Fun Easter Baking

Easter brings about all sorts of holiday baking, from traditional to the whimsical. Whether it's a rich Russian Orthodox cake to basket cupcake, nothing beats them as a nice end to a dinner with family and friends.They're the perfect compliment to those chocolate eggs and marshmallow Peeps.

It's mostly Italy and Eastern Europe that give us centuries old Easter pies and breads. Southern Italy has the pastiera.It is a ricotta and egg pie, with a buttery crust. Lemon zest, candied fruit , vanilla and cinnamon are blended together along with the dairy and 1/2 pound of  cooked wheat.It's history comes from the baptism ceremonies on Easter night during the reign of Emperor Constantine/ Another traditional Italian Easter cake is La Colomba or the dove. You can buy this however a homemade one is always better appreciated.This is from the Lombard region where Milano is and it is true of Northern Italian baking.It is redolent with butter and almonds along with candied fruit. Yeast gives it its rise and sugar crystals give it a bright sparkle.A week after the Western Easter is the Orthodox which is an all out time to bake.The Russians make kulich,  which resembles a pan d'oro, topped with a thick layer of icing.It is baked in a coffee can to give it that unique tall, tubular  shape.Like the Colomba it is a yeast cake and chock full of eggs , butter, raisins and almonds.Orange rind, vanilla and the exotic spice of cardamom also round out its' unique flavor while its.  icing is a simple lemon glaze made with confectioner's sugar.

Of course there is a fun, and playful side to Easter baking.One of the most favorite and most made are the Easter egg cookies.You can use your own recipe or simply buy the Pillsbury prebaked ones. For the icing you can use an already made one like Betty Crocker,a buttercream or a dyed glaze. The simplest is the glaze.It holds the best and is a great canvas for different decorations. You can use an icing pen to write the kids' names or a variety of sprinkles , dragees and sanded sugars  to come up with fun stripes or polka dots. Bunny and chick cookic can also be fun, For "fluffy" looking ones sprinkle on regular coconut flakes for the bunnies and dyed yellow ones for the chicks.Dying coconut is easy, Dribble gel frosting into a bowl of the shreds and stir until every piece is colored. Spoon and spread the flakes  on waxed paper until completely dry. Another cute idea are Easter basket cupcakes.Make any kind of flavor and then ice with a simple buttercream frosting. Roll the cupcake edges in green dyed coco nut or pipe green icing around the top. Add jelly beans , chocolate eggs or a Peep on top. The handle is a curved green pipe cleaner For added sweetness you can glue on a regular satin mini bow or flower on them. 

Easter baking is both traditional and fun. No matter what you create , a rich kulich cake or an Easter egg cookie, it's sure to be a treat.They are sweet holiday endings that give a finishing flair to a Spring dinner.