Chocolate simnel cake

 

Here’s an Easter bake inspired by the traditional simnel cake. It’s a fruity chocolate cake with a layer of delicious homemade marzipan in the middle and a glossy ganache topping – perfect for some tea time indulging. Yes please!

 

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Really delicious classic hot cross buns

Classic hot cross buns

 

When I was growing up hot cross buns weren’t readily available all year round (as they are now!) and I remember my excitement at seeing them appear on bakery shelves and knowing that Easter holidays were approaching. They are another one of those treats that evoke childhood memories of family gatherings, Easter craft projects and feeling impatient during the Easter Sunday morning church service knowing that there would a chocolate egg hunt afterwards! And of course the memory of enjoying fresh hot cross buns over the Easter weekend.

 

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Cheesecake swirl Easter brownies

 

The Easter weekend is almost upon us and today’s recipe is packed with all the chocolate and all of the treats. I’ve included dark chocolate as well as Chuckles and speckled eggs (two of my weaknesses) for good measure in these rich and gooey Easter brownies. This is the type of recipe I reserve just for special occasions, and if you’re looking for a weekend splurge you have come to the right place!

 

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Hot cross bun bliss balls

Date balls with dark chocolate

 

If the walls of boxes filled with marshmallow eggs and armies of foil wrapped Easter bunnies piled high in the shops weren’t enough of a reminder, Easter is just around the corner! Autumn is probably my favourite season of the year, and Easter is definitely a highlight. I love the weather, the autumn colours of the trees, the cooler evenings, and of course – the food!

 

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Easter lamb and vegetable platter

Easy Easter lamb recipe

 

This incredible lamb recipe comes from one of my favourite cookbooks, “Jamie’s 30 minute meals” by Jamie Oliver. It was a Christmas present from my lovely sister many years ago and I have used it often when I need week night supper inspiration. All of the recipes I have tried so far have worked really well but this easy lamb and vegetable platter really impressed me. It’s a simple recipe when you look it but it tastes incredible, and best of all you can have this gorgeous platter of food (it’s a feast, let’s be honest) in no time at all!

 

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Mini Easter simnel cakes

So today we are talking fruit cake, spices and chocolate. Music to my ears… and my stomach. I am not sure how I got this far in my baking career without trying this recipe! I suppose that while traditional fruit cakes are found in abundance around Christmas time, the simnel cake is less common down here at the tip of Africa. This fruity cake adorned with marzipan is traditional around Mothering Sunday and/or Easter particularly in the U.K, and I thought I would channel my British ancestors and give it a bash this week.

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Chocolate hot cross buns

There is a little back story to this recipe which was inspired by a good friend of mine. She recently left Australia where she has been living for the past few years, and where chocolate hot cross buns are readily available. During a recent chat a few hints were dropped about creating a similar recipe… I suspect that since she will be making her way to Cape Town in the next few weeks (and has confessed to being addicted to them) that she was actually being serious! Well of course I accepted the challenge and thought these would be a gorgeous treat to enjoy at Easter.

 

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