With Easter just around the corner, HELLO! Online has spoken to top pastry chefs Eric Lanlard and Claire Clark, along with MasterChef John Torode, for the perfect Easter cake recipes. Take your pick from delectable eclairs, melt-in-the-middle chocolate moelleux or a banana yogurt cake, and get the baking tin out...
Claire Clark's springtime eclairs
One of the world's top pastry chefs, Claire has worked in some of the best restaurants in the world, including Claridges Hotel in Mayfair and London's glitzy grand cafe, the Wolesley, on Piccadilly. She received an MBE for her services to the food industry in 2011, and was the head pastry chef at America's three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry in the heart of the Napa Valley where she worked alongside famous American chef Thomas Keller.
Have fun with the children making Easter eclairs. Claire's top tip is: "Ensure you stir the choux pastry before adding the eggs so you release some of the steam, cooling the mixture. This will make sure the eggs do not cook in the hot dough."
Eric Lanlard's chic French creation, dark chocolate moelleux
Top French patissier Eric Lanlard has won himself an international reputation for baking superlative creations for an impressive A-list clientele, including Madonna, Sir Elton John and even making the Queen Mother's 101st birthday cake. He was also the patissier called on to make a four-tiered cake for Holly Branson's wedding in 2011 – which was flown to Necker Island in the Caribbean on a private jet, as well as an eight-tier tower of brightly coloured cupcakes for Amanda Holden's wedding to music producer Chris Hughes in 2008.
Eric's dark chocolate moelleux is a mouthwatering, melt-in-the-middle type of cake. The extremely moist sponge is a perfect base for an Easter cake filled with a rich chocolate buttercream and coated with a glossy ganache. It looks great decorated with berries or dried fruits and nuts.
MasterChef John Torode's Portuguese banana yogurt cake
We all know him as the co-presenter and judge of hit cookery show, MasterChef. John Torode is perhaps one of the most influential figures in the UK culinary market, and known to many food enthusiasts for his sharp-tongued critiques and high expectations on screen. Test the Australian chef's perfection by trying his easy-to-make Portuguese banana yogurt Easter cake.
