Easter isn’t all about chocolate. On the contrary, the festival is steeped in traditional baked goods, from fruity Simnel cake to spiced biscuits; Italian Colomba to, of course, the hot cross bun. Whether you are entertaining this Easter and want to treat your guests without the hassle of washing up, or you want to pop something in the post to deliver a sugary hit to loved ones from afar, we have a round-up of nine beautiful bakery buys to delight this Easter time.

Easter Simnel Cake, £27


Melrose & Morgan
Simnel cake

The north-west London bakery knows better than to mess with perfection when it comes to delivering the most traditional of Easter bakes: the Simnel cake, a delicately spiced fruit sponge, topped with toasted marzipan. Perfect for Easter tea-time after a spring walk. Buy it.


Chocolate Easter Nest Cake, £30


Bettys
Chocolate Easter Nest Cake, £30

If fruit cake isn’t your thing, Yorkshire institution, Bettys, has a chocolatey treat in the form of its Easter Nest Cake; a rich dark chocolate sponge, baked in its Harrogate bakery and topped with chocolate eggs. The perfect Easter table centrepiece. Buy it.


Easter Egg Hunt Tin, £48


Biscuiteers
Easter Egg Hunt Copy

Delight small family members with the Biscuiteers’ Easter egg hunt tin, containing all you need for a garden forage come Easter Sunday. The pretty illustrated tin contains 12 lemon biscuits, intricately iced in bunny, egg, flower and butterfly designs, with signs and bunting included to complete the magical trail. Buy it.


Mocha Coffee Hot Cross Buns, £1.75


Heston from Waitrose
Mocha Coffee Hot Cross Buns, £1.75

Known for his twists on tradition, this year Heston Blumenthal has created the mocha hot cross bun for Waitrose. Expect rich brioche dough, filled with dates, chunks of chocolate, sultanas and a hint of coffee. Perfect with your morning cuppa. Buy it.


Easter Selection Box, £19.99


Cutter & Squidge
Easter Selection Box, £19.99 Copy

Cutter & Squidge’s Easter postal box contains an array of sweet treats. They include its lemon macaron, vegan cupcakes and a selection of their signature ‘biskies’ – a cross between a cake and a cookie – with flavours including mini egg, salted caramel and white chocolate and lemon. All in delectable, bite-sized proportions. Ideal for an Easter afternoon tea spread. Buy it.


Gourmet Easter Macaron, from £12


The March Hare Bakery
Gourmet Easter Macaron, From £12 Copy

A refined French twist on traditional Easter flavours, all via a cottage bakery in Mid Wales. The March Hare Bakery has launched its Gourmet Easter Macaron selection, which includes hot cross bun, carrot cake, cinnamon roll and the clever Easter egg yolk, which features an almond milk white chocolate ganache and passionfruit gel centre. All freshly made to order and beautifully packaged for an elegant take on Easter confection. Buy it.


Easter Hot Cross Bun Shortbread, £8.95


Fortnum & Mason
Easter Hot Cross Bun Shortbread, £8.95

Made in small batches in a family-run bakery in Scotland, Fortnum & Mason has also created a clever hybrid between a classic shortbread and a hot cross bun – with all the spices and dried fruit of one and the crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth texture of the other. Genius. Buy it.


Colombo, £10.99


The Italian Shop
Colombo, £10.99 Copy

If you love panettone at Christmas, you’re sure to approve of the spring artisanal Italian bake, the ‘Colomba di Pasqua’, or ‘Easter Dove’. The story of its origins vary, but the classic recipe of enriched, fluffy bread filled with sweet candied fruits and studded with almonds and pearled sugar endures. Buy it.


Easter Chocolate Sponge Fairy Cakes, £7.99


Fiona Cairns
FIONA CAIRNS Easter Chocolate Sponge Fairy Cakes Pack Of Six

Fiona Cairns fairy cakes have had an Easter themed makeover, with cartoon chick and bunny designs. Perfect for party bags or as a holiday gift that’s bound to hit the sweet spot. Buy it. .

By Lydia Mansi
March 2022

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