Plotting my Easter Menu

My son's first simple Peter Rabbit Themed birthday

Apr 07, 2025

∙ Paid

Bonjour,

I pretty much missed all Easter celebrations last year because I was too busy giving birth to my second baby. Easter is my favourite celebration of the year. To my big French family, Easter was often synonym of Baptism. With 18 direct cousins, let’s say that it was always a big family feast and I recall many happy childhood memories! I am continuing this family tradition with my own, having baptised my first daughter Fleur 2 years ago and hoping to do the same with my son Raphael next year.

Although things are going to be different forever now my son is a true Easter baby! (Read on my experience here) I am going to milk the Easter theme, starting with his first birthday party. His second name is Pierre ( like my brother, my Papi, my uncle, my little cousin etc etc ) and I thought I’d add a British twist with a Peter Rabbit birthday (Pierre le Lapin in French). I only usually celebrate my children birthday with family and godparents because we are often in France or in Cheshire, but this year we were in London! I really had a lot of joy and fun plotting his birthday party!

My son’s first birthday celebrations

In a world where kids birthday parties get out of hands - no I do not want to eat a cupcake with your baby’s face on it nor a party bag full of sweets to get home - I am not judging, and if it makes you happy, you do you, it is just not my vibe (Please don’t hate me for it and it is a privilege to be able to celebrate our children how ever we like it <3 )! But I think it makes it unattainable to many, when a simple cake and family & friends are really what matters. I always throw celebrations like this very last minute and with minimal efforts and costs. I spent £27 on a balloon arch which was truly amazing and simple to make and also bought some cupcake toppers, maximum effect for verry little effort.

What I baked and cooked

The BEST vanilla cupcakes with a soft and light cream cheese icing (free recipe below)

Makes 14 cupcakes

80g salted butter, diced
220g caster sugar
280g plain flour
240ml whole milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Method

In a bowl, combine the butter, flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Use an electric mixer or your hands to crumble it all together. Set aside.
In another bowl. combine the milk, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well and add to the crumble mix.
Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter into the muffin cases. Bake at 190C for 16 minutes.

For the cream cheese icing

100g salted butter, soften
200g cream cheese icing
500g/ 600g icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 or 2 tsp milk if necessary

Method

In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the butter until creamy. Add half of the sugar and mix well, then add the cream cheese.
Continue to mix and add the rest of the sugar and the vanilla extract. Adjust the consistency with a little milk if needed.
Add colouring if using and pipe on top of the cooled cupcakes.

A simple Brioche as his birthday cake (see video here)

A wholemeal waffles brunch

We continued the Easter inspired celebrations with a brunch at our house in the morning. I made the waffles with my new waffle machine - a revelation - and I served them with scramble eggs, salmon, bacon and avocado. And for the sweet ones, homemade Nutella (recipe here) and some marmelade.