8 Carrot Cake Bakes and Easter Sweets Worth Making

Carrot cake in many forms, plus other baked treats that taste like spring.

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1. Classic layered carrot cake

Grate the carrots finely, add toasted walnuts and warm spice, then sandwich the layers with tangy cream cheese frosting. Chill before slicing so the layers stay neat and the crumb stays moist.

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2. Carrot cake muffins with orange glaze

Bake the batter in muffin tins and drizzle with orange icing. They travel well to family lunches and are far easier to serve than a large cake.

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3. Mini carrot cake jars

Layer crumbled cake and frosting into small jars with a sprinkle of chopped pecans. They look pretty on a buffet and each guest gets their own portion.

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4. Nest cookies with candy eggs

Toss cornflakes with melted chocolate, shape them into small nests, and press three mini eggs into each. Children can make these with almost no help, which makes them a good kitchen project.

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5. Lemon drizzle bunny cake

Bake a lemon loaf and decorate with a bunny face made from marshmallow ears and coconut fur. The fresh citrus cuts through the richness of the day's chocolate.

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6. Hot cross buns from scratch

Knead a spiced dough with currants and orange zest, pipe on the crosses, and glaze with warm apricot jam. The smell of baking alone makes the house feel like Easter.

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7. Simnel cake with marzipan balls

Bake a fruit cake with a marzipan layer in the middle and eleven marzipan balls on top. It is a British tradition, and the toasted top makes it a real showpiece.

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8. Pastel macarons

Tint macaron shells in pale pink, mint, and lemon, and fill them with vanilla buttercream. Stack them in a tiered stand for an elegant finish to the meal.