Recipes & Cooking Holiday Recipes Easter Recipes 47 Sweet Easter Desserts to Celebrate Spring These easy dessert ideas are as sweet as anything in your Easter basket. By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for more than 10 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 17 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 12, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Chia Chong Ham might be the centerpiece, but let's be honest: Easter dessert is the real star of the holiday meal! Everyone will hop away from the table happy after tasting any of these Easter treats, including decorated cupcakes, flower cake pops, pink lemonade layer cake, or zucchini carrot cake. Get ready to celebrate Easter and spring in the sweetest way possible. 26 Delicious Easter Brunch Recipes Your Guests Will Love 01 of 47 Lemon-Lavender Poppy Seed Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats You don't have to look too far for Easter dessert recipe inspiration. Just take a peek into your garden! A touch of dried lavender in this batter adds an extra layer of flavor to the classic pairing of lemon and poppy seed. 23 Easy Easter Cake Recipes (Including Carrot Cake and Sheet Cakes) 02 of 47 Easter Dirt Cake View Recipe Matthew Clark Gardeners must try this Easter dessert! Chocolate cookie "dirt" and candy-dipped strawberry "carrots" make up this faux farm. Assemble these components atop a chocolate cake base for accurately-hued groundwork. 03 of 47 Neapolitan Marshmallow Treats View Recipe Jason Donnelly Classic crispy cereal treats, now strata-style! Strawberry jelly and strawberry marshmallows make up the pink layer, semisweet chocolate pieces and chocolate rice cereal combine for the brown layer, and the top layer is classic vanilla. Voila! 04 of 47 Malted Vanilla Cake View Recipe Chia Chong Traditional vanilla cake gets a holiday-worthy update when layered with buttercream frosting and topped with cotton candy and malted milk Easter eggs. Choose candy in pastel colors for a picture-perfect Easter dessert display. Test Kitchen Tip Can't find—or not a fan of—malted milk eggs? Try peanut butter Easter eggs instead. 05 of 47 Burrowing Bunnies View Recipe Jason Donnelly Everyone will giggle—then dig in—to help decorate these cute Easter desserts! The bunny bums are made from coconut-coated jumbo marshmallows, while the itty-bitty feet are constructed with mini marshmallows. Pipe pink icing foot pads on each to make them look just like little hoppers. How to Color Icing for Beautifully-Decorated Desserts 06 of 47 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting View Recipe Blaine Moats Hummingbird cake is a Southern favorite, and cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to the classic spice cake flavors. While there are countless ways to have fun with frosting, these Easter cupcakes may be the most adorable. How cute are those sprinkle candy bunny "whiskers"?! 07 of 47 Marshmallow Easter Fluff View Recipe Matthew Clark Take a break from typical Easter desserts featuring Jell-O and try a creamy pudding this year. The fruit-studded fluff makes a sweet foundation for the rabbit-shaped marshmallows. Stuff inside chocolate egg "shells" and watch them quickly fly off the table. 08 of 47 Spring Flower Cake Pops View Recipe Customize this fun Easter dessert with your preferred cake flavor and favorite colors. Hey, you don't even need to bake. Pick up a prepared cake from the bakery to crumble up and craft into darling little daisies. 09 of 47 Speckled Egg Sugar Cookies View Recipe Decorate these delicious sugar cookies to create brightly colored Easter eggs speckled with brown sugar and vanilla. Gather these edible Easter eggs in a woven basket or arrange them atop our Woven Easter Basket Cake for an unforgettable display. 10 of 47 Zucchini-Carrot Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats Vegetables and cake shouldn't work together—but they do in this recipe. And we're not just talking about the marzipan vegetable patch. Double up on the veggies in this Easter dessert with a tasty combination of zucchini bread and carrot cake. Our Best Carrot Cake Recipes to Celebrate Spring Year-Round 11 of 47 Pink Lemonade Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons Add some pucker to the party! Citrus fans will clamor for another slice of this lemonade-flavor Easter dessert. With buttercream frosting and pretty pink layers, this gorgeous cake will impress everyone. 12 of 47 Best-Loved Carrot Cake View Recipe Jason Donnelly This Easter cake is a certified classic inspired by the Easter bunny's favorite veggie. You'll need 3 cups of shredded carrots for this lush layered cake. Don't skimp on the final flourishes: cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans. 13 of 47 Malted Brownies View Recipe Blaine Moats Fans of malted milkshakes know the taste—a nutty, almost caramel richness from malted barley. This old-time drink powder flavors our brownies and the cocoa marshmallow creme frosting. Learn How to Make a Milkshake at Home for a Sweet Treat Anytime 14 of 47 Layered Sherbet Cake View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Our Easter take on ice cream cake will give your holiday table a touch of pretty pastels. After carefully layering sherbet flavors, be sure to top your confection with coordinating sprinkles. How to Make Ice Cream Cake, Plus 10 Cake and Ice Cream Combos 15 of 47 Rhubarb Chess Pie View Recipe Andy Lyons A fantastic Easter dessert doesn't have to be aggressively sweet. A delicious buttery filling provides a smooth base for tart rhubarb to shine. Just be sure to crown each slice with a "bunny tail" of whipped cream or ice cream! 