Easter Recipes

Hot-Cross Bun recipe by artisan baker Aiden Chapman For Easter, baker Aidan Chapman of the Phoenix Bakery in Weymouth likes to do things properly and his annual two-week stint making 1000s of hot-cross buns is no exception. Here is his recipe for exceptional buns, perfect to make at home, that don't take too long to make. Makes about 12 buns Method For the dough In a large bowl, add all the ... Read more

Forget Easter eggs this year and treat everyone to a fresh Colomba Pasquale. This simple 3-hour recipe creates a bake that is both rich and light. Made with butter, eggs, and a high-protein organic Type “0” Manitoba flour, it has all the texture you would expect from a traditional Italian festive cake, along with a wonderful fragrance of orange, mandarin, lemon, and vanilla from the Fiori di ... Read more

I’m always looking for ways to create Easter bakes that are big on flavour and a joy to eat but are a little healthier at the same time. Hot Cross Buns traditionally have added sugar but as dried fruit are intensely sweet, so you don’t need any extra. The dates in particular give a warm rich sugar hit. I’ve lived in various African countries and finding butter was often an issue. ... Read more

Spring Panzanella Salad with Extra Virgin Olive Oil This Spring Panzanella Salad with Olive Oil is a wonderfully simple salad that hits all the right notes, fresh, indulgent and full of flavour. It’s the kind of dish you can enjoy all year round, but in spring, when green vegetables start to feel exciting again, it’s a real treat. Crisp leaves, soft herbs and golden croutons come ... Read more

Simnel cake with Homemade Marzipan We’ve gone for a traditional Simnel cake this Easter and it’s safe to say everyone at BakeryBits HQ is rather fond of a good fruit cake. For me, this one is just about irresistible, largely thanks to the generous layer of sweet almond marzipan baked through the centre and finished on top. It adds a soft, moist richness that cuts beautifully through ... Read more

Cozonac -  Soft Fluffy Romanian Sweet Bread   Cozonac is a beloved Romanian holiday bread, traditionally baked for celebrations and shared with family and friends. This Cozonac recipe has come from Andreea (@alint.dulce.rasfat), here is a message from Andreea:   'I was genuinely delighted to hear that so many of your customers were curious about it and I love the idea of ... Read more

Sophie’s Fresh Pasta - Light and Zesty Ever tried making your own pasta? Light, zesty, nutty… this one’s a showstopper! It’s easier than you think, especially with this gorgeous sunshine yellow Ankarsrum, the result is utterly irresistible. Silky lasagnette (mini lasagna), tender and light, tossed in a bright, nutty pistachio & lemon pesto, with a sprinkle of ... Read more

Perfectly Plump Hot Cross Buns This is my favourite recipe for Hot Cross Buns, slightly adapted from Richard Bertinet's superb version. I find that making a tangzhong (a flour-and-liquid roux) gives these buns the perfect texture, a soft, pliable crumb with just enough tenacity to hold up under a generous smear of butter without tearing or collapsing. I’ve never been a fan of most ... Read more

Easter Simnel Muffins These Easter Simnel Muffins are a nod to the larger Simnel Cake often baked at Easter. A little easier and quicker than the large cake, they make for a great alternative, easy to share, store, and pack up for an Easter picnic! For a classic touch, top each muffin with a marzipan ball, symbolizing the apostles in the traditional Simnel Cake. Or, for a more playful, creative ... Read more

Spelt, Carrot & Ginger Mini Loaves for Easter are dairy-free, and a great way of getting the family active helping you bake. The carrots are peeled, chopped, boiled, and pureed and this gives the cake texture a very seductive softness. Baked in our mini loaf tins they’re perfect as a snack or for a lunchbox treat. Makes 6-8 mini loaf tin cakes. Puree the cooked carrot and water until very ... Read more