Essential Easter Guide: From Traditions to Brioche Feasts
“Get ready to impress this Easter with these creative & delicious meal ideas. Using St Pierre's brioche as the star ingredient, find out unique & easy-to-make recipes to elevate your celebrations.”
If you’re looking for unique Easter meal ideas for Easter Sunday then look no further! Here at St Pierre, we want to share some of our favourite Easter meal ideas and recipes using our brioche, so you can create a magnifique meal, from breakfast to dinner, and will impress even the most discerning palates.
Easter is just around the corner, and it’s a great opportunity to serve something delicious for your guests if you’re celebrating the occasion.
This includes traditional Easter food with a brioche twist, party food ideas using St Pierre’s products and delicious desserts to make the occasion even sweeter. Take a look at our Easter good things to know below, and keep scrolling to discover delicious ways to make your Easter magnifique with St Pierre.
When is Easter 2025 in the UK?
This year, Easter Sunday will fall on Sunday20th April 2025 in the UK.
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to the Christian faith, Jesus was crucified on a Friday (now known as Good Friday) and was buried in a tomb. Three days later, on Sunday, he rose from the dead, which is celebrated as Easter Sunday.
At St Pierre, we mostly see Easter as a wonderful occasion to gather with relatives and use our brioche in wonderful Easter-themed recipes.
When is Good Friday?
Good Friday is Friday 18th April 2025. It will be followed by Holy Saturday on 19th April 2025. Easter Monday is on 20th April 2025.
Good Friday and Easter Monday are both bank holidays in the UK. Most people use this as a good opportunity to enjoy a long weekend with their loved ones.
Why can’t you eat meat on Good Friday?
For religious reasons, it is customary to abstain from meat on Good Friday as a form of penance. For people who are non-religious, you can choose whether you want to observe this as part of your Easter celebrations.
Are shops open on Easter?
As Easter is a significant holiday in the UK, many people may wonder if shops are open on Easter Sunday. Generally, shops are closed on Easter Sunday, which is a public holiday in the UK. This includes most supermarkets, high street retailers, and shopping centres. However, some small shops may choose to open on Easter Sunday, particularly those that sell essential items.
It’s worth noting that in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, large shops (over 280 square meters) are also closed on Easter Monday, whereas in Scotland, they remain open. It’s always a good idea to check with your local shops for their specific Easter opening times to avoid disappointment.
When do you give Easter Eggs?
Easter eggs can be given at any time during the Easter season, which falls between late March and mid-April, but they are often exchanged on Easter Sunday itself. Some families may choose to have an Easter egg hunt, where children search for hidden eggs around the house or garden, as a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday.
Traditionally, Easter eggs were given as a symbol of new life and rebirth but today, many people give chocolate eggs or other sweet treats to friends and family members, particularly children.
The exact date of Easter changes every year, as it is based on the lunar calendar, but usually it falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.
What to do on Easter Sunday 2023?
There are many ways to celebrate Easter, depending on your personal preferences. Here are some ideas we have come up with:
- Have an Easter brunch or dinner
- Decorate Easter eggs
- Bake Easter treats
- Enjoy the outdoors
- Give back to your community
For more information, please visit our Easter occasion page.
What is Easter Monday?
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday, which is observed as a public holiday in many countries around the world, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
Before we dive into our unique Easter meal ideas, it’s important to remember Easter food traditions in the UK plays a significant role in the celebrations as the country has a rich culinary heritage. Different regions may have their own unique dishes and variations, but these classics are widely enjoyed across the country during the Easter season such as Hot Cross Buns, Roast Lamb, Simnel Cake, Easter Pie, Cullen Skink, Scotch Eggs…
With this in mind, we thought it would be interesting to contribute by suggesting ideas using St Pierre brioche for you to try as alternative meal ideas this Easter and impress your guests.
Alternative meal ideas to use brioche for Easter
Brioche is a delicious and versatile bread that can be used to create a variety of finger foods and bigger meals. From sweet to savoury, brioche can be transformed into mini sandwiches, crostini and even dessert bites.
