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Eggciting Easter Fare Ideas

The festive Easter time is coming around early this year – with Easter weekend already in March.

Second only to Christmas in terms of popular festivals, Easter is also a time for spending. Last year, the American National Retail Federation’s 2004 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey found that Americans were planning on spending a whopping $10.47 billion on Easter.

Although we don’t have similar statistics in South Africa to compare, the point is clear: consumers like Easter, with its bunnies, colourful eggs and the rich, warm flavours of hot cross buns and cinnamon rolls.

The Baker brings you a few ideas to make sure you get a slice of the Easter spending pie.

The timeless hot cross bun

Easter cannot be without the ever-popular hot cross bun. Deliciously fresh-baked hot cross buns sell themselves, as most shoppers will not be able to resist the tempting aroma of hot cross buns baking in the oven.

A symbol of Good Friday, the icing cross on the top of the bun is considered a reminder of the cross in the Christian tradition. Yet, the origin of the hot cross bun is more ancient than Easter. In some ancient pagan traditions the cross signified the quarters of the moon, while in others it represents the sun wheel, symbolising the perfect balance at the time of the Spring Equinox.

The early Christian church adopted the buns and the cross was given a new symbolism. So popular are hot cross buns, their consumption was once legislated. In medieval England a law was passed limiting the eating of hot cross buns to only during religious festivals.

Why not surprise hot cross bun lovers with a special treat? Press a spoon of currant mixture into centre of each piece of dough before baking and draw the dough around the mixture to form a ball. This way, your customers will find a sweet surprise centre when they bite into your hot cross buns.

Easter Bunnies

The US National Confectioners Assocation says that 42% of consumers surveyed rated the chocolate bunny as the number one "must-have" for Easter.

When making chocolate Easter bunnies, consider using both dark and white chocolate, swirled together after being poured into the mould, but while still hot. This will produce a wonderfully elegant marble effect. For a more fun touch, colour white chocolate pink and use the same effect with the pink and white chocolate.

Easter Eggs

In ancient times, the Persians dyed eggs red to celebrate spring and this tradition soon spread to other civilisations.

Easter eggs are incredibly versatile and present an endless array of creative possibilities. From the traditional chocolate eggs to spicy boiled eggs – let your imagination fly.

There are many ways to colour boiled eggs for Easter, including boiling the eggs with food colouring, painting the boiled eggs or using stickers to decorate the boiled eggs.

A marble effect can be achieved by cracking the shell of a cooked egg and then dipping the egg in food colouring.

There are also natural food colourings, such as red cabbage, which will produce a turquoise coloured eggshell when added to the water while boiling the eggs. Blueberries, blackberries and purple grape juice will create a blue-purple colour, while cooked spinach is a great green colourant. Paprika will give you a rich red-orange and tumeric or carrot juice creates yellow. Pink hues can be created with cranberries, raspberries, red currants or strawberries.

The American Egg Board recommends that the eggs reach room temperature before they are dyed, that only food colouring or natural colouring be used and that eggs that crack during cooking are not dyed.

Chocolate Easter eggs can be spruced up by rolling them in sprinkles or half dipping them in a different coloured chocolate. Or, create extra special Easter eggs by making truffles shaped like eggs. Another special treat could be fruit and nut Easter eggs, dipped in chocolate.

Easter breads

Easter breads were traditionally baked in celebration of spring after the long winter and, later, after religious fasting periods.

Thus, Easter breads are abundantly stuffed with luxuries, such as cheese, spices, fruits – drizzled with icing and decorated with Easter eggs. The dough is elaborately braided and plaited into magnificent culinary delights.

Easter Cakes and Cookies

Decorate cakes and cupcakes with bunnies and eggs. Make the bunnies and eggs with marzipan and colour with food colouring. Or, create bunny marshmallows, dipped in different coloured chocolate or caramel.

Get out your favourite Easter cookie cutters and create a variety of cookies in bunny and egg shapes. Egg yolk and food colouring creates an excellent edible paint that can be painted onto the cookies before baking and will create a gorgeous glazed effect.

Presentation

Whatever you make this Easter, presentation is as important as the taste. Create nests for the Easter eggs with coconut, melted white chocolate and a little food colouring. Baskets big and small can be decorated with ribbons, flowers and fresh fruit.

Bright and colourful displays of delectable treats, strategically positioned, will help your customers get into the spirit of Easter and spoil themselves and their loved ones with your delicious festive Easter fare.