Here you'll find 53 of our best Easter recipes for dinner, lunch, brunch, desserts, easter cakes, salads, and sides. From authentic Italian Easter traditions I've learned celebrating here in Northern Italy with Luca's family, to recipes rooted in my Southern upbringing in Arkansas, there's something for every table. You'll find plenty beyond the traditional glazed ham and deviled eggs (although I'm a sucker for those too!)
There are no plastic eggs hidden in the yard, no Easter egg hunts, no marshmallow Peeps on the table, no carrot cakes, or coconut cream pies. You won't even find the Easter Bunny here! Really.
Instead, you'll find handmade ravioli, cannelloni, lasagna, platters of green and prized white asparagus, truffles galore, veal roasts, gigantic chocolate Easter eggs, a delicious Easter Dove bread for dessert, and a bonus national holiday we celebrate the day after Easter Sunday called Pasquetta (or "little Easter").
After all these years celebrating Easter in Northern Italy with Luca's family, I've learned that no matter what culture you celebrate it in, the best Easter recipes are less about impressing and more about comfort, tradition, making memories, and family time.
Each of these recipes we make as a family, and they're guaranteed to make any Easter meal more memorable. Whether you're starting new family traditions, planning an easy easter menu, cooking for two or twenty, working with a tight budget (because let's be honest, some ingredient prices have gotten outrageous), or just ready to switch things up, there's something here for every skill level and schedule.
So grab a coffee, scroll on through, or use the Jump To button below to start planning your Easter dinner menu (or lunch), your Easter brunch spread, your first authentic Italian Easter feast, or celebrate Pasquetta like an Italian. Every recipe has been made and tested in my kitchen (and a few in Nonna Anna's).
Jump to:
What Is a Traditional Easter Dinner?
A traditional Easter dinner in the United States typically centers on glazed ham or roast lamb, served with spring vegetables like asparagus, carrots, and peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade hot rolls, plus a few indulgent sides and a showstopper dessert like carrot cake or coconut cream pie.
In Italy, Easter dinner isn't really "a thing". Instead, "il pranzo di Pasqua" or Easter lunch is celebrated. Although my family also celebrated Easter lunch, and not dinner, the food itself and the order of how it's served are completely different.
Families in Italy typically serve multiple courses starting with a light aperitivo with antipasti, then a first course of fresh pasta or risotto (usually meatless), then for secondi (the second plate) a meat or seafood dish with contorni (vegetables).
Easter lunch is then finished with a colomba pasquale (Italian Easter dove bread) for dessert, sometimes a digestivo, but always with espresso. And the whole meal can last three to four hours, and nobody's ever in a rush.
This roundup draws from both traditions. You'll find American Easter classics alongside authentic Italian recipes I've learned from Luca's family in the Veneto and Abruzzo regions. Whether you want a simple Easter ham dinner with all the sides or a multi-course Italian Easter feast, the recipes below have you covered.
Why You'll Love These Easter Recipes
- 47 tested recipes covering every part of Easter, from appetizers through dessert, plus brunch, sides, Italian Easter bread, and authentic Italian traditions.
- Five Italian lasagnas. Classic ham and asparagus, speck and asparagus with zucchini crema, classic (authentic) Bolognese with homemade spinach pasta, traditional ham and mozzarella, and beef ragu lasagna with porcini bechamel.
- Authentic Italian Easter recipes like Colomba pasquale from scratch, Easter ravioli with Anna, white asparagus (a specialty from here in the Veneto), authentic cannoli, panna cotta, and homemade limoncello.
- Pescatarian options for seafood lovers: crab risotto, crab linguine, and lobster ravioli are elegant enough for any Easter table.
- Something for everyone: gluten-free mains, vegetarian options, make-ahead sides, kid-friendly desserts, and a brunch cocktail to get the celebration started.
- Recipes that actually work. These aren't untested ideas. Every recipe has been made in my kitchen (and/or Luca's family's kitchen with his mamma) multiple times and loved by all of us.
Easter Appetizers & Spring Salads
The best Easter appetizers set the tone without stealing the show. These are the starters I reach for when I want something elegant enough for a holiday table but easy enough that I'm not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is sipping prosecco. Spring salads, creamy dips, and a few Italian-inspired bites that take advantage of what's fresh right now.
1. Italian Diver Scallops au Gratin (Capesante Gratinate)
These golden, bubbling scallops baked right in their shells are one of the most impressive Easter appetizers you can make in under 15 minutes. Capesante gratinate is a classic Italian antipasto that looks like it came from a restaurant but is honestly one of the simplest things you'll ever make.
