Easter Recipes

Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are great for the kids (and adults) that dont like the spice and mixed fruit in traditional Hot Cross Buns. These are great served warm by themselves, with butter or a chocolate hazelnut spread.

1 1/2 cups warm milk
2 x 8g sachets dried yeast
Pinch of salt
5 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
60g butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup water
60g cooking chocolate
(for cross on top of buns)

Chocolate Hot Cross Buns are great for the kids (and adults) that dont like the spice and mixed fruit in traditional Hot Cross Buns.

1) Combine milk, yeast, salt and a pinch of sugar in a bowl. Whisk together until combined. Cover with plastic. Place in a warm place for 5 to 10 minutes or until the top becomes frothy.
2) Sift flour, cocoa and cinnamon together into a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar (the remainder of the sugar will be used in the glaze), yeast mixture, butter and egg. Stir with a wooden spoon until dough almost comes together. Mix to a soft dough with your hands. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until dough is smooth. Place into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for up to 1 1/2 hours or until the dough doubles in size.
3) Punch dough down to its original size with your fist. Add chocolate chips and knead until well combined. Divide dough into 12 even portions and shape into balls. Place into a lamington pan lined with baking paper about 1cm apart. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes or until buns double in size.
4) Preheat oven to 200°C. Bake buns for approx. 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of one of the buns comes out clean.
5) To make the glaze heat water and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and then boil for 5 minutes. Brush warm glaze over warm buns.
6) Chocolate cross - Melt the cooking chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl on low heat and then spoon into a snap-lock bag. Snip a corner off bag (not too big) and pipe chocolate crosses over buns. For something different use a chocolate hazelnut spread for the crosses on the buns.
7) Serve Chocolate Hot Cross Buns warm or at room temperature.

	Place into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for up to 1 1/2 hours or until the dough doubles in size.
	Divide dough into 12 even portions and shape into balls. Place into a lamington pan lined with baking paper about 1cm apart. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes or until buns double in size.
	Melt the cooking chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl on low heat and then spoon into a snap-lock bag. Snip a corner off bag (not too big) and pipe chocolate crosses over buns. (For something different use a chocolate hazelnut spread for the crosses on the buns. )
	Serve Chocolate Hot Cross Buns warm or at room temperature. These are great served warm by themselves, with butter or a chocolate hazelnut spread.

Golden Nests with Chocolate Easter Eggs
These nests are quick and easy to make for a last minute treat for the kids. You can find a great variety of eggs to put in the nests - chocolate speckled eggs, filled chocolate eggs or we have used some brightly colored foil wrapped chocolate eggs.

1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 cups corn flakes
Easter Eggs

1) Place 12 muffin size paper cases in a muffin tray
2) Melt butter, sugar and honey together in a saucepan. Remove from heat when it gets frothy.
3) Pour mix into a bowl with the corn flakes and stir until combined.

You can find a great variety of eggs to put in the nests - chocolate speckled eggs, filled chocolate eggs or we have used some brightly colored foil wrapped chocolate eggs.

4) Place large spoonfuls into paper cases pushing the mixture with the back of the spoon to the edges to form a hollow. You may need to slightly crush the cornflakes with your fingers by lightly pressing in the middle to make enough room to place the easter eggs.
5) Bake in a slow oven for 10-15 minutes.
6) Cool
7) Arrange a few eggs in each nest.

Make a hollow by pushing the corn flake mixture in the middle towards the edges.

These nests are quick and easy to make for a last minute treat for the kids.

When the nests are cooked and cooled you can arrange the chocolate eggs in the hollow.

Chocolate Nests with Chocolate Easter Eggs
These chocolate nests are quick and easy to make for the kids. The nests can be made with dark, milk or white chocolate. Fill the nests with chocolate speckled eggs, filled chocolate eggs or we have used some brightly colored foil wrapped chocolate eggs.

1 packet fried noodles
200g melted dark or milk chocolate
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
Easter Eggs

1) Lightly grease a 12 muffin tray
2) Melt chocolate on a low heat in the microwave and stir in peanut butter.
3) Pour chocolate mix into a bowl with the fried noodles and stir until combined.

