Beat the eggs into the mixture one at a time until thoroughly combined.
3. Sift the flour and cocoa powder over the mixture and fold until a dough forms.
(Top Tip! This mixture can be stored or frozen for over 1 month before use)
1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C (gas mark 5). If the mixture is room temperature, place spoonful’s of the mix evenly across a flat baking tray lined with parchment paper. If the mixture is cold or going to be frozen, form them into 40g balls before storing.
2. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a crust begins to form around the outside.
3. Take them out of the oven and leave them to cool for 5 - 10 minutes.
4. Decorate your biscuits by placing a thick layer of icing over the top and sticking the mini chocolate Easter eggs into the icing, so they stick. Sprinkle over some colourful sprinkles and place them into the fridge for 10 minutes for the icing to harden.
Deviled Egg Chicks
Devilled eggs are great any time of year, but they do make a fitting accompaniment to any Easter picnic or tea party.
Devilled eggs are a delicious snack with a lot of history, dating all the way back to Roman times!
This version of the devilled egg is a fun addition to any Easter table! Children and adults alike will delight in this creative spin on the traditional devilled egg.
Skill: Easy to Moderate
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
You will need:
- 12 large eggs
- 1 and ½ tablespoon of dijon mustard (optional)
- ¼ of garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon of salt
- 1 small carrot
- 6 black olives
- ⅓ cup of mayonnaise
- Ziplock or pastry bag
The Method:
1. Hard-boil and peel all 12 of the eggs.
2. Get a sharp knife and peel the base of the egg so the bottom is flat. This is to help the devilled chicks to stand upright.
3. Cut off the top third of the egg and very gently squeeze the outside of the egg to loosen the yolk until the pops out.
4. Take the base and head of the egg and gently cut out small zig-zags to create the broken egg effect.
5. Place the yolks in a bowl and mash them with a fork. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic powder and salt and mix well.
6. Add the mixture to the ziplock bag and cut a small opening for piping. Pipe the mixture into the bases of the eggs.
7. Gently but firmly place the tops back on the eggs.
8. Cut small pieces of olive and carrot for the eyes and beaks.
