We know that holidays can sometimes be a stressful time of year for parents of children with an EGID and multiple food allergies. There are many things we can all do to make Easter enjoyable for the whole family.
Tips to help you celebrate Easter:
- Many online specialty shops such as those listed on our Allergy Friendly Foods and Products page sell allergy friendly treats, dairy free/gluten free/soy free/nut free Easter eggs, hot cross buns etc.
- Use plastic bunny or Easter egg moulds to make safe marshmallow, chocolate or jelly treats, or use Easter cookie cutters with your favourite safe biscuit recipe. Check out the links on our Allergy Friendly Recipes page to search for some recipe ideas.
- Buy fillable plastic eggs and fill with safe edible treats, stickers, small toys, coins for older children etc. You can put them in their Easter basket or hide them around the house or yard for a fun Easter treasure hunt. These are readily available at most dollar stores and department stores.
- Use fillable plastic eggs to hide notes inside, or hide the note clues around the house or backyard to lead to a bigger Easter gift. There are lots of fun treasure hunt ideas on the internet if you are stuck for ideas!
- Make Easter baskets filled with non-food items such as stuffed toys, cars, books, colouring and craft sets, gift cards etc., Try wrapping the gifts in cellophane or foil.
- Buy plastic, plaster or polystyrene foam eggs from dollar stores or craft shops and have your child help you decorate them with paint, markers, stickers, glitter etc.
- Have fun making your own Easter egg stones to hide like these Projects with Kids - Easy Painted Easter Egg Rocks.
- In recent years there has been an increase in non-dairy and nut-free chocolate Easter products on the market – visit Australian Allergy Friendly Finds on Facebook and Instagram for some suggestions of products we’ve found this Easter!
- Remember to always read the ingredient label on the product packaging carefully before purchasing any Easter treats and to contact the manufacturer directly if you have any questions regarding allergen statements and suitability for your individual requirements. It’s good practice to triple check ingredients - once when you buy the product, check again when you get home and check once more before consuming.
- Teach your child from an early age not to eat any treats that they have been given without checking with you and the importance of always reading the ingredient labels. Small Easter eggs wrapped in foil from a packet don’t have ingredients on them individually and can all look the same.
- As an alternative to dyeing eggs, check out this idea of dyeing marshmallows from Nerdy Mamma.
- Speak to your child's school or preschool early! Offer up ideas for how they can have fun without food or with allergy friendly food. Ask teachers and classrooms to have non-food parties or offer to bake the treats yourself for the class or arrange a fun craft activity with the class.
Gingerbread Folk Easter Treats
ausEE is fundraising with Gingerbread Folk. To support us at Easter, please purchase your Gingerbread Folk treats through our fundraiser link and use our discount code AUSEE to get 5% off!
Orders are shipped direct to you by Gingerbread Folk and ausEE charity will receive a 20% commission from every sale using the AUSEE discount code! Everything you purchase using the AUSEE discount code attracts a discount and a commission (not just products from their Easter range).
Gingerbread Folk Mini Bunnies make a great alternative to chocolate, a gorgeous addition to Easter baskets and fabulous Easter table decorations! They are egg free, dairy free, nut free and gluten free!
Useful Links
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia - Managing food allergies at EasterAllergy Life - 10 Tips to Manage Food Allergies during EasterAllergysave - Easy Allergy Free Easter
Happy Tummies - Easter BlogKids with Food Allergies - Celebrate Easter with Food AllergiesLil Allergy Advocates - Faux Egg Decorating IdeasLil Allergy Advocates - Food Free Easter Egg Hunt IdeasPassion for Savings - Rice Krispies Treat Easter Eggs
The Spruce - 40 Creative and Super Adorable Easter Basket Ideas for Kids
Recipes
Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients:
Batter2 1/2 tspn dry yeast3 1/2 cups plain flour1/4 cup brown sugar1/2 tspn salt1/2 tspn nutmeg3/4 cup sultanas1 egg equiv. (i.e. Orgran ‘No Egg’ egg replacer)2 tbsn dairy-free margarine (i.e. Nuttelex)310 ml water
Crosses1/2 cup plain flour80 ml water2 tspn sugar
Glaze2 tbsn water2 tbsn sugar1 tspn gelatine
Glaze2 tbsn water2 tbsn sugar1 tspn gelatine
Chocolate Bird Nests
- Ingredients:
- Dairy free chocolate
- Desiccated Coconut (you can also use Chang’s gluten free fried rice noodles, bran sticks, shredded coconut etc. depending on what you can eat)
- Mini fluffy chicks or safe candy/jelly beans to decorate
- Method:
Marshmallows
Ingredients:1½ tbsn gelatine100 ml cold waterpinch salt1 1/4 cups sugar140 ml hot watercolouring (optional)flavouring (optional)
Method:Place gelatine, cold water, and salt in a mixing bowl.Place sugar and hot water in a saucepan and bring to boiling point.Pour over gelatine and stir until gelatine has dissolved.Beat in a mixer until thick and white. Add colouring and flavouring whilst beating (if using).Pour into a greased tray or moulds. Refrigerate until set.Cut into squares and toss in coconut, toasted coconut or tapioca starch.
Sugar Cookies
- Tips for decorating with fondant (optional):
Ingredients:250g Nuttelex1 ¼ cups icing sugar1 tspn Orgran ‘No Egg’ egg replacer mixed with water2 tspn vanilla essence3 ½ cups plain flour1 tspn baking powder
Method:In a bowl of electric mixer, using paddle attachment, cream together Nuttelex and icing sugar until light and fluffy.Add in ‘no egg’ and vanilla essence, mix well.Add combined flour and baking powder slowly, blend until all the flour is mixed in and the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.Remove dough from bowl, wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate for approx. 1 hour.Roll out dough on floured surface to 1cm thick and cut out shapes.Place cookies on greased baking trays and bake at 180C for 10 minutes.Allow to cool before icing.
Easter Celebration Cake
- Ingredients:
- 2 cups self raising flour
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 tspn Orgran ‘No Egg’ egg replacer (recipe also works without but is a little crumbly)
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup of milk (i.e. dairy free milk or any suitable)
- 1/2 cup oil (i.e. rice bran oil or any suitable)
- 1 tspn vanilla essence
- 1 tbsn coffee
- 1 cup boiling water
- Method:
Recipe and photo contributed by Kathleen.
Coconut Ice
Ingredients:2 cups caster sugar1/2 cup water1/4 tspn cream of tartarPinch salt1 cup desiccated coconut
Method:Put first four ingredients into a medium saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.Boil for 7 minutes.Add desiccated coconut and boil for another minute.Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.Beat by hand until thick.Pour half the mixture into a lined bar tin and press out. Add pink food colouring to remaining mixture and pour it over the white mixture. You need to work quickly or it will set!Refrigerate until firm and then cut into squares to serve.
Recipe and photo contributed by Marion.
Page last modified: 27 August 2023