16 of 47 Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Mascarpone Frosting View Recipe Jennifer Davick Give one of our favorite Easter cake recipes—carrot—a delicious update with subtle flavor upgrades like mascarpone in the frosting and cardamom in the cake. The thatched pattern is a cinch—frost as usual, then use an angled spatula to press and pull out individual shingle-like pieces. Our Best Tips and Tricks for How to Decorate a Cake 17 of 47 Berry Trifle View Recipe Karla Conrad Here's an easy Easter dessert that can be made up to 24 hours in advance! This berry trifle is stacked high with vanilla pudding, pound cake, and juicy strawberries and blueberries. The semi-homemade dessert is pretty, portable, and takes less than 25 minutes of prep time. 18 of 47 Strawberry-Rhubarb Bars View Recipe Jennifer Levy Strawberry and rhubarb are a match made in spring flavor heaven. Combine this dream team to make these springtime bars. A sweet ginger glaze tames any lingering tartness from the rhubarb. 19 of 47 Coconut Layer Cake View Recipe Jason Donnelly A delicate toasted coconut chip crown elevates this creation over the Easter dessert competition. The layers are sandwiched with a luscious and creamy coconut filling for even more nutty goodness. Ice with creme fraiche frosting—or your favorite snow-colored flavor. 20 of 47 Deluxe Lemon Bars View Recipe Blaine Moats Get ready—these classic lemon bars will quickly disappear from your Easter dessert table! Made with lemon juice and lemon peel, they're full of citrus flavor. Bake them up the night before Easter brunch, then cover and chill until it's time to serve. What to Sub for Lemon Zest, Lime Zest, and Orange Zest in a Pinch 21 of 47 Mother Hen and Chicks Cake View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Get into the spirit of spring with a mother hen cake and her lovable cupcake chicks. Make one layer cake for the hen and cupcakes for her head and tail. Decorate with homemade vanilla frosting, toasted coconut flakes, and candy pieces for a truly delightful Easter cake. 22 of 47 Carrot and Zucchini Bars View Recipe Andy Lyons Yes, we already shared a mash-up Easter cake recipe featuring carrots and zucchini, but these bars are different. And they're the best Easter dessert for those watching what they eat, bar none! Even with our creamy citrus frosting, these warmly spiced delights are just 125 calories per serving. 23 of 47 Vanilla Ruffle Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons Talk about pretty in pink! With swirls of frosting and tender white layers, this deliciously fluffy Easter dessert makes a statement. To create rows of gorgeous vanilla-buttercream ruffles, use a decorating bag with a petal tip. 24 of 47 Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries View Recipe Jason Donnelly Nothing else says "hooray!" quite like a little bubbly. This beautiful cake is a breeze to make. Simply prepare packaged cake mix, but use sparkling wine instead of water. Bake and frost with tinted canned frosting for a pretty spring dessert. 18 Strawberry Cake Recipes for a Taste of Summer Anytime 25 of 47 Simple White Cupcakes with Creamy Frosting View Recipe Kate Mathis Bake Easter cupcakes from our simple white cupcake recipe, then get creative! Think of it like a blank canvas for all of your spring spirit. For an adorable Easter egg design, pipe green frosting onto the cakes to form grass, then add assorted jelly beans for eggs. Bring spring flowers to life with the remaining colored frosting or mini candies. How Jelly Beans Became a Favorite Candy for Easter Celebrations 26 of 47 Tangerine Cheesecake Bars View Recipe Jason Donnelly Put a modern spin on cheesecake with these mouthwatering tangerine cheesecake bars. It's worth the extra effort to candy the peels for the topping. Plus, you can use any leftovers for cocktail garnishes at happy hour! 27 of 47 Strawberry Hand Pies View Recipe Matthew Clark Skip the traditional pie crust and make these individual hand pies for a creative Easter dessert. Stuffed with a sweet strawberry filling, they're sure to be a hit after dinner. Feeling decadent? Dunk in whipped cream or warmed-up icing. 28 of 47 Stuffed Churro Puffs View Recipe Jason Donnelly A plate of these creamy churro puffs is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This Easter dessert is filled with luscious whipped cream and purchased dulce de leche. Test Kitchen Tip Try swapping the whipped cream for scoops of vanilla ice cream! 29 of 47 Strawberry, Mango & Rose Pavlova View Recipe Andy Lyons This decadent pavlova is topped with fresh mascarpone whipped cream and fresh fruit. Make it holiday-ready with a sprinkle of edible rose petals just before serving. 