Laying out Easter treats this bank holiday weekend is a great way to bring everyone together, whether it’s an Easter egg hunt for the kids or just relaxing with family and friends. Putting out nibbles and snacks means everyone can try a bit of everything, and an informal buffet is always more fun than a three-course meal. With the right savoury snacks and sweet treats, you can be sure to keep everyone full and happy over the long bank holiday weekend. Even if you haven’t got any plans to host guests this weekend, a couple of hours baking in the kitchen can be a great bank holiday activity for the kids.

By this time of year, you’re probably tired of seeing the same old rice Krispie recipes. We’ve left the chocolate nests aside and selected some more unique recipes for your snack table this year. You can also make sure no one is left out with our favourite recipes divided into kids and adults. You’ll find one healthier savoury snack and one delicious treat for each, plus some amazing centrepiece goodies to finish.

Easter treats for the little ones

Flower pot hummus dips

With all the sweets and chocolate that inevitably comes with Easter, you might be concerned about the impact on your kid’s health. If that’s the case then these adorable flower pot hummus dips might just be the perfect solution. This recipe includes all the ingredients and instructions for making your own delicious hummus, but you can always cheat and get some from the shop if you’re short on time – just make sure to check the nutritional information first.

Once you have your hummus you’ll just need some clean flower pots from your local garden centre and your choice of veggies. Carrots look particularly charming, but you can include tomatoes and other vegetables to dip as well. Small 2” pots work great for single servings, or double up the batch and use a bigger pot for a serving centrepiece. The playful presentation of this recipe is a fun way of getting kids to eat their veggies and the perfect balance to all those chocolate eggs.

Easter chick lemon cookies

Even when it is treat time your kids might want a bit of a break from the chocolate. These lemon cookies in the shape of cute Easter chicks make a tasty sweet treat without bombarding your kids with even more chocolate. These cookies use lemon cake mix, which you can either buy ready-made or go all out and make your own from scratch. This recipe also recommends chocolate chips and frosting to decorate, but you can use any type of icing or sprinkles to create your chicks as you like.

Easter treats for the big ones

Deviled egg chicks

Even grownups can’t resist the charms of cute little chicks, so they’re sure to love these adorable deviled egg chicks. As well as looking cute and tasting great these deviled eggs are really easy to make with hard boiled eggs and a simple deviled egg filling. Make sure you hard boil a few more eggs than necessary in case of any mistakes when trying to get the yolks out.

When it comes to turning your deviled eggs into cute chicks, use some carrot to create the beaks and black olives for the eyes. This recipe cleverly uses a straw to poke round eyes out of the olives, and simply cuts slices of carrot into six to create neat triangles for the beaks. Finish off by displaying your chicks on a large serving dish, nestled in some leafy parsley or lettuce for a fresh and free range look.

Easter egg macarons

Macarons have a reputation for being difficult to make, but these sweet and sophisticated Easter egg macarons are worth the effort. This recipe could be the answer for anyone that is hesitant about making french Macarons. By skipping some of the longer steps like ageing the egg whites and letting the shells rest for an hour before baking, this recipe should simplify and cut down on cooking time without detracting from the taste.

The best thing about this recipe is you can decorate your eggs however you like once you’re finished. If you’re in a lazy mood just a few swirls will still make these macarons stand out on the buffet table, or go as elaborate as you like for the wow factor. Plus, french macarons are a great way of showing off your dedication and cooking skills to impress your guests.

Amazing Easter centrepieces

Spring Krispie cake

Although we did say we were leaving the Krispie recipes alone this year, this spring Krispie cake was too good to miss out on. Although it uses the same cereal and marshmallow mix we all know and love, this cake makes the use of a Bundt tin and some colourful candy melts to make a confectionary centrepiece your guests will love. Both adults and kids will find this cake as delicious as it looks, plus with no baking required you can whip it up at the last minute without a problem. Decorate with any other icing and sweets you like in your favourite Easter colours.

Easter bunny cupcakes

These adorable Easter bunny cupcakes are also just as easy to make and are perfect if you want to get the whole family involved. With the help of some marshmallows and some frosting you too can create these bunny cakes. Make your own cake mix or buy it ready-made to cut down on time, and decorate with frosting however you like. These pictures show some more intricate piping, while kids can simply slather on for an equally adorable finish. You can then display on a cupcake stand to create a unique centrepiece, or place around your Spring Krispie cake for a more elaborate display.

If you can’t get enough of Easter or have big plans this weekend, you can get even more Easter treats and ideas here.