4) Place a spoonful on one side of the muffin tray and then another on the other side making a hollow in it as you go. You may need to get your fingers into it to get the nest shape.
5) Place in the fridge until set.
6) Using a teaspoon pry them out of the muffin tray
7) Arrange a few eggs in each nest.

Make a nest shape by placing a spoonful on either side of the muffin hole - and then manipulatie with your fingers if necessary.

Arrange the chocolate eggs in the chocolate nests.

Hot Cross Buns
A hot cross bun is a small, sweet bun with a cross. The ingredients you will need to make this are:

Hot Cross Buns
30 grams compressed yeast
1 1/2 cups milk
60 grams butter
1 egg, beaten
4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
60 grams sultanas
30 grams currants

1) Cream yeast in a small bowl with 1 teaspoon each of the sugar and flour, add warm milk, mix well. Cover, stand in a warm place for aobut 15 minutes or until frothy.
2) Sift flour, salt, sugar and spices into a large bowl. Rub in butter, add egg, sultanas and yeast mixture, beat well with a wooden spoon. Cover bowl with a tea towel and stand in a warm place for about 40 minutes or until dough is doubled in size. Punch dough down, turn onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth.
3) Cut into 16 pieces kneading each into a round shape. Place onto a greased square pan and stand in a warm place for about 15 minutes or until buns reach the top edge of the pan.
4) Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes.
5) To make the glaze - heat 1/3 cup water and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and then boil for 5 minutes. Brush warm glaze over warm buns.
6) Crosses - Mix a little milk with 1/2 cup icing sugar, then brush on buns to make crosses.

Chocolate Easter Cake
This is a delicious and very rich chocolate cake that is perfect for family gatherings at Easter time. You can use either milk or dark chocolate depending on what you prefer. Decorate with some small colorful easter eggs.

Chocolate Easter Cake
200g Milk or Dark Chocolate
90ml milk
185g butter
185g sugar
150g ground hazelnuts
60g plain flour
5 eggs separated

Chocolate Topping
100g chocolate for topping
15g butter
1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts
small chocolate easter eggs

1) Place broken pieces of chocolate and milk in a saucepan and gently heat, stirring occasionally until smooth.
2) Add butter, sugar, hazelnuts, flour and egg yolks.
3) Beat on low speed until smooth.
4) In another bowl beat egg whites to soft peaks
5) Fold 1/4 of egg whites into the chocolate mixture and blend well. Fold in remaining egg whites.
6) Spread mixture evenly into a greased/lined cake tin.
7) Bake in a moderate oven for about 50 minutes or until the surface is firm to touch.
8) Melt chocolate and butter in a pan ( or microwave) on low heat and spread over the top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle with hazelnuts and decorate with small chocolate easter eggs.

Chocolate Easter Cake - A cake that has a delicious hazelnut flavour

Easter Song
Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters
Give them to your sons
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns.

Cookbooks to Inspire you in the Kitchen:

	500 Chocolate Delights Chocolate is universally loved and forms the basis of some of the world's favourite desserts. Whether you need a tray bake for a family party, a light cake to serve with coffee, a beautiful tart to take to a barbecue or a stylish chocolate wedding cake to form a striking centrepiece, there's something for everyone in this compendium, no matter what the occasion. Research shows that chocolate is rich in minerals and high-quality antioxidants - a great excuse to cook with chocolate every day! With 500 mouthwatering chocolate delights, this title is packed with ideas for every kind of snack, sweet treat, dessert or cake. Filled with suggestions and tips to ensure easy, fussfree entertaining, 500 Chocolate Delights is the only book on cooking with chocolate that you will every need and one you'll want to turn to time and time again.
	Crave: A Passion for Chocolate A celebration of chocolate, "Crave" presents 148 recipes for luscious desserts, cakes, biscuits, confectionery and puddings, for all occasions and all levels of cook. Included are simple family favourites as well as elaborate recipes for special celebrations such as weddings, holidays and birthdays. Also featured is a techniques section, which explains the various types of chocolate and gives hints on using and baking with chocolate.
	Simple Essentials Chocolate This book focuses on a much loved ingredient and offers a full, inventive range of photographed recipes Simple Essentials Chocolate contains delicious and decadent chocolate recipes.

Easter Recipes

Easter Gift Ideas - Achieve Easter Success - Enjoy your Easter Holidays