Easter Treats to Sweeten Your Celebration

Easter is the perfect time to enjoy a few extra sweet treats, whether you’re sharing them with family or just treating yourself. This year, we’ve got two simple but delicious recipes that are sure to be a hit: rich and nutty Choc Nut Brownies and light, chocolatey Chocolate Mousse Meringue. They’re easy to make, look great on the table, and most importantly, taste amazing.

Let’s get into these delicious Easter treats!

Best-ever Choc-Nut Brownies

Makes 16 large squares or 36 small squares

Ingredients:
180g butter or margarine (180ml)
400g dark cooking chocolate, broken into pieces
4 extra-large eggs
280g granulated sugar (350 ml)
10ml vanilla essence
70g cake flour (125 ml), sifted
250g white or dark chocolate, chopped
200g pecan nuts, chopped (500ml)

Method:

1. Preheat convection oven to 160°C/140ºC fan/ Gas mark 3.
2. Grease and line with baking paper 1 large tin, or two 18 x 26 cm baking tins; grease paper again.
3. Place butter and chocolate into a large glass jug or bowl. Microwave on 100% power for 2 – 3 minutes,
   stirring each minute, until butter has melted and chocolate is smooth.
4. Beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer, on high speed, until thick and light in colour.
5. Beat in vanilla essence; then add in the melted butter and chocolate.
6. Fold in flour, white or dark chocolate pieces, and nuts.
7. Pour batter into prepared pans.
8. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a tester comes out almost clean.
   Settle for a more moist than dry result.
9. Allow to cool in the tin. Cut into portions with a wet knife.
10. Store in a sealed plastic container for a few days, or freeze.
11. Dust with icing sugar before serving.
12. For extra ‘wow’ – grate a slab of dark and white chocolate over the brownies when serving.
    

Variations:

• Add in 1 small packet Malteser chocolate balls in step 5. Omit chopped white chocolate.
  
• Tip: Nut allergy or just don’t have any nuts? Leave them out and the recipe still works very well, or to add in a bit of Easter flair, replace the nuts with Speckled Eggs!

The Hirsch’s Family Chocolate Mousse Meringue

Serves 12 – 16

Ingredients:

Method:

1. Preheat oven 110ºC/100ºC fan/Gas mark 1/4.
2. Prepare two baking trays approximately 33 cm x 23 cm with baking paper, extend the edges by
   approximately 2.5 cm all around; do not grease.
3. Make Meringue: Whisk egg whites using a large electric food mixer, until stiff but not dry.
4. Fold in sugar gradually in stages. When stiff and glossy, add in vanilla, vinegar, water and baking powder.
5. Divide meringue into two. Spread half onto each baking tray, making the mixture even in thickness and
   spreading into the edges of the tray.
6. Bake for 1 hour until firm and golden on top.
7. Make Filling: Melt chocolate in microwave oven on 70% power for 3 – 4 minutes, stirring each minute.
8. Cool slightly. Meanwhile, whip 500ml cream, divide in half, and fold in cooled melted chocolate to half of the cream.
9. Invert one layer of meringue onto a serving platter. Remove baking paper.
10. Spread with chocolate cream.
11. Invert second layer of meringue on top of chocolate cream.
12. Topping: Cover with plain whipped cream, and sprinkle crushed Flaky chocolate or chocolate curls.
13. Refrigerate before serving.

Tips:

• 200g berries may be arranged in the middle layer on top of the chocolate cream.
• Make chocolate curls easily by running a dry and clean vegetable peeler along the edge of a bar of chocolate: the chocolate will curl as you pull the peeler along the chocolate.
• Giant Chocolate Curls: spread melted chocolate on a silicone baking mat. Roll up loosely and tie with twine or an elastic band middle, top and bottom. Place in the refrigerator to firm, then gently unroll the mat. The chocolate will break as it is unrolled, thus creating perfect giant chocolate curls.

Whether you’re baking for a family gathering or just looking for something sweet to enjoy over the Easter weekend, these two Easter treats are a great way to celebrate. The Choc Nut Brownies bring that rich, comforting chocolate fix, while the Chocolate Mousse Meringues add a light, elegant touch to your dessert table.

Whichever one you choose, or if you decide to make both, you’ll be adding something special to your Easter celebration. Happy baking, and Happy Easter!