Easter Cake

Easter Cake is a festive dessert that celebrates the spring season and the Easter holiday with bright flavors, colorful decorations, and symbolic ingredients. From traditional fruit-filled Simnel cakes to light and fluffy sponge cakes topped with pastel frosting, Easter cakes bring a joyful finish to your holiday meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect centerpiece for your Easter table
• Customizable with flavors like lemon, almond, or vanilla
• Fun and creative to decorate with seasonal themes
• Can be made ahead for easy entertaining
• Appeals to both kids and adults with its festive look and sweet taste

ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Butter
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Milk or buttermilk
• Vanilla extract or lemon zest
• Optional: marzipan, dried fruit, coconut, food coloring, sprinkles, chocolate eggs, frosting

directions

this recipe

1. Preheat oven and prepare your cake pans by greasing and lining them with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla or zest.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
6. Pour batter into pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool completely before decorating with frosting, coconut, sprinkles, or chocolate eggs.

Servings and timing

• Serves: 10–12
• Prep time: 20 minutes
• Cook time: 30–40 minutes
• Total time: 1 hour (plus cooling and decorating time)

Variations

• Simnel Cake: Add dried fruit and marzipan layers
• Coconut Easter Cake: Use coconut in the batter and decorate with coconut flakes
• Lemon Cake: Add lemon juice and zest for a bright flavor
• Mini Egg Cake: Decorate the top with chocolate mini eggs and pastel sprinkles
• Bundt Cake: Use a Bundt pan and glaze with icing for a simple presentation

storage/reheating

• Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days
• Refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container
• Freeze undecorated cake layers for up to 2 months
• Let chilled cake come to room temperature before serving

FAQs

What type of cake is best for Easter?

Light, fruity cakes like lemon, vanilla, or coconut are popular for spring celebrations.

Can I use a cake mix?

Yes, you can use a boxed mix and add your own decorations and flavor enhancements.

What decorations are traditional?

Pastel frosting, shredded coconut, chocolate eggs, and edible flowers are all festive choices.

Is Simnel cake part of Easter tradition?

Yes, it’s a traditional British Easter cake made with fruit and marzipan.

Can I make it gluten-free?

Yes, use a gluten-free flour blend and ensure other ingredients are gluten-free.

What if I don’t have food coloring?

You can use natural options like beet juice or turmeric for subtle pastel hues.

Can I bake it ahead of time?

Yes, bake and freeze layers ahead, then frost and decorate on the day of serving.

What kind of frosting should I use?

Buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or a simple glaze all work well.

Do I need to refrigerate the cake?

Only if it has cream cheese or dairy-based frosting.

How do I get pastel-colored frosting?

Add a few drops of food coloring to white frosting and mix until desired shade is reached.

Conclusion

Easter Cake is more than just a dessert—it’s a joyful expression of the season. Whether you go traditional with a Simnel Cake or modern with a frosted layer cake topped with colorful decorations, this festive treat brings warmth, sweetness, and celebration to your holiday table.

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