Isn't making crispy cakes the ultimate culinary childhood ritual?! And at Easter time I see my Facebook feed flooded with lovely shots of chocolately fingers and mini eggs, in sticky, delicious nests. The most ordinary recipe that can tempt almost everyone!

But I fancied something more grown up for Easter this year. Raspberries for eggs and rich dark chocolate. The easiest way to mature this simple recipe is to lose the paper cake cups. Use a metal muffin baking tray and set the cakes in the freezer for half an hour, before transferring to the fridge. Then pop them out with a spoon and serve on a nice cake stand. Goodbye kids birthday party, hello afternoon tea ;)

Ingredients: (Makes 12 cakes)

• 100g bar dark cooking chocolate
• One generous handful of granola
• 60g fruit & nut mix - raisins, dried blueberries, pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons of golden syrup
• 2/3 raspberries per cake
• a pinch of chilli flakes
• crushed meringue to sprinkle 

Melt your chocolate slowly or it will burn! Break your bar into even small pieces and melt in a bowl over a steaming pan of hot water on the hob or for 30 seconds at 900W in the microwave at a time. Stir gently but consistently to help the chocolate melt evenly. 

Add your granola, dried fruit and nuts and a pinch of the chilli flakes. Stir together until every piece is coated in chocolate. Add 2 tablespoons of golden syrup and mix together. Dollop in equal portions into your baking tray, top with raspberries, add a sprinkle of crushed meringue and extra chilli flakes if you are brave! 

Set in the freezer for half an hour then transfer to the fridge for another half an hour. 

Eat. 

What is your absolute must make for Easter? I am determined this year to branch out on my cooking skills other than melting chocolate!

An Easter tree, an Easter tree?!!! Yes, yes, this may sound like a silly concept but I LOVE it! It's actually a Swedish tradition called a Paskris. 

But I am all for any excuse for seasonal decor and when you can buy teeny tiny wooden egg decorations why not?!

But the thought of getting out the Christmas twigs just didn't seem right so I created a living tree from foraging in the back garden!

I cut off a couple of branches from a large shrub and used an old plant pot that has lovely grape hyacinth coming into bloom. Leave enough "stem" on your branch pieces for them to poke far enough into the plant pot.

Then get decorating! The kids will love it and it brightens up your home.

I made a couple of ideas too. Seriously easy and you can get them out every Easter.

Moss Bunnies

Super sweet! All you need is some florist's fake moss and some cardboard decorations. I bought these bunny shapes in The Range. You could use real moss but then they wouldn't keep year on year!

Using a sharp pen knife cut through the edges of the cardboard and peel back the top layer. Remove the cardboard insert and stuff with moss. Pack it tightly so it doesn't spring back out. I safely cut the cardboard but let the boys help with the stuffing!

Watercolour Feathers

I bought a basic watercolour set the other week as I want to make some DIY photography backdrops. Plus I've always loved the way watercolours blend into each other and would love to learn how to use them properly. But for now, in a busy week, a simple and quick idea is to paint feathers! 

You get a subtle ombre effect by adding more paint to the base of the feather then using a touch of water and dragging your brush towards the tip.

And with the little wooden decorations I spied in Waitrose the other day (seriously it's dangerous for me to even get a pint of milk in there - far too many lovely things) we have  pretty and colourful Spring decor in the living room.

I popped the boys' paper eggs under the tree and they are so excited for Easter day to see what's inside.

Fancy making your own Easter tree?! Or am I just loopy?!

Have a peek at some other ideas you may have missed from last year too.

Easter Living Display • Chocolate Spoon Gifts • Paint Chart Egg Hunt • Savoury Nests • Smores

I love the idea of giving little Easter gifts to the boys that don't have to feature chocolate!

They will be spoilt by family with Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, chicks and we seem to have an endless pack of mini eggs in the house, (How is anyone meant to resist the little boxes?!) not to mention all the lovely treats they had in the last week of term at school. Competition prizes and chocolate rewards are fab but when I spied these old fashioned paper eggs in the local garden centre it gave me an idea.

Did you ever have one of these as a child? I am hoping we can start a little tradition and keep them for every Easter.

All you need is the egg, some tissue paper to keep your surprise from rattling around too much and a small gift.

I thought this tiny farm set was so sweet and as they are complete magpies and constantly collect baskets of curious tiny things from around the house to play with, I know these little figures will inspire hours of imaginative play.

Line your egg, add your gift and an extra length of ribbon if you fancy!

Will you give Easter presents?! My brother's mother in law in America makes up the most incredible Easter gift baskets for each of them! Like Christmas - amazing!