A light breadcrumb and parmesan topping with a drizzle of EVOO and a dab of butter (or clarified butter if you're feeling frisky), and salt are all you need (parsley optional). Start here if you want to wow your Easter guests before the main course even hits the table! Almost zero effort is involved.
Get the Italian Diver Scallops au Gratin recipe.
2. Easy Italian Shrimp Au Gratin (Gamberi Gratinati)
If you love the scallops au gratin above, this shrimp version is its equally delicious sibling but less expensive. Tender seasoned shrimp under a crispy blanket of Grana Padano, panko breadcrumbs, and a drizzle of homemade clarified shrimp butter, all broiled for just 3 to 4 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Serve them in scallop shells for a gorgeous Easter appetizer presentation, or make it family-style in a baking dish. The homemade clarified shrimp butter is the secret weapon here, but regular ghee or clarified butter works too. These can even be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until you're ready to broil.
Get the Shrimp Au Gratin recipe.
3. Plum Caprese Salad (with Buffalo Mozzarella)
This is a caprese salad with a twist. Sweet, juicy plums replace the tomatoes and pair beautifully with creamy, fresh buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. Feel free to drizzle a bit of aged balsamic for a little acidity and switch out buffalo mozzarella for fresh cow's milk mozzarella, which is easier to find in grocery stores outside of Italy.
It's light, it's gorgeous on the plate, and it takes about five minutes to throw together. Perfect as an easter salad or a starter served with warm focaccia or pizza fritta while you're finishing up the main course.
Get the Plum Caprese Salad recipe.
4. Italian Caprese Salad (l'Insalata Caprese)
Sometimes the classic is the classic for a reason. A proper insalata caprese made with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella di bufala, good olive oil, and a pinch of flaky sea salt is one of the most timeless Easter appetizers you can serve.
Living in Italy taught me that the secret to the best version of this salad and it's not technique. It's the quality of ingredients. Use the sweetest tomatoes and milkiest fresh mozzarella you can find, and this salad does all the work for you.
5. Spring Chopped Salad Recipe (with Crispy Fried Shallots, Avocado, Eggs & Sunflower Seeds)
This is the salad for the person who loves a great chopped salad with delicious toppings and lots of texture! Crispy fried shallots, creamy avocado, hard-boiled eggs, and a scattering of toasted pepitas and sunflower seeds all come together on whatever greens you prefer.
It's hearty enough to be a light lunch on its own and fresh enough to be the perfect spring salad alongside your Easter spread. Plus, it's the perfect way to help use up some of those Easter eggs! Pair it with this most delicious no-fuss lemon-tomato vinaigrette, and you'll have happy guests all around!
Get the Lazy Day Refrigerator Salad recipe.
6. Homemade Caesar Salad (w/Grilled Chicken, Shrimp, or Plain)
Easter is a great excuse to ditch the bottled stuff and make Caesar dressing from scratch (so easy!). This recipe features classic, umami-rich anchovy and Parmigiano dressing, featherlight, super-crispy homemade Parmesan-herb croutons, and tender grilled chicken thighs.
Serve it as a simple side salad without the protein, or top it with grilled chicken or shrimp to turn it into a main for Easter brunch or lunch. The croutons and dressing can be made a day ahead, and the romaine lettuce can also be washed, dried, and stored the day before, so all you have to do on Easter Sunday is assemble it. No fuss, no muss!
Get the Homemade Caesar Salad recipe.
7. Best Sesame Egg Salad Sandwich (Tamago Sando)
Easter and eggs just go together. This Japanese-inspired egg salad sandwich takes the humble egg salad and elevates it with roasty-toasted sesame seeds and more. Plus, there's a trick to making them ahead of time without the bread (no matter how fluffy) becoming soggy!
It's a creative twist on a classic that's perfect for a lighter Easter lunch, cut into bite-sized squares as an appetizer spread, or honestly just snacking while you're waiting for the lasagna, glazed ham, or veal roast to come out of the oven. It's also the perfect way to use up leftover hard-boiled Easter eggs to celebrate Pasquetta on Monday!
Get the Sesame Egg Salad Sandwich recipe.
8. Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Every Easter table needs at least one warm, crowd-pleasing dip that keeps people happy while the real cooking is happening. This spinach artichoke dip is warm, creamy, and disappears fast.
It's an Easter appetizer recipe that buys you time in the kitchen because everyone is too busy eating it with homemade naan bread, crackers, or pita chips to ask when dinner is ready. Make it ahead and reheat when your guests arrive.
9. Greek Salad (Easy 15-Minute Recipe)
This 15-minute Greek salad makes the perfect Easter side salad or brunch bar addition! It's one of our favorite salad recipes to make at home because it's fast, fresh, and works as a side or a full meal. Vine-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, real PDO Greek feta, Kalamata and Cerignola olives, paper-thin red onion, and fresh mint, all tossed in a 5-minute homemade Greek dressing with oregano.
