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!

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Tom Kerridge’s cappuccino fondants

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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Caramelised white chocolate cheesecake

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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Burnt honey pannacotta with rhubarb and chamomile syrup

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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Baked chicory with ham

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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Pea soup with dill and wasabi crème fraîche

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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Hot cross banana bread

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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Lamb ragù

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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Mini Egg rocky road

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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Marsala pannacotta

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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Milk chocolate bark with pretzels, candied bacon and jelly beans

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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White chocolate bark with waffles and marshmallows

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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Michel Roux Jr’s chocolate mousse

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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Mashed potatoes with greens and bacon

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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Chocolate orange pithivier

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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Chilled chocolate soufflés with salted almond praline

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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Chocolate coconut meringue wreath

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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