73 Easter Recipes Full of Fresh Spring Flavor
Hop on up to this list of our favorite Easter recipes. Whether you’re planning an Easter dinner or brunch—or just want to know how to make the best Hot Cross Buns so you can sit and nosh on them all day—you’ll find what you’re looking for in the collection below.
These recipes include an array of dishes to help you curate a well-rounded menu. We have Easter appetizers (hello, crispy spring vegetable fritters) and side dishes (classic scalloped potatoes, anyone?) as well as mains and plenty of dessert recipes. Want to get into specifics? We have a few other Easter recipe roundups to help you narrow down your search, including Our Favorite Easter Brunch Recipes, Our Best Side Dishes for Easter, and Our Most Delicious Easter Desserts. In the mood for a little bit of everything? Scroll on.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Carla Gonzalez-Hart1/73Spice-Crusted Ham With Brown Sugar Glaze
Photo by Alex Lau2/73BA’s Best Carrot Cake
Is carrot cake the most essential Easter recipe? Debatable. What’s not debatable? How good our best carrot cake recipe is, with crunch from toasted walnuts and a boozy punch from rum-plumped raisins.
Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi3/73Simple Does It Deviled Eggs
No need to get fussy with whipping and piping; simply mash the hard-boiled egg yolks with a fork, then use a second fork to help fill the egg whites with the celery-, scallion-, and pickle relish-enhanced filling.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca4/73Vegan Deviled “Eggs”
Or skip the deviled eggs this year (those egg prices!) in favor of these stuffed boiled baby potatoes. A melon baller helps form a perfect hollow in each half.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling and Prop Styling by Emilie Fosnocht6/73Mochi Waffles With Maple–Brown Butter Bananas
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski7/73Lemon Meringue Pie
9/73Roast Rack of Lamb With Strawberry Pan Sauce
Strawberries and lamb may seem an odd couple, but when the berries are roasted in the skillet along with the rack, they give off a bright, acidic fruitiness that goes incredibly well with the rich, grassy meat. A few extra ingredients turn the fruit into a buttery sauce perfect for a spring celebration.
Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon10/73Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Simple roasted sweet potatoes and the ideal Easter side dish, playing well with either salty-sweet glazed ham or rich, gamy lamb. Make a big batch since the leftovers make great fodder for grain bowls, soups, and more in the days following the holiday.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi11/73Yellow Squash Casserole With Easy Cheesy Cream Sauce
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua12/73Extra-Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susan Ottaviano, prop styling by Sophie Strangio13/73Blistered Asparagus Frittata
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman16/73Best-Ever Mashed Potatoes
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh17/73Crispy Coconutty Zucchini Fritters
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh18/73Pickled Eggs
These Easter eggs aren’t just for looks. The eggs are dyed and pickled with vegetable- and spice-based brines (beet for magenta, turmeric for yellow, blueberries for an icy blue, and blackberries for mauve), which means they look good and taste delicious.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca20/73Any-Berry Lemon Ricotta Cake
Photograph by Guang Xu21/73Sunday Roast With Pickled Onions
If you’re heading out the door for mass, a day at the in-laws, or to meet the Easter bunny, you can prep this warming, comforting roast on the stovetop, up to step 6, the day before. Instead of the oven, cook it in the slow cooker (on low for about 8 hours or high for about 4) while you go about your Easter Sunday festivities.
Photo by Jonathon Kambouris; Food styling by Simon Andrews; Prop styling by Kaitlyn Du Ross22/73Parker House Rolls
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi23/73Twice-Baked Potatoes
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore24/73Raspberry Cake With Whipped Cream Filling
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens25/73French Toast Casserole
Easier than French toast, but just as good, is this breakfast casserole that feeds a small crowd. Set out an array of toppings so people can enjoy it as they please.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, prop styling by Allie Wist29/73Classic Banana Pudding
With homemade vanilla pudding, sweetened condensed milk, and mascarpone, this truly is the best banana pudding recipe. But, if your dream banana pudding is topped with meringue, we’ve got you covered.
Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua31/73Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Chops With Mango Chutney
This Easter dinner idea sings with flavor thanks to a two-part marinade: first, malt vinegar and grated green papaya tenderize the lamb, then spiced yogurt adds a heady, rich flavor. A sprinkle of reserved spice rub toward the end of cooking adds extra toastiness and crunch.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Gerri K Williams33/73Cabbage Quiche With Apple-Radish Salad
You don’t get more classic for Easter brunch than quiche. This one is packed with blistered, caraway-scented cabbage and served with a crisp radish salad that just screams, “SPRING.”
