Creating family-friendly Easter treats can be simple and fun to whip up in a few shakes of a bunny’s tail. And believe it or not, it’s easy to appease every age group in your household during this period before Easter. With these quick and easy family-friendly Easter treats, and an indulgent treat at the end for adults only, you can make sure everybunny is satisfied.
Family-Friendly Easter Treats for Toddlers
Healthy Easter bunny pancakes
Any toddler will tell you pancakes are the perfect treat for any time of the day! So why not make them a little healthier (and so much more fun) than the store-bought alternatives.
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Serves: 4-6
INGREDIENTS:
- 50g self-raising flour
- 50g wholemeal flour
- 2 small eggs, separated
- 150ml skimmed milk
- oil, for frying
- a few raisins for bunny paws, to serve (option to substitute for chocolate buttons)
- 30g banana, sliced into rounds for the tails
- extra chopped fruit, to serve
METHOD:
Step 1
Put both the flours into a large bowl and whisk to break up any lumps. Add the egg yolks and a little of the milk, whisking to a thick paste. Add the remaining milk, a splash at a time, to loosen the batter. (Use whole milk if cooking for under fives, dependent on age.)
Step 2
In a separate bowl and using a clean whisk, whisk the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter with a spatula, trying to keep in as much air as possible.
Step 3
Heat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. Using a large spoon, add a generous dollop of batter to the pan in a round, for the bunny body. Add a smaller round for the head, two small ovals for feet, and two long thin strips for ears. Fit all the bunny components into the pan, or cook them in batches.
Step 4
Flip the pancakes after a minute or two, once the edges are set, the base is golden brown and bubbles start to pop on the surface. Cook for another min until golden brown.
Step 5
Put the bunny body in the middle of the plate, position the head, ears and feet just overlapping to look like the back of a bunny. Add a banana slice for the tail, and raisins or chocolate buttons for the feet pads.
Step 6
Repeat with the remaining batter. Decorate with extra chopped fruit, if you like.
Family-Friendly Easter Treats for Children
Easter chick cupcakes
Since children love anything colourful and sweet, these adorable family-friendly Easter treats will excite children of all ages. Make it fun for the whole family by getting them involved in preparing, measuring, mixing and decorating.
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 12
INGREDIENTS:
-
450g pkt Betty Crocker Vanilla Cupcake Mix
-
60g butter, softened
-
2 Coles Brand Australian free range eggs
-
1/2 cup (125ml) milk
-
250g pkt Coles Brand Ready to Roll Yellow Icing
-
100g Coles Brand Ready to Roll White Icing
-
36 Coles Brand Red Heart lollies
-
24 brown M&M’s Minis
Lemon buttercream -
75g butter, softened
-
3/4 cup (120g) icing sugar mixture
-
1 tbsp lemon juice
METHOD:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line twelve 1/3-cup (80ml) muffin pans with paper cases.
Step 2
Make the cupcakes using cupcake mix, butter, eggs and milk following packet directions. Set aside to cool.
Step 3
To make the lemon buttercream, use an electric mixer to beat the butter in a bowl until very pale. Add the icing sugar and lemon juice and beat until light and fluffy.
Step 4
Reserve 2 teaspoons of lemon buttercream. Spread remaining lemon buttercream evenly over the top of each cupcake. Smooth the surfaces.
Step 5
Dust a clean work surface with icing sugar. Roll out the yellow icing to a 2mm-thick disc. Repeat with white icing.
Step 6
Using a 7cm pastry cutter, cut 12 discs from yellow icing and place on the cupcakes. Use a small sharp knife to cut 2cm teardrop shapes from remaining yellow icing, then use a little water to attach them to the cupcakes to make the wings.
Step 7
Use a 7cm cutter to cut 4 discs from white icing, then use a sharp knife to cut a zig-zag pattern along the centre. Use a little water to attach pieces to 4 cupcakes to make eggshells.
Step 8
Use the reserved lemon buttercream to attach red hearts to remaining cupcakes for feet. Use buttercream to attach M&M’s Minis to each cupcake for eyes and remaining hearts for beaks.
Family-Friendly Easter Treats for Teenagers
Autumn fruit salad with yoghurt
Long days call for a nutritious treat with a touch of natural sugar for the perfect after school pick-me-up. This nourishing bowl is also a great family-friendly Easter treat for breakfast, afternoon study sessions, or dessert.
Prep: 15 mins
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 kiwifruits
- 1 1/3 cups (375g) vanilla bean Greek-style yoghurt
- 2 Beurre Bosc pears, quartered, cored, thinly sliced
- 4 Pink Lady or Royal Gala apples, thinly sliced crossways
- 2/3 cup pomegranate seeds
- Honey or maple syrup, to drizzle (optional)
METHOD:
Step 1
Cut the kiwifruit into 5mm-thick slices. Use a 4cm flower-shaped cutter to cut flowers from the kiwifruit.
Step 2
Spoon the yoghurt onto a serving platter. Arrange the pear, apple and kiwifruit flowers on top. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and serve immediately.
Easter Treats for the Grown-Ups
Hot cross bun Bailey’s cocktail
Midday guilty pleasure, afternoon delight, or post-bedtime treat, this not-so-family-friendly Easter treat is the perfect way to winddown.
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 3 mins
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
-
3 Coles Finest Brioche Hot Cross Buns, cut into 2cm cubes
-
40g butter
-
8 scoops chocolate ice-cream, plus 4 extra scoops to serve
-
1/3 cup chocolate syrup, plus extra to serve
-
1/3 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur
-
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
-
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
-
2 1/2 cups milk
-
2 tbsp crushed peanuts, plus extra to sprinkle
-
Coles dollop cream, to serve
METHOD:
Step 1
Thread hot cross buns onto 8 small skewers. Melt butter in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Add skewers. Cook, turning, for 3 minutes or until starting to brown. Remove from heat.
Step 2
Meanwhile, blend ice-cream, chocolate syrup, Irish cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk until smooth.
Step 3
Place nuts on a plate. Drizzle extra chocolate syrup inside four 1 cup capacity serving glasses. Drizzle chocolate syrup around the rim of glasses. Dip rim of glasses in nuts to coat. Fill glasses with milk mixture. Top with skewers and extra ice-cream. Dollop with cream. Drizzle with extra syrup and sprinkle with extra nuts. Serve immediately.