1. Use our brioche to make hot cross buns
Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter treat in the UK and making them with St Pierre’s range of brioche – it could be our Brioche Buns or our Mini Brioche Buns – can be a delicious twist on the classic recipe.
As it is soft and slightly sweet, it makes for the perfect base for hot cross buns. It is also a quick and convenient way to make this traditional treat, so you don’t have to worry about making the dough from scratch.
How to make Brioche Hot Cross Buns?
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross on top of each bun.
- Bake the buns few minutes until hot and golden brown.
- To make the icing, mix the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. Drizzle the icing inside the top cross.
- You can customize your hot cross buns to your liking by adding different spices, dried fruit, or nuts to the buns to create unique flavours and textures.
Take a look at our video on Instagram to see how delicious they look!
2. Use brioche in your lamb stuffing this Easter
If you’re serving lamb for Easter dinner, consider using brioche in your stuffing mix. Its buttery-like flavour and soft texture will add a richness and depth to the dish.
How to make lamb stuffing using St Pierre’s Brioche Loaf?
It is relatively simple! Just replace your usual bread with our Brioche Loaf. You can even lightly toast it before to add a little more toasty-caramelised flavour to the stuffing. Take a look at our recipe below:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- In a large skillet, cook the ground lamb over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through
- Add your usual veggies such as onions, celery, and carrots to the skillet with the lamb and cook until softened
- Add fresh herbs like parsley, mint, and garlic
- In a large bowl, combine the lamb mixture with the cubed brioche bread (you can toast it first if you like)
- In a separate bowl, whisk together some chicken broth, egg, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the chicken broth mixture over the lamb and brioche mixture and stir until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the stuffing is heated through.
3. Leftover Shredded Lamb Easter Brioche Burgers
Using leftover lamb and turning it into a burger is a great way to repurpose your Easter leftovers and create a delicious meal. Using our Seeded Brioche Burger Buns adds a touch of sweetness and texture to the burger, making it a truly indulgent experience.
4. Seasonal Veggies For Easter Meal Ideas
Spring veggies are back! With Easter falling in the springtime, many fresh vegetables come into season around this time. Asparagus, peas and new potatoes are all popular choices to serve with Easter dinner. You could also use them to fill your Easter sandwiches or make a side salad and serve with whatever you’re eating during this occasion.
Party food Easter meal ideas
Brioche can be a great choice for Easter party food ideas as it is soft, lightly sweet and can add a touch of elegance and indulgence to any dish. Here are a few Easter party food ideas that incorporate brioche:
1. Brioche “Slider-Style” Sandwiches
Use our Mini Brioche Buns as a base for mini burgers or pulled pork sandwiches.
2. Brioche Grilled Cheese
Use slices of our Brioche Loaf instead of regular bread to make a decadent grilled cheese sandwich with your favourite cheese.
3. Brioche Bread & Butter Pudding
Use brioche bread as the base for a rich and creamy bread and butter pudding. Top with a bourbon caramel sauce for extra indulgence.
4. Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
Use St Pierre’s Brioche Swirls to make cinnamon rolls, filled with brown sugar and cinnamon and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
5. Brioche Brunch Sandwiches
Fill slices of brioche with your favourite brunch ingredients, such as scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, and cheese. Serve with a side of fresh fruit for a complete meal.
6. Mini Brioche Bites
Cut small circles out of brioche and top them with your favourite appetizers, such as smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers, or sliced ham and brie.
You could also opt for something like the below brioche pizza bites, which uses our Brioche Baguettes toasted and topped with classic pizza toppings like tomato, cheese and peperoni, and sliced up into bite-sized pieces.
No matter how you choose to use brioche, it is sure to add a touch of elegance and indulgence to your Easter party food spread!
Easy Easter Desserts Baking Ideas
1. Blueberry Custard Croissant Easter Bake
Looking for a delicious Easter breakfast or brunch idea? Try our Blueberry Custard Croissant Easter Bake made with St Pierre croissants! This delightful dish features light and flaky croissants filled with a luscious blueberry custard and topped with fresh blueberries.
It’s a perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavours that will impress your family and friends. With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you can create a beautiful Easter treat that everyone will love.
