Dear Diary,

Spring has finally arrived in Scotland!

After somewhat very April-like weather episodes of snow, wind, rain, sunshine and hail. All of course done the Scottish way, within an hour.

Spring for me is also always linked to Easter, quality family time and lots of good food.

Some countries have their own very special way to celebrate, like the massive Easter omelette with more than 15,000 eggs in France or the quite cute Easter Bilby from Australia.

Scotland might be less extravagant, nevertheless, there are some typical things you’ll find on the island.

And as a passionate baker, what better way than to kick off with some sweet Easter treats?

Scottish Easter Bakes

1) Simnel Cake

Simnel cake is a spiced, rich and dense fruit cake topped with marzipan that is traditionally eaten on Easter Monday.

It is quite similar to the Christmas cake but without the fun bit, the booze. And yes they do love their dried fruits here …

The 11 marzipan balls on the top are a must-have, as they represent the 11 apostles of Christ. For more finishing touches and some extra flavour, the marzipan is toasted using a blow-torch.

Its name origins go back to the mediaeval times. It started off as a much lighter, yeast-leavened bread using only high-quality ingredients. The word ‘simnel’ derives from the Latin ‘simila’ which means the finest and whitest of flours.

Over the years the dough got enriched and turned into the cake we’re so familiar with today.

Give it a try, here’s a classic recipe from Mary Berry.

2) Hot Cross Buns

No proper Easter brunch without Hot Cross Buns. An absolute British staple.

The buns are fluffy, slightly sweet and decorated with a cross. Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger turn them into a warming, comfy bake.

The recipe is simple and I’d recommend making your own rather than buying them at the shops. Jamie Oliver’s classic version is glazed with honey for some extra sweet stickiness.

The traditional Hot Cross Buns usually contain raisins (there they are again, the dried fruits), but you can leave them plain or use other dried fruits like cranberries or apricots.

Take your buns to the next level. Try adding earl grey & orange or a what about this yummy and gooey brownie version?

By the way, they are so popular here that they even inspired a very well-known nursery rhyme.

Scottish Easter Tradition - Egg Rolling

Easter egg rolling is the fun bit Scots do on Easter Sunday, symbolising the rolling of the stone from Jesus’ tomb.

Lots of small towns even host their own contests.

The rules are simple.

Let your painted, hard-boiled eggs roll down a hill. The one that gets the farthest distance without breaking is crowned the winner.

There are many hills in Scotland, so the ultimate recipe to success is to find one with a gentle slope.

Certainly a great excuse to explore your local area and enjoy some early Spring sun vibes.

In case you were wondering what ‘A' Chàisg Sona’ means - it’s Happy Easter in Gaelic.