Easter ensemble

Three writers share the recipes they love to make over the long holiday weekend

- SABRINA GHAYOUR, NICOLA LAMB and KESHIA SAKARAH

Choc cross buns

My mum is the master of Easter egg hunts. Even though it's been a decade since we left home, my sisters and I love to return to our childhood home and gleefully do battle collecting all the expertly hidden eggs. My mum acts as a steely-eyed referee, of course, keeping us in line should our hunting tactics get on the shady side (which they inevitably do, we are sisters after all). Beyond beating my sisters at the egg hunt, the next priority is to enjoy as much chocolate and as many hot cross buns as possible. I'm thrilled to combine these two preoccupations: rich chocolate brioches studded with chocolate chips and finished with a salted caramel cross - the cinnamon syrup is a nod to the classic buns and makes the tops shiny. Pro tip: eating one of these will definitely give you the energy to edge out the competition on any egg hunts. Trust me, I've got a three-year winning streak.

1 HOUR 20 MINUTES + PROVING + COOLING MAKES 9 BUNS A LITTLE EFFORT

CARAMEL CROSS

• caster sugar 95g
• unsalted butter 50g
• double cream 60g
• sea salt flakes 12 tsp

CHOCOLATE BRIOCHE

• fast-action dried yeast 2 tsp
• whole milk 100g, warmed
• strong white bread flour 2259 caster sugar 25g
• eggs 100g (about two)
• unsalted butter 80g, softened
• cocoa powder 20g
• milk chocolate chunks 100g
• egg 1, for egg wash

CINNAMON SYRUP

• caster sugar 60g
• cinnamon stick 1