2. Strawberries & Cream Swirls Easter Tray Bake
Elevate your Easter dessert game with our delicious Strawberries & Cream Swirls Easter Tray Bake, made with St Pierre Brioche Swirls! This decadent dessert features soft and fluffy Brioche Swirls alongside a cream cheese and fresh strawberry filling. Topped with a sweet and tangy strawberry glaze, this tray bake is a perfect combination of flavours that will transport your tastebuds to Paris.
It’s an easy-to-make and impressive dessert that is perfect for sharing with family and friends during Easter celebrations. Give our Strawberries & Cream Swirls Easter Tray Bake a try to impress whoever you are serving it to.
3. Berry & Lemon Curd Brioche Casserole Easter Bake
Looking for a showstopping Easter pudding? Try our Berry & Lemon Curd Brioche Casserole Easter Bake made with St Pierre Brioche Loaf! This mouth-watering casserole features delicious brioche chunks soaked in a creamy mixture of eggs, milk and lemon curd, and topped with a medley of fresh berries. The result is a delightful combination of sweet and tangy flavours that will please everyone’s taste buds.
With just a few simple steps, you can create a stunning and delicious Easter treat that is perfect for sharing with your loved ones. Try our Berry & Lemon Curd Brioche Casserole Easter Bake for a delicious taste of spring in one sweet dish!
Easy Easter Cakes Ideas
1. Chocolate Easter Egg Brioche Cake Dessert
Impress your family and friends this Easter with a delicious Chocolate Easter Egg Brioche Cake. Made with our sweet St Pierre Vanilla Brioche Tear & Share, a rich chocolate icing and chocolate eggs, this dessert is not only beautiful but also easy to make. With minimal effort, you can create a dessert that looks like it took hours to make. Try this recipe and indulge in a delightful and convenient treat with your loved ones.
2. Brioche Easter Topped Apple Cake Pie
Indulge in the delicious flavours of Easter with our Brioche Easter Topped Apple Cake Pie made with St Pierre Brioche Loaf! This delectable dessert features a lightly sweet and soft brioche base topped with a fragrant mixture of fresh apples, zesty lemon and mixed spices. Baked to perfection, serve this warm dessert with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of sweet raisins.
This dessert is delightful and can make your Easter celebrations extra special. With just a few simple steps, you can create a beautiful and scrumptious Brioche Easter Topped Apple Cake Pie that will be the highlight of your Easter feast. You can even make individual portions for convenience!
3. Easter Crepe Cake Pops
Add some fun to your Easter celebrations with our take on Easter cake pops using St Pierre’s Chocolate Filled Crepes! These delightful treats feature our Chocolate Filled Crepes dipped in both melted white and milk chocolate and decorated with colourful Easter sprinkles. The result is a cute and delicious dessert or sweet treat that is perfect for sharing with your family and friends.
With just a few simple steps, you can create an impressive and festive Easter treat that everyone will love. Try our Easter Crepe Cake Pops and enjoy the delightful taste of St Pierre Chocolate Filled Crepes in a fun and unique way!
4. Easter Afternoon Tea To Share
Elevate your Easter Afternoon Tea with our St Pierre Vanilla Brioche Tear & Share filled with raspberry jam and whipped cream. Our beautifully crafted brioche features a fluffy and light texture, infused with a delightful blend of vanilla swirls, which pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy flavour of raspberry jam and the lightness of whipped cream.
This Vanilla Brioche Tear & Share is a delicious and elegant addition to your Easter celebrations, perfect for sharing with your loved ones over tea or coffee or having a sweet moment to yourself.
5. Easter Coffee & Chocolate Trifle Dessert
Made with layers of fluffy and deliciously sweet St Pierre Chocolate Chip Brioche Swirls, rich chocolate mousse and smooth coffee-infused cream, this dessert is the ultimate treat for any chocolate and coffee lover. Topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate, this dessert could be the showstopper for your Easter celebrations.
With just a few simple steps, you can create a stunning and delicious dessert that is sure to impress your family and friends. Treat yourself and your loved ones to our Easter Coffee & Chocolate Trifle Dessert made with St Pierre Chocolate Chip Swirls and enjoy a truly decadent Easter feast.
