By Meg Hurst
Bags packed, essays in the back of your mind, still be nursing that Varsity hangover? If this is you, here are some of the best sweet eats in and around Cardiff to satisfy everyoneÔÇÖs Easter cravings. Treat yourself!
The One for Instagram
A little out of Cathays, Blanche Bakery offers a huge range of vegan doughnuts, drinks, and brunch options. Their Easter range even includes a little bunny tail doughnut! If, like me, you live with a range of vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters, Blanche is ideal as the vegan versions of classics youÔÇÖd find in chain coffee shops are just as delicious. If you arenÔÇÖt going home for Easter and fancy somewhere different to work other than the ASSL, you could do far worse than Blanche. Its clean Scandinavian style furniture and pretty Instagram backgrounds make for a relaxing environment and the doughnuts make excellent brain food.
No BSc, No Problem
Science Cream is located in the Castle Arcade. If doughnuts and pastries arenÔÇÖt your thing and you donÔÇÖt find yourself reaching for the mini eggs at Easter, try their liquid nitrogen ice cream and desserts instead. With over twenty flavours, and being the only ice cream parlour of its kind in Wales, itÔÇÖs well worth a visit. I recommend the caramelised hazelnut but if youÔÇÖre feeling brave, they have flavours like ÔÇÿChristmas treeÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿbacon and eggÔÇÖ.
The One Where You Need To Get Up Early
Just a short trip on the train, BethÔÇÖs Bakes in Newport regularly sells out. They specialise in cookies, cupcakes, brownies and cakes, and have recently expanded so they can sell even more. TheyÔÇÖre open Wednesday to Friday and they counter is stocked at 11am. You can find them on Instagram sharing pictures of both their delicious creations but also the huge queue outside their store in the morning! Get there promptly. You have been warned!
A Little Taste of Scandinavia
Br├©d is located in Pontcanna and serves a whole range of Danish pastries and breads that are baked fresh every morning. Alongside a range of coffees, most of the food and drinks are available to go, so as the weather warms up its location makes it ideal to enjoy wienerbr├©d (pastries) and a kaffe (coffee) in one of CardiffÔÇÖs many beautiful parks. As Easter isnÔÇÖt just all about the chocolate eggs and the food, invite your family or friends and book an afternoon ÔÇÿHyggeÔÇÖ tea. Hygge is a Danish concept that encompasses a general feeling of contentment and happiness, so look no further if those end of term exams are getting you down or if you just need to spend some quality time with the ones you love!
Make a Day of it
If you fancy a sweet brunch but feel like youÔÇÖve exhausted all your Cardiff options, or just fancy a change of scenery, the Haystack Caf├® in Swansea does a beautiful range of coffee, pancakes and specials like cake jars. TheyÔÇÖre also independently owned so every time you visit, youÔÇÖre supporting a small business! If you donÔÇÖt have a massive sweet tooth like me, they do a great range of savoury brunches and lunches. Each Friday, Haystack make a different cheesecake, just in time for the weekend. However, this may require a certain amount of control to last the whole train journey if you plan to keep it for your return to Cardiff! Whilst youÔÇÖre in Swansea, be sure to check out the Gower Doughnut Co for beautiful, handmade, small batch doughnuts. Be sure to take a look at their Instagram of the same name to see when theyÔÇÖre in Swansea or visit them in Carmarthen market every Friday.
You can find all these places on Instagram if you want to know more, find out opening times, or just give yourself cravings whilst you write your essays!