The secret ingredient? A sprinkle of grated Grana Padano adds a delicious umami kick. Make it as a light Easter side salad or add grilled chicken or shrimp to turn it into a main for your Easter lunch. The dressing can be made days ahead.
Easter Brunch Ideas
Easter brunch is one of my favorite meals to cook because it's relaxed, it's flexible, and nobody expects perfection. Crepes, frittata, French toast made with Italian Easter bread? That's the kind of Easter brunch people want to wake up to. These recipes range from sweet to savory, and a few of them can be prepped the night before so you're not scrambling on Easter morning.
10. Crêpe Recipe (Fresh Basil and Parmesan IN the Batter)
These are not your average crêpes. Fresh basil and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano are mixed right into the batter, so every single crepe is savory and fragrant before you ever add a filling. For Easter brunch, fill them with ham, asparagus, and a little melted gruyere or our favorite, bacon and eggs or sausage, egg, and gravy (middle photo above)!
Or...go all out and use them to make baked Italian crespelle (far right photo above): fill the crepes with ricotta, grated Parmesan, and spinach, roll them up, place them in a baking dish, drizzle with asparagus bechamel, top with shredded mozzarella, and bake until golden and bubbling. It's an Easter showstopper that starts with this one simple crêpe recipe.
Get the Savory Basil-Parmigiano Crepes recipe.
11. Easy Classic French Crêpes
If you prefer the sweet side of an Easter brunch crêpe bar, these classic French crêpes are your foundation. Thin, buttery, and endlessly versatile. Fill them with fresh strawberries and melted chocolate, Nutella and bananas, lemon and crunchy sugar, whipped cream and blueberries, or keep it simple with just a squeeze of lemon and a dusting of crunchy (or powdered) sugar.
Pair these with the savory basil-parm crêpes above, and you've got a full Easter brunch crêpe spread that feeds a crowd with very little stress. And you can even make ahead and meal prep crêpes so it's one less thing to cook on Easter Sunday!
Get the Easy Classic French Crepes recipe.
12. Best Ever Colomba French Toast (Italian Easter Bread French Toast)
This is what you make with leftover colomba pasquale (make your own or buy an extra colomba just for this dish!). Thick slices of that rich, brioche-like Italian Easter bread soaked in a vanilla custard (made with real vanilla beans) and cooked until golden and caramelized on the outside, soft and custardy inside.
This recipe features a real colomba made from scratch in my Italian kitchen, and then turning the leftovers into Easter French toast with homemade strawberry sauce, pistachio cream drizzle, and toasted pecans. It's a perfect Easter brunch recipe that people will remember!
13. Asparagus-Zucchini Frittata
A spring vegetable frittata loaded with asparagus and zucchini is about as Easter brunch as it gets. This one is naturally green, packed with fresh spring vegetables, and can be served warm or at room temperature. It's great for feeding a group because you just slice it into wedges and let people help themselves.
It's delicious served hot with an extra sprinkle of parmesan, but you can make it the night before and serve it cold, at room temperature, or gently rewarmed. Pairs perfectly with a simple green salad and some crusty bread.
14. Light and Fluffy Pancakes for Two (or a Crowd)
Sometimes Easter brunch just calls for a stack of really good homemade pancakes. These are extra light and fluffy thanks to buttermilk and a whipped egg white folded into the batter, but you can skip that part and they'll still be amazing!
The recipe is perfectly portioned for two but doubles, or quadruples easily if you're feeding a crowd. Top them with a pat of butter, a 10-minute wild berry sauce, fresh berries, a drizzle of pure maple syrup, or go all out with homemade strawberry coulis for a festive Easter morning stack.
Get the Light and Fluffy Pancakes recipe.
15. Best Strawberry Scones (All-Natural)
These fluffy, tender strawberry scones are made with just 7 ingredients and real freeze-dried strawberries for all-natural color and strawberry flavor. They're gorgeous on their own, but for Easter brunch, go all out: top them with a dollop of clotted cream or homemade strawberry butter, a smear of homemade strawberry jam, a drizzle of strawberry coulis, and a sprinkle of homemade strawberry sugar.
Make them mini for an Easter brunch bar spread, or full-sized for a sit-down Easter breakfast. They freeze beautifully, too, so you can cut them, freeze them, then bake them in minutes on Easter morning.
Get the Strawberry Scones recipe.
16. Easter Brunch Rum Aperitivo Cocktail
Every Easter table needs a light festive drink (we call it aperitvo here)! This bright and refreshing rum and Aurum cocktail is easy to batch prep the day before, so you're not playing bartender all morning.
