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With five kids between Becca and I, Easter can be a challenge. The approaching onslaught of the Easter school holidays is counterbalanced by the joyful prospect of eating bucketfuls of chocolate.

While many of you may be considering getting out of the city over Easter, we’ve found plenty of reasons not to bother. So here’s our handy guide to surviving the Easter holidays in Oxford, with sanity intact and tummies happily full.

For entertaining the family – The Covered Market Easter Egg Hunt

Pop along to Oxford’s Covered Market for your chance to win a HUGE 3kg chocolate egg. Meander around the historic market while looking for clues, and you’ll keep the kiddos occupied for ages, all the while upping your chances of taking home that massive egg! Pick up a few more goodies while you’re there too.

For ‘paw’some hot chocolate – Colombia Coffee Roasters

Colombia Coffee Roasters in Oxford’s Covered Market is a speciality, single-origin coffee roasters, part of a generation of coffee growers from Colombia.

Supporting Fair Trade conditions to ensure their coffee is sustainable and ethical, their coffee beans come from their family farm and neighbouring small coffee farms, meaning they can trace the origins of every bean.

As well as great coffee, they also make a cracking hot chocolate! Pop in with the family for a drink that will make them smile while stocking up on some freshly roasted coffee beans to get you through until the start of next term.

For a little bit of spice – Cinnamon Kitchen

Spice up your Easter weekend at Cinnamon Kitchen Oxford, the new modern Indian restaurant from Vivek Singh at Westgate.

Treat the whole family without sacrificing on style, with the vibrant junior menu for kids aged eight and under. For just £9, choose Peshwari naan and house black daal; tender chicken malai skewer with rice; fish daal with pan-fried seabass; or roti and cheesy peas pizza; with a scoop of homemade ice cream and a soft drink.

With a one course lunch for £12, and set menu for dinner (two courses for £24 or three for £28) alongside a la carte and tasting menus, there’s something for everyone this bank holiday weekend.

Tie it in with a trip to the newly opened Curzon cinema at the Westgate and you’re almost through a whole day!

For escaping to – Society Cafe

For rainy day baking – Easter Lemon Cupcakes from Happy Cakes

The lovely Julia at Happy Cakes will be returning to Bitten Street with us again this year, but for those who just can’t wait, here’s a recipe for her delicious Easter lemon cupcakes.

INGREDIENTS; CAKE

• 250g butter/margarine
• 250g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 250g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp lemon essence
• 2 lemons, finely zested

METHOD

1. Cream together the butter, sugar and lemon essence until pale and fluffy
2. Beat in eggs
3. Fold in the flour and lemon zest
4. Divide between 12-15 paper cases and bake 180C for 16-20 minutes till golden and springy to touch
5. Allow to cool before decorating

INGREDIENTS; ICING

• 125g butter, softened
• 500g icing sugar, sieved
• Lemon juice
• Lemon curd
• Food colouring, if desired
• Sugar flowers, sprinkles or mini eggs to decorate

METHOD

1. Beat together the butter, icing sugar with lemon juice to a mixable but stiff icing
2. Mix in food colouring if desired
3. Insert lemon curd into the centre of the cakes using an insertion nozzle or cut out the core of the cupcake with a small sharp knife and spoon in a teaspoon of curd
4. Use an open star nozzle and piping bag to pipe swirls of icing on to the cakes
5. Decorate as desired

You could also try making this beautiful Simnel Cake from Modern Baker

Recipe: Modern Baker’s Simnel Cake

Have a Happy Easter!