Fresh Ideas
Round up the kids for some kitchen fun this Easter. Nicky’s chosen a selection of cakes that the whole family will love. They’re perfect for your festive celebrations, and so easy to make that everyone can join in!
“Easter is always special in my household. We’re able to pause after a busy start to the year and share some quality family time. I love spending the holiday baking with my kids and, even though they’re teens now, we still get a kick out of messing around together in the kitchen. These recipes are some of our favourites, including my grandparents’ custard cake, because they’re all about maximum yum for minimum effort. Over the years, I’ve learned to assign everyone their own job and to use the biggest mixing bowls to reduce spillage. Expect your kitchen to get pretty messy – it's all part of the fun and the results are always worth it! Give these recipes a try, and I think you’ll agree.”
– Nicky
01
The best carrot cake
There’s nothing quite like a wedge of classic iced carrot cake with a cuppa, and this one really is best in show. If I don’t have pecans, I’ll use walnut halves instead and toast them in the oven in the same way. Once they’ve cooled slightly, I wrap them in a clean tea towel and rub them gently to remove any skins before chopping. Another tip is to only mix the wet and dry ingredients until they’re just combined, so the batter holds as much air as possible to help the cake rise beautifully.
02
My family’s custard cake
So many families have special recipes they hand down from generation to generation, and this is one of our most cherished ones. My grandparents made this at their Sydney bakery, and it became a best-seller. Make sure you grease your cake pan well to ensure the cake doesn’t stick. Covering the surface custard directly with plastic wrap stops a skin forming while it cools. If you can’t find fresh passionfruit, the canned variety tastes just as good.
03
Best one-bowl chocolate cake
Nothing beats a moist, super-chocolatey chocolate cake, and this one is also super easy. The one-bowl method reduces the mess factor considerably if you’re cooking with the kids, and it’s ready to pop in the oven in just three steps. Allowing the cake to cool for 10 minutes will make spreading that luscious chocolate frosting easier. To add an extra festive flourish, decorate the frosted cake with chocolate or multicoloured sprinkles.
04
Simnel cake
This classic light fruit cake was traditionally made to celebrate the end of Lent, and is still popular in Britain. To get that crimped look on the marzipan topping, pinch the edge of the marzipan firmly between your thumb and forefinger at regular intervals all the way round. If you don’t have a kitchen blow torch, try popping the decorated cake under a preheated grill for 1 minute or until the marzipan is lightly browned.
05
Raspberry ice-cream loaf
This recipe is so easy, and great for when surprise visitors show up. It’s the invention of Chris, the mother of my fellow foodie Tam, and you only need four ingredients to make it. I’ll often use frozen raspberries instead of fresh, but you can use any fruit you fancy or even choc chips. Two tricks to remember: first, mix the ice-cream and flour thoroughly so the mixture is as smooth as possible; second, fold through the raspberries very gently so they don’t break up.
06
Easter surprise cake
I’ve wowed kids and adults alike with this cute chocolate cake. It’s fun to make, and watching people’s faces as you cut into it is a treat in itself. For a more sophisticated adult version, you could substitute the mini Easter eggs for other wrapped chocolates, or even adapt it for a child’s birthday party by filling and decorating it with kid-friendly lollies.
07
Easter chocolate mousse cheesecake
If it’s a warm Easter, it’s good to have a no-bake cake recipe up your sleeve. This gorgeous cheesecake is a spectacular dessert if you’re having guests over for a special Easter lunch or dinner, and making the cute chocolate noodle nests is a lot of messy fun for the kids. Adding a third of the egg whites first loosens the mixture and allows you to fold through the remainder more gently, thereby retaining as much air as possible in the mixture.
08
Upside-down caramelised banana cake
Here’s another cake that’s lovely for afternoon tea or a special dessert. If you’re cooking with kids, take extra care when making the caramel as it will be very hot. And when it’s time to turn the cake out onto a plate, I recommend placing the plate on top of the pan, then getting someone to help hold it in place as you turn the whole lot upside-down – I’ve seen too many landing on the floor the wrong way up!
