Everyone will save room for dessert at Easter. Breads, cakes, pies and treats, Easter is probably one of the sweetest holidays. Here are 20 of our favorite desserts and treats for Easter to inspire you.
| Dessert | Prep TIme | Cook Time | Number of Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simnel Cake | 25 min | 2 hrs | 10-12 |
| Hot Cross Buns | 30 min | 20 min (+ rises) | 12 |
| Italian Easter Bread | 30 min | 35 min (+ rises) | 12 |
| Paska | 30 min | 35 min (+ rises) | 8-10 |
| Pastiera Napoletana | 40 min | 60 min | 10-12 |
| Italian Easter Rice Pie | 25 min | 50 min | 8-10 |
| Colomba di Pasqua | 40 min | 45 min (+ rises) | 12 |
| Polish Easter Babka | 30 min | 45 min (+ rises) | 10-12 |
| Carrot Cake | 20 min | 35 min | 12 |
| Easter Lamb Cake | 25 min | 60 min | 10 |
| Lemon Bars | 15 min | 35 min | 24 bars |
| Strawberry Shortcake | 20 min | 15 min | 12 |
| Coconut Cream Pie | 25 min | 20 min | 8-10 |
| Mini Cheesecakes | 20 min | 20 min | 12 |
| Raspberry Tart | 30 min | 25 min | 8 |
| Pavlova | 20 min | 90 min | 8 |
| Bunny Sugar Cookies | 25 min | 10 min | 24 |
| Chocolate Bird's Nest Cookies | 15 min | No-bake | 20-25 |
| Rice Krispies Treat Eggs | 20 min | No-bake | 9-12 |
| Easter Chocolate Bark | 15 min | Chill 45 min | 16 pieces |
Traditional Easter Desserts from Around the World
Cultures around the world that celebrate Easter often have special desserts associated with the holiday. Many symbolize renewal, family, and spring, and all of them are delicious. These traditional Easter desserts are worth making, especially if you want to try something new this year.
Simnel Cake (United Kingdom)
Simnel cake is a fruitcake layered with marzipan. It's traditionally topped with 11 almond balls symbolizing the apostles. This British classic is a great way to add international flair to your Easter table.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Cream butter + sugar; beat in eggs. Fold in flour, spices and fruit.
- Spread half into lined tin; cover with marzipan disc; top with rest of batter.
- Bake for 2 hrs until set. Brush with jam, add marzipan balls, grill lightly.
Hot Cross Buns (United Kingdom)
Hot Cross Buns have been eaten on Good Friday for centuries. Marked with a cross, they're to Easter what pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving desserts.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm milk + sugar.
- Mix flour, butter, egg, spices; add yeast mix. Knead for 10 min.
- Rise for 1 hr; divide into 12 buns. Pipe crosses with flour paste.
- Bake for 20 min at 400°F. Brush with sugar glaze.
What is your favourite Easter sweet treat?
Pane di Pasqua (Italy)
This is a great showstopper for your table. Delicious and symbolic, this is a sweet bread with hints of citrus. It's like the Easter version of panettone for Christmas.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make yeast dough with flour, milk, sugar, eggs, butter, zest. Knead.
- Rise for 1 hr.
- Divide into 3 ropes; braid; tuck in dyed eggs.
- Rise for 45 min.
- Bake for 30–35 min at 350°F.
Paska (Ukraine/Eastern Europe)
Paska is a bread baked in Eastern European homes to celebrate Easter. It's good on the day but can also be toasted the next morning.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make yeast dough with flour, milk, sugar, eggs, butter.
- Knead; rise for 1 hr. Add raisins + zest.
- Place in tall mould or pan; rise again.
- Bake for 45 min at 350°F. Glaze if desired.
Pastiera Napoletana (Italy)
This tart is typically baked ahead of Easter so that the flavours can deepen as it rests. A unique addition to any holiday meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Roll pastry into tart pan.
- Mix wheat, ricotta, sugar, eggs, peel, flavouring.
- Fill shell; top with pastry lattice.
- Bake for 1 hr at 350°F.