17 Edible Flower Recipes That Are (Almost) Too Pretty to Eat 30 of 47 Spice Market Carrot Cake View Recipe Carson Downing This carrot cake recipe gets Moroccan-inspired flavors from dried fruit and a ras el hanout spice blend. Ras el hanout is a mix of coriander, pepper, ginger, peppercorns, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom. Having trouble finding it in the store? We've included a recipe to create your own. 31 of 47 Chocolate Chess Pie View Recipe Kelsey Hansen This classic Southern pie deserves a spot on your Easter dessert table. A rich, fudgy pie is topped with piles of chocolate whipped cream and chilled until until ready to serve. The result is a perfect combination of flaky crust, rich chocolate, and airy cream. 32 of 47 Grapefruit and White Chocolate Cookies View Recipe Carson Downing Try these sweet citrus cookies if you need a make-ahead Easter dessert idea. Dipping the grapefruit cookies in white chocolate balances the fruit's naturally bitter flavor. Finish the cookies with colorful sanding sugar or flaky sea salt. 33 of 47 Ice Cream Sandwich "Tiramisu" View Recipe Carson Downing Skip the ladyfingers and assemble a creamy tiramisu recipe using ice cream sandwiches. Layer them up with crushed chocolate cookie crumbs and coffee liqueur-spiked cream. As one BHG home cook raves, "Everyone loved this version of tiramisu!" Our Best Ice Cream Sandwich Recipes to Stash in Your Freezer 34 of 47 Polka-Dot Neapolitan Pie View Recipe Carson Downing This pastel Easter dessert is perfect for spring. Create a pretty ice cream pie using three flavors and an ice cream scoop. Finish with fluffy strawberry meringue and crushed freeze-dried strawberries. A quick toasting with a torch is the finishing touch! The 6 Best Ice Cream Makers of 2024, According to Testing 35 of 47 Strawberry Sheet Cake View Recipe Grant Webster If you're hosting a crowd for Easter, this strawberry sheet cake recipe is for you. It's made with fresh strawberry puree, a boxed cake mix, and a fluffy cream cheese frosting. The big-batch recipe serves 24. 36 of 47 Strawberry Crunch Cake View Recipe Grant Webster This cake will remind you of your favorite childhood ice cream bar. Our favorite part is the crunchy freeze-dried strawberry and crushed cookie topping. It's an Easter dessert recipe that'll earn rave reviews. 21 Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Handy Extras) 37 of 47 Carrot-Parsnip Mini Cakes With Orange Drizzle View Recipe Carson Downing These mini carrot cakes couldn't be cuter! In addition to the classic shredded carrots, we're adding parsnip. Top the cakes with a homemade glaze. 38 of 47 Raspberry-Lemon Whoopie Pies View Recipe Carson Downing This Easter dessert is made with soft raspberry cookies and a creamy lemon filling. We used a piping bag to swirl the filling mixture, but you could easily spread it. Top with colorful sprinkles and serve. 39 of 47 Peach-Berry Slump View Recipe Blain Moats A slump is very similar to a cobbler. A sweet peach and raspberry mixture is topped with a cinnamony biscuit-like topping in this Easter dessert. Serve each bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 40 of 47 Zucchini-Walnut Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats The zucchini cake is filled with crunchy walnuts and the flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. Adding buttermilk to the batter ensures it stays moist. Finish this Easter dessert with a homemade lemon syrup. 17 Tasty Buttermilk Recipes that Go Beyond Pancakes and Biscuits 41 of 47 Zucchini-Olive Oil Cake View Recipe Con Poulos Choose a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for this Easter dessert recipe. It will infuse each bite with a subtle, almost fruity flavor. We decorated our cake with fresh figs but you can use any fruit you like. 42 of 47 Strawberry Meringue Cookies View Recipe Andy Lyons Meringues on their own are light, airy, and sweet. Here, we've swirled them with a fresh strawberry puree with vanilla. It's the perfect Easter dessert for brunch or dinner. 43 of 47 Lavender-Honey Lemon Tart View Recipe Carson Downing Dried lavender gives this lemon tart a light, floral flavor. Pile on mounds of fluffy whipped cream and top with candied lemon slices. A drizzle of lavender-infused honey is the perfect finishing touch. 6 Honey Desserts That Will Have Everyone Asking for Seconds 44 of 47 Sour Cream Pound Cake View Recipe BHG / Michelle Parkin Pound cake is our go-to Easter dessert because it's so easy to customize. Serve it with bowls of fresh berries, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or caramel, and let each guest top their own. 45 of 47 Eton Mess with Strawberries & Whipped Ricotta View Recipe Carson Downing This classic Easter dessert is made with layers of meringue, strawberries, and cream. Adding whole milk ricotta to the cream helps keep it from being too sweet. 46 of 47 Limoncello Cheesecake Bars View Recipe Carson Downing This Easter dessert is made with limoncello liqueur and fresh citrus. Top the finished bars with candied lemon slices for an Easter-worthy presentation. 47 of 47 Million Dollar Cake View Recipe PHOTO: Rachel Marek, PROP STYLING: Sophie Babcock This nostalgic Easter cake is flavorful with pineapple and mandarin oranges. It's easy to make thanks to a boxed cake mix. Our Best Million Dollar Recipes Are Rich and Decadent Make the Cutest Easter Eggs Ever How to Make Tie-Dye Easter Eggs with Paper Towels 35 Pretty Ways to Decorate Easter Eggs Without Dye Learn About Dyeing Easter Eggs with Silk Ties for Colorful, Vibrant Fun How to Easily Paint Wooden Easter Eggs with Playful Patterns Cook and Dye Easter Eggs in an Instant Pot in Just 6 Minutes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit