Easter In The Garden

WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH

IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR

Oh, I do love Easter… there’s something so wonderfully hopeful about it, isn’t there? The long weekend and all the opportunities to relax that bring, autumnal soft sunshine, a garden just beginning to show off, and the perfect excuse to gather everyone you adore around a beautifully set table outdoors. This year, I’m taking things outside, quite literally, and embracing a Garden Party Easter, where the food is just as pretty as the setting because we are celebrating with the deliciousness that is Moondarra Cream Cheeses.

Moondarra cream cheese is one of those quietly luxurious staples I always love having on hand, beautifully made here in Australia using fresh, high-quality dairy, with a focus on generous flavour and a wonderfully smooth, creamy texture. Moondarra has a lovely way of blending classic techniques with creative flavour pairings, making it feel both comforting and a little special. You’ll find it at retailers like Coles, Woolworths and select gourmet grocers, which means it’s easily accessible; perfect for those moments when you want to elevate something simple into something rather lovely.

Get Creative with Cream Cheese

Now, let me tell you about the simplest little idea that looks utterly enchanting: open sandwiches designed as tiny edible garden friezes. Yes, really! Think delicate, painterly arrangements that feel almost too pretty to eat (almost). They’re charming, surprisingly easy, and wonderfully affordable; exactly the kind of entertaining I adore. With a few days off, you most definitely have time to get creative - so why not get creative with your food styling? The secret? A luscious base of flavoured cream cheese, and I’ve been using the most delightful selection from Moondarra. Each flavour becomes your “canvas,” inspiring the toppings and overall look of each little garden scene.

Featuring the Cranberry & Macadamia cream cheese, this delicious Strawberry Toast is rich, slightly tart, and wonderfully textured. This one is perfect for deeper, more autumnal tones (even in Easter, we can play with contrast!). Think ruby-hued pomegranate, flavoursome strawberries, and perhaps a few sprigs of thyme or baby greens instead of edible flowers. It creates a more layered, abundant “garden bed” look, full and generous. This is a perfect decadent breakfast, so let’s indulge!

Then there’s the Apricot & Almond Cream Cheese, which has the most gorgeous, slightly tangy sweetness. This one lends itself beautifully to warm, golden tones - just like the garden scenes we have created above! These miniature works of art are a little fussy to make, but oh-so worth it. They are stunning on the table and will most definitely wow your guests, but don't be afraid to bite into them. A lush serving of cream cheese and a fresh crunch of vegetables makes for a stunning meal. It’s sunshine on a plate, and visually it creates the most lovely “sun-drenched garden” effect.

Let’s start this chopping board masterpiece with the Honey & Pistachio cream cheese….a dream, truly. It’s softly sweet with a gentle nuttiness, making it perfect for creating a more romantic, floral-style charcuterie board. Using the flavoured cheese as the flower centres, ready for dipping, scraping, and devouring, I have paired them with thin slices of capsicum and carrot to create large-stemmed garden flowers. Anchored by a patch of edible grass made with a combination of pea tendrils, open snap peas, asparagus spears, cauliflower florets and a drizzle of olive oil. It feels like a soft spring meadow… delicate, light, and just a little bit whimsical. What I adore most about these is how, although the styling requires effort and care, the delicious star of the show - Moondarra Cream Cheese, absolutely shines. A simple slice of bread, a generous spread of cream cheese, and then a little moment of creativity. You don’t need to be a chef……just think of it as arranging flowers, but on toast.

Set them out on a long table in the garden, perhaps on a linen cloth with a few fresh blooms scattered about, and you have the most magical Easter setting. Guests can admire, nibble, and inevitably ask, “How did you make these?” which is always such a lovely conversation starter. It’s entertaining at its most joyful: relaxed, beautiful, and just a little bit playful. And truly, isn’t that what Easter in the garden should be? 🌿✨