20 recipes to get you excited about Easter

Easter is a highlight of the food calendar, and who doesn't love roast lamb and hot cross buns? But when you've got two bank holidays and your house is chock-a-block with chocolate that you can use as an ingredient, why not try cooking something new? Whether hanging out in the kitchen is your idea of egg-cellent Easter fun or you're looking for quick recipes that leave you plenty of time to watch Easter Parade while you unwrap that fifth Easter egg, we've got recipes for you – from Easter lunch to Sunday brunch, cakes and traybakes.

Make Easter egg treats

Go the extra mile with your Easter eggs and turn them into something amazing!

1. Mini egg cheesecake – this no-bake cheesecake has crushed mini eggs running through it and an (almost) too-good-to-eat chocolate nest to house more eggs on top.

2. Mini egg brownies or blondies if you can't go double-chocolate. Easy and quick, their fudgy texture make them the perfect Easter treat for house guests and kids alike.

3. Easter egg nests – the easiest Easter treats you can make; you don't need much more than chocolate, cornflakes, and, er, mini eggs!

Give eggs a new twist

Easter is all about eggs, so why not have them for lunch or dinner?

4. Eggs royale – Easter Sunday lunch doesn't have to be roast lamb. Keep it feeling special, but with brunch vibes with poached eggs and hollandaise over some smoked salmon. Or keep it classic with eggs benedict served with ham.

5. Quiche Lorraine – this is the project bake if you want transportability. A solid quiche can hold up en route to a picnic or a visit to relatives. James Martin's classic quiche Lorraine is a good place to start but there are plenty of vegetarian quiches, too.

6. Fish pie – if you want a cosy dish for a rainy spring day, and you've been painting hard-boiled eggs, put them to use in Mary's classic fish pie.

If you love all things chocolate

Why stop at chocolate eggs?

7. Easter egg brownies – bring a touch of Easter fun to your brownies – using biscuits in the batter keeps the fondant-filled eggs in place, and adds some lovely texture.

8. Chocolate hot cross bun pudding – if you have too many Easter eggs and leftover hot cross buns, make them fabulous with this easy recipe.

9. Easter rocky road – a great way to use up leftover Easter eggs, this no-bake fridge cake is a lovely pud or afternoon treat with a cuppa.

Try these Easter treats

If Easter is all about hot cross buns and Easter biscuits in your house…

10. Hot cross buns – surprisingly easy to make and your kitchen will smell amazing!

11. Simnel cake – the original and best Easter cake from the queen of cakes, Mary Berry.

12. Easter biscuits are classically garibaldi style, loaded with currants, candied peel and spice. But if dried fruit isn't your bag, these cute egg-shaped jammy sandwich biscuits might do the job.

13. Easter cupcakes – we challenge you to look at these cupcakes and not melt. The cute bunnies are made with piles of buttercream, desiccated coconut, marshmallow ears and sweets for faces.

Go big on brunch

Eggs and brunch are inseparable, so go large with some of our best ever Easter breakfasts.

14. Scrambled eggs – start with the creamiest scrambled eggs, and build up your brunch your way. Smashed potatoes, migas with black beans or with plenty of healthy greens.

15. Fried eggs – spice up breakfast with Tiktok-inspired fried eggs. Use chilli crisp, feta or spicy 'nduja to get things going. Serve with toast or a potato rosti.

16. Shakshuka – there are endless variations on these eggs cooked directly in a highly flavoured vegetable sauce, but this is the classic.

For the big Easter lunch

Fancy classic roast lamb or want to try something new this Easter? There's something here for you.

17. Slow-roast lamb shoulder – a good value roast for feeding a crowd; cook it low and slow and it will be lovely and tender.

18. Easter pavlova – this pretty pavlova is sure to impress, and it can be made in advance so there'll be no last-minute panic.

19. Torta pasquale – an Italian classic that's perfect for vegetarians; try it for an al fresco lunch if the weather plays ball.

20. Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding – use up slightly stale buns with this relaxed dessert.