Spring is in the air, and these Easter desserts should be on the table. Each of these Easter dessert recipe ideas and bakes are show-stopping favorites and designed to impress, without too much fuss. Whether you want a moist layer cake, homemade Easter candies, cheesecake, or a fresh fruit tart, we’ve got you covered.
The Best Easter Dessert Recipes to Celebrate a Special Sunday
Easter desserts can be anything from homemade Easter candy to moist layer cakes with a little spring flair. Traditionally, Easter desserts lean toward spring: strawberry shortcakes, berry fruit tars, bright yellow lemon, and coconut-filled treats are favorites.
These desserts cover everything: no-bake candies; sweet cookies; Easter fruit shortcakes, pies, and tarts; favorite layer cakes; and a special bundt.
1. Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
This chocolate peanut butter eggs recipe makes a sweet, no-bake Easter candy that’s just like Reese’s, but even better homemade. These are so much fun, and easy to make. Top with sprinkles or a drizzle of chocolate, and enjoy!
2. Easter Italian Ricotta Cookies
This recipe for Italian ricotta cookies combines simple ingredients with ricotta cheese for a soft, happy sprinkle cookie with just the right notes of vanilla and lemon
3. The “Tom Cruise” Coconut Bundt Cake
This white chocolate coconut cake, a.k.a. the Tom Cruise coconut cake, is a moist, dense coconut bundt cake that’s folded with white chocolate, baked, and slathered with fluffy coconut cream cheese frosting. I’ve had the real thing from Doan’s Bakery. It’s fantastic. This is even better.
4. The Best Carrot Cake
The best carrot cake recipe ever comes from Philadelphia’s beloved Frog Commissary cookbook. The Commissary may be closed, but the Frog Commissary Carrot Cake recipe lives on. Here it is: moist, cinnamon-sweet, and full of carrots, nuts, and raisins. This can be made as a sheet cake, layers, or cupcakes.
5. Irish Potato Candies
Technically these sweet, no-bake coconut buttercream candies made to look like little potatoes are a St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Philly. But I say keep the party going and make this easy treat for Easter.
6. Old-Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
You’ll be glad you got your hands on this old-fashioned hummingbird cake recipe for Easter. Hummingbird layer cake is a sweet Southern cake that’s moist, flavorful from banana, pineapple, nuts and cinnamon, loaded with laid-back charm.
7. French Fruit Tart
This classic, easy French fruit tart recipe combines three equally delicious elements: a crisp, buttery crust, sweet and silky vanilla pastry cream, and heaps of fresh mixed fruit. The result is an elegant dessert that comes together easily and will be the hit of any party.
8. Madeleine Cookies
This classic French madeleine recipe makes a tender, delicate sponge cookie that tastes lovely on its own or with a cup of good tea or coffee at Easter brunch or dessert. Plus: Learn the trick for how to get humps on your madeleine cookies — yes, that’s a good thing.
9. Strawberry Cheesecake
This strawberry cheesecake recipe couldn’t be easier: It’s a classic, New York-style vanilla cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries in their own juices. Best of all? You can make it in a regular cake pan.
10. Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
These also fall into the better-than-Easter-candy bucket when it comes to the best Easter desserts. They’re also a lot of fun to make.
11. Key Lime Pie
There’s something so sunny and springlike about this sweet-tart favorite. Everyone loves this sweet lemon curd filled tart with buttery graham crust.
12. Cinnamon Rolls
Show me someone who doesn’t like cinnamon rolls, and I’ll show you someone who hasn’t had these yet. Soft, gooey, and smothered in just the right amount of buttery frosting, this is the ultimate Easter brunch bake.
13. Banana Pudding With Meringue
If you’ve ever wanted the ultimate old-fashioned banana pudding, here it is. This is a true Southern banana pudding recipe from scratch: creamy vanilla custard layered with fresh bananas and cookies, topped with meringue and baked until golden brown. This isn’t the instant-pudding variety; it’s authentic, made with care, and adapted from the kitchen of the legendary Maya Angelou.
Whether you need an easy, no-bake Easter candy or a moist, decadent layer cake or cheesecake for a holiday centerpiece dessert, these Easter desserts offer something for everyone. Need more ideas? Reach out!
