Make-ahead Easter recipes
Put together a low-stress spring feast with our make-ahead Easter recipes. Whether you fancy doing some baking, making homemade gifts or are hosting the big lunch, these Easter recipes will help you get ahead in the kitchen.
Rustle up Easter Sunday lunch with our make-ahead mains, like slow-roast lamb and chicken pies. Prep some seasonal sides like baked chicory with ham, roast carrots with sesame or tender sherry-braised leeks. Starters are always a canny dish to make ahead of time and stash in the fridge or freezer. Our make-ahead Easter starters include a vibrant and fresh pea soup, and Gill Meller’s rich trout terrine with capers.
Follow with a dessert that you can whip out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve.
If you’re making the most of the long weekend with a relaxed potter in the kitchen, then try some of our make-ahead Easter bake recipes. Perfect if you’ve got family or friends dropping in for a cuppa, or need something to serve while the kids are scrambling in the flowerbeds for the Easter egg hunt.
Finish off your Easter menu by taking a look at our Easter lunch recipes, hot cross buns for Good Friday and ways to use up any leftover chocolate. Happy Easter!
Showing 1-16 of 56 recipes
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Fondant recipes
Tom Kerridge’s cappuccino fondants
These melting-middle cappuccino fondants by Tom Kerridge are hard to resist thanks to the combo of indulgent chocolate and aromatic coffee.
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Medium
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Cheesecake recipes
Caramelised white chocolate cheesecake
This showstopping cheesecake has a chocolatey biscuit base, a creamy caramelised white chocolate filling and golden ganache topping.
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Medium
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Pannacotta recipes
Burnt honey pannacotta with rhubarb and chamomile syrup
Ravinder Bhogal's burnt honey pannacotta with rhubarb is the perfect make-ahead dessert for spring, including your Easter lunch.
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Medium
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Gratin recipes
Baked chicory with ham
Chicory wrapped in ham and baked under a cosy blanket of cream, gruyère and parmesan makes a great side for roasts or a veg-led dinner.
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Easy
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Soup recipes
Pea soup with dill and wasabi crème fraîche
This elegant pea soup makes an excellent Sunday lunch or Easter starter. Wasabi peas add heat and crunch, a contrast to the velvety soup.
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Easy
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Baking recipes
Hot cross banana bread
Banana bread meets hot cross buns in this delicious Easter loaf. The brioche bun dough is filled with a spiced almond and banana paste.
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Medium
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Ragù recipes
Lamb ragù
Our lamb ragù recipe uses slow-cooked lamb shoulder to make the perfect rich sauce for pasta. Make a few days ahead to let the flavours meld.
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Easy
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Easter recipes
Mini Egg rocky road
A tiny amount of effort and patience rewards you with a Mini Egg rocky road that’s perfect for sharing at Easter time.
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Easy
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Pannacotta recipes
Marsala pannacotta
The addition of marsala wine and rum, plus the light coating of caramel, creates a complex flavour to this irresistible pannacotta recipe.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Easter recipes
Milk chocolate bark with pretzels, candied bacon and jelly beans
This seriously-extra milk chocolate bark is full of sweet-meets-salty flavours: crunchy pretzels, chewy jelly beans and candied bacon.
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Easy
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Alpine recipes
White chocolate bark with waffles and marshmallows
Our alpine white chocolate bark is topped with chestnuts and meringue alongside hot-choc-inspired marshmallows and stroopwafel crunch.
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Easy
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Chocolate mousse recipes
Michel Roux Jr’s chocolate mousse
Learn how to make the perfect chocolate mousse, with this masterclass recipe from leading chef Michel Roux Jr.
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Make-ahead Easter recipes
Mashed potatoes with greens and bacon
For mash with a difference, try our silky mashed potatoes with bacon and greens. Serve alongside beef, lamb or chicken for Easter lunch.
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Easy
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Dinner party dessert recipes
Chocolate orange pithivier
Chocolate orange lovers won't be able to resist this decadent dessert. Our chocolate pithivier has a rich filling encased in golden pastry.
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Easy
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No-bake desserts
Chilled chocolate soufflés with salted almond praline
Looking for an impressive make-ahead dessert? These decadent chocolate soufflés with salted almond praline can be made 1-2 days in advance.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes
Chocolate coconut meringue wreath
This is one epic dessert. A chocolate coconut meringue wreath topped with fruit curd, chocolate cream, toasted coconut and melted chocolate.
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