With Easter just around the corner next weekend, there's something magical about getting the kids involved in the kitchen. The flour ends up everywhere, someone inevitably licks the spoon before you're done mixing, and somehow the simplest recipe becomes a full-scale production. But isn't that half the fun?
This year, why not try something a bit different with these gorgeous Easter treats from Carnation? They've been helping Irish families create sweet memories for over a century, and these recipes are perfect for little hands to help with. From adorable disappearing bunnies to chick lollipops that'll have the kids squealing with delight, these treats will make your Easter weekend extra special.
Disappearing Easter Bunny Cupcakes
These playful cupcakes are guaranteed to get giggles from the little ones. The fondant bunnies look like they're diving headfirst into the grass-green icing, leaving just their fluffy tails and pink paws visible. Fair warning though: make sure they don't actually hop away before you get to enjoy them!
Ingredients:
100g plain flour
25g cocoa powder, sifted
250g Carnation original drizzle or Carnation condensed milk
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
85g buttery baking spread (70% fat)
1½ tsp baking powder
200g icing sugar
55g buttery baking spread
Few drops vanilla extract
Green food colouring
1-2 tbsp Carnation Condensed Milk
175g ready to roll white icing and pink writing icing
12 carrot sugar decorations (optional)
You'll also need: 12-hole muffin tin and muffin cases
Method:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens), Gas Mark 4.
Step 2: Place the flour, cocoa powder, 250g Carnation condensed milk, egg and ½tsp vanilla, 85g buttery baking spread and baking powder into a bowl. Beat with an electric hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until pale and creamy. Spoon mixture into the cases and bake for 15-18 minutes until springy and golden. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool.
Step 3: Beat icing sugar, remaining buttery baking spread, vanilla and green colouring with enough condensed milk to make a thick icing. Spread onto cakes and rough with a fork.
Step 4: To make the bunnies, roll 12 x 18g balls of the white fondant and 12 pea-sized balls. Rough up the small balls with a cocktail stick for the tails. Place the large ball in the middle of the icing, stick the tail to the body with a little water. To make the feet, roll out the remaining icing and using a small oval cutter, cut out 24 feet. Pipe 3 dots on the bottom of the feet and one in the centre. Stick the feet to the bunny using a little water.
Easter Chick Lollipops
These little chick lollipops are perfect for Easter egg hunts or as a treat for the whole family. The kids will love decorating them with jellies and sprinkles, and you can make them in under an hour. Let everyone create their own chick personality!
Ingredients:
For the cake pops:
150g buttery baking spread (70% fat)
150g soft brown sugar
175g Carnation Original Drizzle or Carnation Condensed Milk
1 medium egg
225g plain flour
125g self-raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice
Finely grated zest of one lemon
For the icing:
200g icing sugar
2 tbsp Carnation Condensed Milk
Yellow food colouring
Black icing pen
Yellow and orange jelly diamond sweets
Yellow hundred and thousands
You'll also need: 2 baking sheets lined with baking parchment and 20 lolly sticks
Method:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C for fan ovens), Gas Mark 4.
Step 2: Beat the buttery spread, sugar and condensed milk together until creamy. Add the egg (don't worry if it looks like it's curdling), beat well and then add the flours, spice and lemon zest. Mix to a firm but sticky dough. Cover in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface to the thickness of a one-euro coin. Cut out using a 6cm round cutter. Transfer the biscuit shapes to the trays and insert the lolly sticks into the sides, just a quarter of the way through. Re-roll the trimmings to make more biscuits.
Step 4: Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. Mix the icing sugar with the condensed milk, yellow colouring and a little water. Ice and decorate the biscuits with the sweets and use the black icing pen to draw the eyes, then leave to dry. Store in an airtight box for up to a week.
Millionaire's Crispy Cakes
These are crispy cakes on another level entirely. They'll be the first to disappear from any Easter table, so you might want to hide a few for yourself! The combination of that caramel layer with the chocolate topping is absolutely divine.
Ingredients:
For the base and caramel:
125g butter
125g dark brown soft sugar
397g Carnation Condensed Milk
100g rice cereal
For the topping:
150g dark or milk chocolate
You'll also need: 20cm (8in) brownie tin, lined with baking parchment
Method:
Step 1: Heat the sugar and butter in a non-stick pan gently, stirring until melted. Add the condensed milk and bring to a rapid boil, stirring continuously.
Step 2: Cook the caramel for a minute or so until the filling has thickened.
Step 3: Put one third of the caramel into a large bowl and mix in the rice cereal. Press the mixture into the base of the tin and chill until set (about 15 minutes). Reserve the caramel.
Step 4: Pour the remaining caramel over the base. Cool, then chill until set. If the caramel is very thick and cool, put it back on a gentle heat until it softens slightly. This will make it easier to pour over the base.
Step 5: Place the chocolate into a bowl and microwave gently in short 10-20 second bursts until melted, stirring occasionally. Once melted, spread over the caramel for the topping, then chill until set. Remove from the tin and cut into squares. Dip your knife in hot water (then dry on kitchen towel) to make it easier to cut through the chocolate. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days, if it lasts that long!
There's something wonderful about spending time in the kitchen with the kids, especially when you're creating treats for a special occasion like Easter. Yes, it might take twice as long and create three times the mess, but the memories you'll make are absolutely priceless. Plus, Carnation makes it easy to turn simple ingredients into something truly special.
So this Easter weekend, why not give one (or all!) of these recipes a try? The kids will love getting involved, and you'll love seeing their faces light up when they taste their creations. Just remember to take photos of those flour-covered grins before the clean-up begins!
