The first long weekend of the year is in sight, and we’ve been trawling the shelves for Easter specials and tasty food and drink to try at home. Read on for some Easter inspired inspo to stock your larder with this spring.
1. Tarla Bake at Home pastries
These darling little make-at-home patisserie kits have just launched and are just the ticket for a fun family project over the Easter weekend. Choose your pastry of preference out of Croissant, Almond Croissant, Raspberry Danish, Apricot Danish, Pain Aux Chocolat and Pain Aux Raisins and then simply – just roll, prep, bake and eat. Tarla kits use Type 45. flour which produces very fine flour and boy did our bakes rise a treat once unleashed from their packaging. The whole range is made with real yeast and no chemicals. Our creations were epic in size and equally good in taste.
RRP: From £12.50 per pack
2. World of Zing – Hot Cross Bun-Hattan
We’re big fans of Pritesh Moody’s World of Zing cocktails at Chatting Food towers and love the sound of their latest seasonal special. Hot Cross Bun-Hattan fuses Mount Gay Eclipse Rum with Rosso Vermouth and Zing homemade Hot Cross Bun Liqueur which is filled with sugar and spice and all things nice, blending essence of sultanas, apples, citrus peels and cinnamon and nutmeg. Shake over ice to serve.
RRP: £16.00
3. PLAYin CHOC Rabbit box
Here’s something sweet that will keep children entertained at Easter lunch. Each PLAYin Choc box contains two vegan chocolates, a 3-D animal puzzle and a fun facts card. The organic single estate Peruvian chocolate has been ethically sourced and contains 1/3 less sugar than other larger chocolate brands. Not just for Easter, collect the different collections including woodland animals, dinosaurs and more.
RRP: £2.50 , or £15.00 for the set of 6
4. Heads & Tails
Fuelled by all the people in desperate need of good calibre cocktails during lockdown, Heads & Tails bar in Hampstead North London now has a range of artisan serves that can be delivered across the UK. We reckon their Espresso Martini might be just the ticket to a wild start to your long weekend. Made with a fusion of vodka, coffee liqueur, cold-brew coffee & syrup simply shake over ice for a velvety-smooth ready-to-drink cocktail. Each bottle serves 6-8.
RRP: £33.99
5. Tony’s Chocolonely
If you’re on the hunt for the latest choccies Tony’s Chocolonely has three new products out this spring. Egg-stra Special Chocolate Egg Mixed Flavour Pouch, Egg-stra Special Chocolate Egg Sea Salt Caramel Pouch, and an Egg-stra Special Milk Chocolate Egg Pouch.
They have a unique flavour range with combos like lemon meringue, milk pretzel truffle and white raspberry popping candy. More importantly Tony’s Chocolonely are devoted to supporting the cocoa trade ensuring they only buy fairtrade and fair priced cocoa beans. They ensure all their beans they purchase for their products are fully traceable, they pay a higher fairer price for them and they support the cocoa farming trade in Ghana and Ivory Coast, notable for having the worst conditions. Tony’s mission is to make all chocolate 100% slave-free.
RRP: £4.99
6. Hot cross bun beer
The Wild Beer Co. in Somerset has taken the humble hot cross bun as its inspiration for this latest seasonal brew. ‘One A Penny’ fuses raisins, mixed citrus peel, cinnamon, all spice, vanilla, and nutmeg. The beer is full bodied and hazy, similar to a New England IPA, but without the hops. You’ll get a sweet and spicy finish coming through form the vanilla and nutmeg.
RRP: £2.75
Launching on www.wildbeerco.com on 21st March.
7. Nucao chocolate bars
Here’s an eco-conscious start-up brand for those that want their Easter snacking to be ethically grounded. Climate positive chocolate company Nucao has launched a new range of vegan chocolate bars and will plant a tree in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects for every Nucao chocolate bar sold. 100% organic and vegan, the chocolate is made from a Peruvian farmers’ cooperative, ensuring the chocolate bars are created from fairly grown and purchased cacao. Choose from five flavours including creamy noisette, crisp & crunch, and white chocolate. Available now nationwide in Sainsbury’s health food aisles.
RRP £2.25.
8. Joe & Seph’s Popcorn slabs
Cuddle up on the sofa with these new ultimate sharing snack products from Joe & Sephs. The pioneers of popcorn have launched two popcorn slabs. Choose from Milk Chocolate or Vegan Dark. Their award-winning, air-popped giant kernel popcorn has been drizzled in chocolate and baked in a slab.
RRP: £7
9. Lyres Pink London Spirit
Looking for a totally Instagrammable non-alcoholic drink to serve up to guests this Easter?
Try Lyre’s latest – Lyre’s Pink London Spirit. It’s gluten-free, vegan, contains no artificial ingredients and has just 11 calories per serve and best of all it's bright pink! See below for a cocktail recipe to try at home. Trying it at home? Send us your pics at @chattingfood
RRP: £23.50
Lyre’s Pink Lady
60mL Lyre's Pink London Spirit
30mL cloudy apple juice
15mL lemon juice
15mL pomegranate Syrup
15mL egg whites (or Aquafaba)
1 tsp organic apple cider vinegar
Shake brief with ice. Strain into glass
10. Crosstown Hot Cross Bun Doughnut
Move over cronut, this Easter Crosstown is launching … the vegan Hot Cross Bun Doughnut!
Pick up the limited-edition between 21st March to 18th April only, in stores or via delivery through their website. They’re made from vegan dough, which has been lightly spiced and filled with cinnamon custard and topped with a tasty Seville orange glaze. This definitely tastes like a hybrid – more hot cross bun than doughnut in texture but not overly sweet. Each doughnut is topped with a spiced cross and candied orange peel. Happy Easter!
RRP: £4.50
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Chatting Food Features Editor Jo Aspin
Half American / half (born and bred) Londoner, Jo Aspin is a food writer and established freelance food, drink and lifestyle PR. When she’s not eating her way around London, she’s planning her next trip abroad.
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