The Lidl Easter egg hunt: scavenger hunt for all ages and desserts for the family

For many families, Easter wouldn’t be complete without an Easter egg hunt. We all have our own traditions, with some hiding beautifully decorated hard-boiled eggs, others using artificial reusable eggs filled with treats or clues and many using foil-wrapped chocolate eggs. Whichever is your preference, here are some simple tips and ideas for an Easter egg hunt to suit younger and older children.

1. Decide on your venue. A local park can be a great option for a larger get together. As we know only too well the weather does not always cooperate, so a backup plan is advised. If you decide to stay at home you can combine indoors and outdoors to extend the life of the egg hunt. 
2. Plan your route taking the range of ages into consideration. The Lidl Favorina range has a fantastic selection of mini treats such as mini foil-wrapped chocolate sheep, rabbits and chicks ideal for any Easter egg hunt. They even have an Easter egg hunt kit which consists of 22 individual colourful foil-wrapped chocolate eggs and some clue markers, ideal for the younger egg hunters. 
3. Add some challenges for the older egg hunter. Have a bowl of clues ready and let them choose one at a time. Clues can include “Somewhere cold”, the fridge or “where clothes get washed”. Let’s hope they know where the washing machine is.
4. If you are using reusable eggs that need filling with treats, Favorina have a great range of mini cream-filled eggs. You can also include “vouchers” in these eggs offering hot chocolate with dad or a pizza and movie night or an extended bedtime night. 
5. A scavenger hunt adds extra excitement to an Easter egg hunt. Plan a route with clues along the way. Award spot prizes. Lidl’s Favorina range also offers some beautifully presented chocolate gifts such as cuddly toys with chocolates, decorated eggs and lots of chocolate characters such as Larry the Lamb and a soccer Easter bunny.

Elaine's Easter wreath chocolate cake (serves 6 to 8)

Having been inspired by all of the cake decorations and sugar paste colours available in Lidl I decided to bake an Easter wreath cake, using a 9-inch bundt cake tin. This is a very simple and versatile chocolate sponge recipe. You can of course use a regular cake tin if you do not have a bundt cake tin and you can also add flavours to this recipe. Try replacing the vanilla essence for the zest of one orange for a chocolate and orange cake, or a few drops of mint flavouring for chocolate and mint or even adding a tablespoon of instant espresso powder for a mocha-flavored cake. 

Ingredients for chocolate cake

• 125g dark chocolate
• 3 tbsp milk
• 150g butter at room temperature
• 150g caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 200g plain flour
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method for chocolate cake

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Butter and flour the tin. Place the chocolate and milk in a bowl sitting over a saucepan of gently simmering water and heat until the chocolate has melted. Cream the butter and caster sugar together. Whisk the eggs in one at a time and then fold in the melted chocolate. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and the bicarbonate of soda and gently fold into the mixture, being careful not to overmix. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for about 25 minutes, insert a skewer to check if the cake is ready. The skewer should come out clean. Allow the cake to sit in the tin for a few minutes, to cool slightly before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

Ingredients for chocolate buttercream icing

• 450g icing sugar, sifted
• 150g butter at room temperature
• 60g cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp of cream

Method for chocolate buttercream icing

Cream the butter until soft and add the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the cream and continue to mix for a few minutes until the icing is soft and fluffy. Cover the cooled sponge with the chocolate buttercream icing and have fun decorating. I used mini eggs from the Favorina range and made leaves from the green sugarpaste icing available in Lidl. I also filled the hole in the centre with chocolate eggs and this proved to be a very popular decision with my family.

Elaine's Easter lemon cupcakes (makes 12)

Cupcakes are fun, easy to make and suit every occasion. Lidl have some gorgeous ready made Easter cupcake decorations, making it easy to produce beautiful little cupcakes no matter what your skill level. 
You will need a 12-hole cupcake tray lined with paper cases.

Ingredients for cupcakes

• 120g plain flour
• 150g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• Zest of one large lemon
• 40g of butter at room temperature
• 120ml whole milk
• 1 egg

Method for cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees C.Cream the butter in a large bowl until soft, add the sugar and grated lemon zest until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and milk and whisk until combined. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. Spoon the mixture into paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Ingredients for lemon buttercream icing

• 75g of butter at room temperature
• 175g icing sugar, sifted.
• Grated zest of one lemon
• 1 to 2 tsp lemon juice

Method for icing

Cream the butter in a bowl until very soft. Gradually beat in the icing sugar, along with the lemon zest and juice. You can also add a food colouring of your choice at this point. When the cupcakes are cold, top with the frosting and have fun decorating. 

Lidl Deluxe Egg Range

This Easter, the Lidl Deluxe range offers us some fabulous grown up treats. There is an egg to suit every taste with flavours such as Cornish Fudge, Eton Mess, Dark Mocha and Cornish Sea Salted Caramel. These Belgian chocolate eggs are loaded with various little taste sensations.

For those who prefer a darker chocolate try the Ecuadorian and the Madagascan eggs from the Lidl Deluxe premium range. The Ecuadorian hand decorated egg has an intense cocoa flavour with subtle floral aromas. 

The Madagascan egg has delicate fruity notes and a sweet cocoa aroma.

For adults, these eggs will pair very well with a glass of red wine or port, perhaps providing a relaxed ending to a sugar-filled Easter Sunday.