Food
I know what you’re thinking. Mini eggs? For spring? Groundbreaking. But just you wait.
Daffodils. Bunny rabbits. Sugar migraines. Easter has rolled around again and your Instagram feed is about to be awash with pictures of blossom and novelty chocolate treats. And what’s more synonymous with Easter than the Cadbury mini egg? Traditionally plonked unceremoniously on top of chocolate cornflake cakes by children and now snaffled by those children-turned-adults in the time it takes to walk home from the corner shop. We love them so much that £30 million is spent on mini eggs each year. That’s enough to pick up a 10-bedroom house in Kensington, by the way.
These candy-coated chocolate love bombs (what, you don’t call them that?) have been around since the late ’60s, so chances are you’ve grown up with them. And there’s a reason why they’re so popular — biting into the crunchy, springy pastel-coloured coating gives way to comfortingly nostalgic milk chocolate.
Now, I know what you’re thinking... Mini eggs? For spring? Groundbreaking. But don’t worry, in this list you won’t find a cornflake cake in sight. While there are a few traditional takes below – cookies, cakes, etc. – you’ll also find recipes for ice cream, hot cross buns, cocktails, and more. Enjoy!
Mini Egg Blondies
A brownie, but blond. By removing the cocoa powder from traditional brownies, you’re left with chewy, toffee-flavoured baked goods that work perfectly with the addition of mini eggs. Trust me. This easy-to-follow recipe from the BBC for Easter egg blondies makes some seriously Easter-y treats.
Mini Egg Cake
This mini egg cake recipe by Martha Collison (of Great British Bake Off fame) for Waitrose is as far away from cornflake cakes as you can get. Follow the recipe closely and you’ll end up with a light, fluffy sponge encased in a rich buttercream icing, and decorated with — you guessed it! — mini eggs. Far from looking gouache, the delicate pastel hues mean this cake makes an impressive centrepiece.
Mini Egg Ice Cream
This no-churn mini egg ice cream recipe by The Baking Explorer is so easy that you’re going to think it’s too good to be true. Or, you’ll realise that you don’t have to shell out for tiny pots of ice cream when you can make an entire vat of the stuff for less! You don’t need a fancy ice cream maker, either, just an electric whisk. Throw all the ingredients into a bowl, mix, and freeze. Et voila!
Mini Egg Cookies
This wouldn’t be a sweet treat recipe list without cookies, would it? This recipe for Easter egg cookies by the BBC cookies combines milk and dark chocolate chunks with crushed mini eggs to deliver indulgent, moorish results. If you prefer your cookies softer rather than crunchy, whip them out of the oven a few minutes before the suggested cooking time.
Mini Egg Meringue
Before you get scared, meringues aren’t impossible and are worth the faff. This chocolate meringue nest recipe from Tescos makes the perfect pudding for your Easter meal - a soft, crisp chocolate meringue topped with those delicious mini eggs. And if you’re wondering what to do with all those leftover egg yolks, I’ve got one word for you: custard.
Mini Egg Martini
You read that right. This recipe from the BBC combines crème de cacao, Baileys, and vodka to create the perfect cocktail for a chocoholic. The trick is to brush the rims of your glasses with honey and sprinkle with crushed mini eggs. Good Friday Zoom cocktails, anyone?
Mini Egg Hot Cross Buns
These baked goods are the love child of hot cross buns and mini eggs. And they’re really, really good. By removing the spices, they become more mild, comforting bread buns filled with little pockets of chocolate. Significantly, this recipe from GoodtoDonate involves kneading, so it also counts as a workout.
