Give your favourite Easter desserts a chocolate makeover

6 Mar 2023

Easter Food + Drink

From hot cross buns to Easter biscuits, here’s our guide to giving classic springtime desserts a chocolate transformation

When thinking of food at Easter, we’re certain that one thing in particular springs to mind: chocolate. From chocolate bunnies to the classic Easter egg, this springtime celebration is synonymous with our favourite treat.  Whether exchanging Easter chocolates as a gift or indulging in a celebration of Lent, chocolate is bound to play a part in your Easter celebrations. But have you thought about giving your best-loved Easter desserts a chocolate makeover? 

We’re sure you’ll agree that chocolate makes just about everything better. And Easter is the perfect excuse to add a cacao twist to your familiar favourites. From Hot Cross buns to simnel cake,  we can assure you that where there’s an Easter delight, there is always a way to add Chocolate.

Close-up: decorating an Easter cake dessert with chocolate

Hot cross buns

Traditionally served on Good Friday to mark the end of Lent, hot cross buns are a popular classic at any Easter table. For breakfast or dessert, these rich spiced tea cakes are best enjoyed fresh — and with a  generous serving of butter. But have you thought about putting a cacao spin on this classic? After all, who doesn’t love a chocolate treat around Easter? 

There are endless ways to incorporate chocolate into your bakes. But here are a couple of ideas we love best.

Chocolate chip hot cross buns

For a classic approach, why not try replacing the sultanas or currants in a traditional hot cross bun recipe with chocolate chips? Or, for more texture, go for broken chocolate chunks. You’ll need around 100g of chocolate to do so. We recommend opting for top-quality chocolate which will bake well and won’t burn. Go for chocolate with a high cocoa butter content for an irresistible melt. 65% Supermilk or 70% Dark Chocolate Batons will work beautifully. 

Cranberry and white chocolate hot cross buns

If you prefer the delicate vanilla notes of white chocolate, then this irresistible cranberry and white chocolate recipe from Sugar Salt Magic is for you. Again, to create these bakes, simply replace your sultana or currant mix with a generous helping of dried cranberries and chopped white chocolate. We’re sure you’ll agree that this combination is a match made in heaven.

Hot cross buns

Simnel cake

Traditionally baked to be enjoyed on Easter Sunday, Simnel cake has been the centrepiece of the Easter table since medieval times. This truly traditional Easter bake is a dense fruit cake. It includes an iced top and 11 marzipan balls to symbolise the 12 apostles — minus Judas after his betrayal of Jesus.  

However, more recently it has become common to put a rich, chocolate twist on this classic  Easter dessert. The internet is loaded with chocolate simnel cake recipes. Many of them follow traditional methods with the addition of cocoa powder, chocolate chunks, and lavish chocolate ganache toppings. 

However, if you fancy further elevating your chocolate Simnel cake then why not swap out the suggested milk chocolate for a more inventive flavour combination? Add a citrus twist with Orange Wafer Batons or try our sumptuous Salted Caramel Slab. Alternatively, bring a fruity zing and some added texture with our Raspberry Chocolate Bar Selector.

Koulourakia

Koulourakia are traditional Greek butter biscuits baked around the Easter period. While you may not be so familiar with this Easter dessert, we’re sure you’ll find yourself quite addicted to these biscuits upon tasting them. They’re rich, buttery, and incredibly moreish  – try this recipe from My Greek Dish and see for yourself.

In Greece, these tasty treats are best enjoyed alongside a warming cup of coffee. Although you may struggle to get your hands on some Greek coffee at home, a comforting mug of hot chocolate is the perfect companion. Why not go for hot chocolate flakes with a high cacao content to balance the buttery notes of the biscuits? We recommend our 85% Dark Hot Chocolate Sachets for a satisfying, nuanced edge. 

Top tip: prepare your hot chocolate with our revolutionary Velvetiser for a silky smooth texture.

Easter biscuits

Traditionally nibbled on Easter Sunday, Easter biscuits or cookies are a tasty snack sure to go down a storm with friends and family. While in their most classic form, these biscuits feature currants, spices and lemon, it’s super simple to transform them into a more indulgent chocolate treat. 

As with hot cross buns, switching out the currants for some chocolate chips is a great way to do so. However, it can also be fun to get a little more decorative with your creations. Why not try incorporating our Elizapeck Milk Chocolate Speckled Eggs into your mixture? Or even better, try melting down your favourite Hotel Chocolat chocolate and drizzle it over your biscuits once they’ve cooled.  

Iced Easter biscuits

Wheat cereal nests

Making your own chocolate wheat cereal nests with friends and family is a fun way to get into the Easter spirit. While we’re sure you remember this crispy, quick and easy recipe from your childhood, have you thought about elevating your presentation with some fun and edible Easter-style decorations? Get creative with melted milk, dark, or white chocolate — or a combination. 

When it comes to decorating an Easter treat with tasty toppings, the opportunities really are endless. From our Elizapeck Milk Chocolate Speckled Eggs to our Pistachio Chocolate Bunny Selector, our Easter chocolate range is packed with bite-sized treats to take your creations to the next level. 

And why not think about hosting a nest decorating competition with friends and family? If you find yourself inspired to do so, share your creations with us on Twitter @HotelChocolat. We’d love to see how you transform your Easter desserts.

A chocolatier’s take on Easter desserts

If you’re not in the mood for baking this Easter, then fear not! There’s still an easy way to get a fix of comforting and nostalgic Easter desserts. Our Patisserie collection offers a mouth-watering menu of bite-sized chocolates inspired by the nation’s favourite bakes and cakes. What’s not to love? 

From popular spring-time desserts such as Carrot Cake and Eton Mess to more decadent cacao treats such as Chocolate Fudge Sundae, our dessert-inspired selection has something for everyone.

And if you’re looking for an Easter-style Patisserie treat or gift, our Extra Thick Patisserie Easter Egg is the perfect generous present. Featuring an oh-so-satisfying chunky shell made from 50% milk chocolate and pecan praline, it’s brimming with our most popular patisserie bites.

Easter chocolate from Hotel Chocolat

Whether you plan on baking a traditional dessert or are looking for a cacao-rich gift to give this Easter, start with high-quality chocolate. At Hotel Chocolat, our chocolatiers use only the best ingredients, methods, and a little magic to create our chocolate.

From our opulent Ostrich Eggs to our quirky Egg Sandwiches, our Easter collection is packed with adorable shapes and impeccable flavour combinations certain to put a smile on your loved one’s face.

A selection of alternative Easter gifts from Hotel Chocolat - including Egg Sandwiches and Chocolate Pen Pals