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore34/73Whipped Ricotta Toast With Date and Rhubarb Compote
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk35/73Lemon-Elderflower Pound Cake
Photograph by Chris Simpson, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker36/73Pumpkin and Cheddar Strata
Photo by Marcus Nilsson37/73Spicy-Tamarind-and-Honey-Glazed Spiral Ham
This recipe is a sweet, sour, and spicy take on the classic Easter centerpiece. The leftovers will taste awesome in a mini potato roll.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca38/73Giant Cardamom Bun
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich39/73Blistered Asparagus With Peanut-Coconut Sprinkle
Photograph by Alex Huang, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi40/73Cheesy Green Pea Fritters
Essentially a cottage cheese pancake studded with sweet green peas and flavored with lemon, these cute little Easter appetizers are delightfully cheap to make.
Photograph by Christopher Testani, Food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Alex Brannian41/73Sweet Potato Loaf Cake With Dark Chocolate Ganache
Love sweet potato pie? You’re gonna love this spiced loaf cake even more. It gets a topping of coffee-enhanced chocolate sauce, which means it’s perfect for an Easter breakfast spread.
Photo by Laura Murray, Styling by Judy Mancini42/73Slow-Roasted Lapsang Salmon With Spring Vegetables
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua43/73Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Whip
Don’t want to spend your preholiday hours grating a bunch of carrots? Don’t. Instead, put them in the blender for this twist on a classic Easter dessert.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Alison Attenborough, Prop Styling by Summer Moore44/73Sheet-Pan Hazelnut Breakfast Tart
Unlike some hazelnut spreads…you know who you are…this homemade version lets the toasty, flavorful nuts shine all on their own. Frozen puff pastry makes this party-ready tart a breeze to assemble.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore45/73Charred Asparagus and Dates With Goat Cheese
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie46/73Cheesecake-Cake
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott47/73Roast Leg of Lamb with Potatoes and Asparagus Gremolata
This spiced roast lamb dish is served with a punchy, citrusy asparagus relish. It’s the star of the Easter menu chef Vivian Howard curated for our April 2017 issue. Get her full menu here.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Heather Greene52/73Sumac-Rubbed Lamb with Minty Artichokes
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott53/73Buttery Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
These insanely good rolls are made using tangzhong, rendering them impossibly tender and flavorful. Go for this brown butter version or a sour cream and chive alternative.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio55/73Sweet Potato Cake With Salted Cream Cheese Frosting
Sweet potato is balanced by a salted cream cheese frosting in this deliciously moist layer cake from Amanda Mack of Baltimore’s Crust by Mack.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, styling by Judy Mancini56/73Eggs Benedict for a Crowd
Eggs poached in advance. A hollandaise that will stay luscious for hours. A tray of perfectly toasted, buttery muffins. Yep—it’s all here.
Alex Lau59/73Scallion Pancakes
Spring is the ideal time to make these flaky Chinese pancakes with fresh, in-season scallions from the farmers market. Plus, they’re a great partner for Easter ham.
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski60/73Chocolate Pudding Pie
Close out your Easter dinner menu with this dazzling chocolate pie that’s cloaked in voluminous whipped cream. Bonus: You can make it up to 3 days in advance.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Pearl Jones61/73Basically Carrot Loaf Cake
Making this simple loaf cake is easier than turning out our favorite multilayered version—and it’s still delicious. Don’t worry, we didn’t skimp on the cream cheese frosting.
GRAYDONHERRIOTT62/73Buttered Potatoes With Salted Lemon
Don’t sleep on preserved lemons, the perfect briny counterpart to these fluffy-crispy buttered potatoes.
Photograph by Breanne Furlong, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht65/73BA’s Best French Toast
This superlative French toast recipe winks at bread pudding with an eggy soak enriched with milk and heavy cream.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh66/73Lemony Spring Vegetable and Barley Bowl
Looking for vegan Easter food ideas? This one-pot grain salad would make an amazing main dish, but it’d be a welcome stand-in for pasta salad on a buffet spread too. For the best flavor, don’t skip making the fragrant fennel potlikker.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh67/73Preserved-Lemon Tea Cake
Photo and Food Styling by Carla Lalli Music68/73Extremely Cheesy Potato Gratin
Creamy, cheesy potatoes au gratin with crispy edges, tender middles, and just a whisper of heat—need we say more?
Photograph by Allie Holloway, food styling by Taneka Mooris.69/73Herby Dutch Baby With Smoked Salmon
Savory, herby, and oh-so green, this savory pancake is a winning Easter breakfast, lunch, or dinner recipe.
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Chris Morocco70/73Gluten-Free Coconut Turmeric Pie
Flavored with ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, this gluten- and dairy-free recipe is inspired by the flavors found in the traditional Ayurvedic Indian drink haldi doodh (made with milk, turmeric, and honey). Here, we use coconut milk and swap maple syrup for honey.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski72/73Pineapple-Glazed Ham
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski73/73Banana Cream Pie