Pastiera di Riso (Italy)
This is a lighter version of pastiera. It uses rice simmered in milk for the filling and is creamy, fragrant, and sweet. If you love custard pies, this is a great option.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Cream butter + sugar; beat in eggs. Fold in flour, spices and fruit.
- Spread half into lined tin; cover with marzipan disc; top with rest of batter.
- Bake for 2 hrs until set. Brush with jam, add marzipan balls, grill lightly.
NEED ACTUAL INGREDIENTS
Babka (Poland)
Rich and airy, it's flavoured with citrus or raisins. This is a classic Polish treat, and it's delicious.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make dough with flour, milk, yeast, eggs, butter, sugar.
- Rise for 1 hr. Pour into bundt pan.
- Rise again; bake for 40–45 min at 350°F.
- Glaze or sugar-coat.
How to Keep Easter Cakes Moist
- Always measure flour carefully. Too much can dry out your cake.
- Use oil or melted butter in the batter to lock in moisture.
- Wrap cooled cakes in plastic wrap before frosting to prevent drying.
Carrot Cake (United States)
Great in spring, a carrot cake is a welcome addition to Easter dinners. It's one of the best Easter desserts in the US and beyond. The dark colours and orange decoration mean you could also adapt carrot cake into a Halloween dessert if you're looking for ideas.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix flour, sugar, spices.
- Beat in eggs + oil. Stir in carrots.
- Bake in two pans at 350°F for 35 min.
- Frost with cream cheese icing.
Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are bright and tangy and can offer a refreshing alternative to traditional Easter desserts. They're also easy to make ahead of time. They won't last long once they're brought out!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bake crust for 15 min at 350°F.
- Mix eggs, sugar, lemon juice.
- Pour over crust; bake for 20 min. Cool, cut.
Strawberry Shortcake
Sweet cream biscuits with strawberries and whipped cream make for a great dessert. This Easter dessert also adds a nice splash of colour to your table.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make biscuit dough; bake for 15 min.
- Split biscuits; fill with strawberries + cream.
Coconut Cream Pie
It's hard to resist a coconut cream pie. It's also a nice change from some of the heavier desserts out there.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bake crust according to package instructions; cool.
- Make coconut custard; pour into crust.
- Chill for 2 hrs; top with cream + coconut.
- Top with pastel candies like mini eggs or jelly beans.
- Add edible flowers for a spring look.
- Use colored frosting or whipped cream swirls for quick decoration.
Raspberry Tart
The crisp crust and creamy filling of a raspberry tart are sure to be welcome in most homes. Use tart raspberries to balance the sweetness. This is an elegant and light dessert option for Easter.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bake tart shell according to package instructions.
- Fill with pastry cream.
- Arrange raspberries on top. Chill.
Fun and Festive Easter Treats for Kids
Engage the younger crowd with these delightful and easy-to-make treats.
Bunny Sugar Cookies
Soft sugar cookies decorated to resemble Easter Bunnies.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Royal icing
Instructions
- Make cookie dough; chill for 1 hr.
- Roll, cut bunny shapes; bake for 10 min at 350°F.
- Cool; decorate with icing.
Consider these natural food colorings to boost your decorating:
Red: beet powder or freeze-dried raspberries
Yellow: turmeric
Green: matcha
Purple: blackberry juice
Brown: cocoa powder or coffee
Chocolate Bird’s Nest Cookies
Chocolate and crunchy noodles for the nest with pastel candy eggs. These are a quick, no-bake option. Kids and adults will love making them as much as they enjoy eating them.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chow mein noodles
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup peanut butter
- Candy eggs
Instructions
- Melt chocolate + peanut butter.
- Stir in noodles; shape nests.
- Cool; add candy eggs.
Rice Krispies Treat Eggs
Classic Rice Krispies treats - these can be molded into egg shapes and decorated with icing.
Try flavour variations by adding peanut butter or cocoa powder. You can even add food coloring for. a bright twist.
Easter Chocolate Bark
Melted chocolate spread thin and topped with colorful candies and sprinkles.
Ingredients
- 2 and 1/3 cups chocolate
- 1 cup candy eggs
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Melt chocolate; spread on a lined tray.
- Top with candies + sprinkles.
- Chill; break into pieces.
Try different combinations of dark, milk, and white chocolates for a marbled effect.
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