Looking for a fun and wholesome Easter baking project? These Healthy Gingerbread Easter Bunnies are lightly spiced, naturally sweetened, and perfect for holding your favourite organic Fairtrade chocolate.
This healthier gingerbread recipe uses wholemeal flour, coconut sugar, and maple syrup, giving you a treat that’s sturdy enough to shape into bunnies while still soft and flavourful. It’s ideal for Easter baking with kids, gifting to friends, or adding a playful touch to your holiday table.
Ingredients
For the gingerbread:
- 280g wholemeal flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 80g coconut sugar (or light brown sugar)
- 80g coconut oil (solid, not melted)
- 80ml maple syrup
- 1 egg (or flax egg for vegan)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Optional decorations & filling:
- Small Easter eggs or squares of Bennetto Orange with Chilli organic Fairtrade chocolate
- Melted chocolate or icing for faces
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (fan) / 190°C (conventional) and line a tray with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the wholemeal flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Rub the solid coconut oil into the coconut sugar until sandy, then stir in the maple syrup, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms. Chill for 15–20 minutes if the dough feels sticky.
- Roll the dough to about 5–6mm thick. Use a gingerbread person cutter flipped upside down to create bunny shapes. For the “arms,” gently press a small piece of foil where your Easter egg will sit to create a pocket.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are firm but the centres remain slightly soft. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, remove the foil placeholder and place a small Easter egg or a square of Bennetto organic Fairtrade chocolate in each bunny’s arms, securing it with a dab of melted chocolate. Pipe on simple faces or icing details to bring your bunnies to life.
Tips
- Wholemeal flour keeps the bunnies sturdy but light.
- Coconut sugar and maple syrup provide gentle sweetness without overpowering the spices.
- The foil placeholder ensures a perfect chocolate pocket.
- Decorate freely (each bunny can have its own personality).
Serving
Serve fresh, display on your Easter table, or gift to friends and family. These wholesome gingerbread bunnies stay soft for 3–4 days in an airtight container, and the chocolate-filled arms make them a showstopper for Easter celebrations.
Enjoy! And make sure to tag us in any of your baking on Facebook & Instagram @BennettoNaturalFoods and use the hashtag #BakingwithBennetto
