Looking for a great way to spend time with the kids over the long weekend? There are plenty of things you can do but nothing beats baking delicious treats together — and getting to eat them afterwards!
Image source: taste.com.au
Recipe 1: Homemade hot cross buns
Avoid queuing at Baker’s Delight this long weekend by baking your own hot cross buns — they’re super easy.
You’ll need:
3 ¼ cups plain flour
1 cup sultanas, 2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tsp dried yeast
1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1 tsp ground nutmeg
A pinch of salt
1 cup warm milk
50g butter (melted and cooled)
1 egg (lightly whisked)
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a tray with baking paper. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Make a well in the centre. Add the milk, butter and egg to the well and use a wooden spoon to stir until just combined. Bring the dough together using your hands and turn onto a floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes. Cover and set aside in a warm place to proof for 1 and ½ hours. Knead the proofed dough on a lightly floured surface for 2-3 minutes, divide into 12 balls and place on the tray.
For the crosses: Combine extra flour and 2 tsp sugar in a small bowl. Stir in 2 tbsp cold water to form a thick, smooth paste. Place in a sealable plastic bag and cut off one corner. Pipe over buns to make crosses.
Cook for 20-30 minutes, or until buns sound hollow when tapped on.
For a twist on the traditional hot cross bun, check out this recipe for hot cross bun pudding.
Image source: taste.com.au
Recipe 2: DIY Easter biscuits
You’ll need:
140g packet white designer icing (to decorate)
5 x 35g Coles Bunny Choc Biscuits
100s and 1000s, jelly beans
Pink food colouring
Coles Funny Face icing sugar figurine (eyes only)
Divide the white icing among 3 bowls. Add 3-4 drops of pink food dye to create dark pink in one bowl, and 2-3 drops to make the remaining 2 bowls pale pink. Transfer the icing to a piping bag with a small plain nozzle. Now, this is the fun part! Let your child/children decorate their bunny the way they like. The pale pink can be used for ears and feet markings while the dark pink can be used for piping, whiskers and mouth — you may need to help out with the last. Use the icing to attach a jelly bean nose and candy eyes. Set aside to set.
Image source: Multix
Recipe 3: Easter cupcakes
You’ll need:
2 cups of plain flour
½ tsp of salt, 2 tsp baking powder
½ cup of butter, ¾ cup of sugar
2 eggs (lightly whipped)
1 cup of milk
1 tsp of vanilla essence.
Toppings: A bag of mixed Easter eggs and 100s and 1000s
Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a muffin pan with cupcake patties. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir. Then add the wet ingredients, taking care to melt the butter in the microwave first. Mix ingredients together with a wooden spoon and divide amongst the cupcake patties. Sprinkle 100s and 1000s over the top. Bake for 10 minutes before pressing 1 or 2 easter eggs in the top of each cupcake. Bake for a further 10 minutes or until risen.