Add a splash of champagne or prosecco to make it extra celebratory. Set out pitchers of the fresh juice alongside bottles of rum, Aurum, and sparkling wine with a quick recipe card, and let guests mix their own. Non-drinkers can skip the alcohol and make themselves a mocktail with the same fresh fruit punch juice and sliced fruit. Easy for you, fun for everyone.
17. Arcobaleno Bellini (Rainbow Bellini Cocktail)
This gorgeous rainbow Bellini is inspired by the original Italian Bellini from Harry's Bar in Venice (where I've had the pleasure of trying the real thing). Fresh strawberry, orange, kiwi, and blueberry juices are each poured into a chilled flute and topped with prosecco or champagne for a colorful, fruity cocktail that's not too sweet, not too dry.
You can mix the juices together or pour them separately for a stunning rainbow effect. It's festive, it's easy (just fresh fruit and a bottle of bubbly), and the leftover juice makes a great drink for kids or guests who want a mocktail. Pair it with the rum aperitivo above for a full Easter brunch cocktail bar.
Easter Dinner Ideas & Mains
This is the heart of any Easter meal. Whether your family does ham, lamb, lasagna, or something completely different, the main course is what everyone remembers.
I've loaded this section with five Italian lasagnas, fresh pasta mains, a gluten-free vegetarian option, and elegant seafood dishes for pescatarian guests. Every recipe here can be scaled to feed a crowd, and most can be prepped ahead so you're not stuck in the kitchen on Easter Sunday.
18. Italian Ham & Asparagus Lasagna with Asparagus Bechamel
A perfect Easter dinner recipe that celebrates everything about spring! Layers of fresh pasta, Italian prosciutto cotto (cooked ham), seared spring asparagus, a silky asparagus bechamel, and a porky-tomato sauce, with plenty of fresh mozzarella and grated Parmesan.
This is Easter lasagna at its finest! Ham, asparagus, and spring all in one easy, layered, bubbling, golden masterpiece. And yes, this is very different than the lasagna below😉
Get the Ham & Asparagus Lasagna recipe.
19. Italian Speck & Asparagus Lasagna (with Asparagus Bechamel & Zucchini Crema)
This is the elevated version for when you want to take asparagus lasagna to the next level. Smoky Italian speck replaces regular prosciutto cotto (Italian cooked ham), a velvety zucchini crema adds another layer of spring flavor, and the asparagus bechamel, mozzarella, and aged Grana Padano DOP tie it all together.
It's richer and more complex than the ham version above, and it makes Easter dinner feel truly special. Two asparagus lasagna options that can be assembled ahead and baked on Easter Sunday for more time with guests and less time cooking!
Get the Speck & Asparagus Lasagna recipe.
20. Authentic Lasagna Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese with Spinach Pasta)
A true Italian lasagna Bolognese never features mozzarella or ricotta cheese, and is nothing like the Americanized versions you so often see online. My Italian friends call those inauthentic versions "lasagne bastardi" or bastard lasagnas😂!
This authentic version from Bologna uses thin sheets of homemade green spinach pasta layered with slow-cooked ragù alla Bolognese, silky bechamel, and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP.
No ricotta. No mozzarella. Just the most delicious meat sauce, bechamel, Parmigiano, and spinach pasta. There's a reason this is one of Italy's most iconic celebration dishes, and it belongs on your Easter table. This recipe was developed and tested against several lasagne Bolognese in Bologna itself, including one of our favorite versions from Trattoria La Montonara and more local spots.
Get the Authentic Lasagna Bolognese recipe.
21. Italian Ham & Mozzarella Lasagna (Lasagna di Prosciutto Cotto e Mozzarella)
This is the lasagna for families who love ham on Easter but want something more exciting than a glazed ham on a platter. Layers of prosciutto cotto (Italian cooked ham), stretchy mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh pasta.
It's quicker and much simpler than the asparagus versions, which makes it a great option if you're feeding a big group or cooking for kids who prefer things straightforward. It's also one of the most popular recipes on the blog for a reason - it's delicious!
22. Lasagna with Beef & White Wine Tomato Ragu and Porcini Bechamel
This is the dark horse of the lasagna lineup. Made with beef and white wine tomato sauce, paired with a porcini mushroom bechamel that's creamy and savory in the best way. It's rich, it's complex, and it's completely different from the other four lasagnas in this roundup.
If you've got mushroom lovers at your Easter table, this is the one to make. The porcini bechamel alone is worth the effort! It can be customized for a deep, earthy flavor, or made with a lighter touch - it's up to you!
Get the Beef Ragu & Porcini Bechamel Lasagna recipe .
23. Mamma A's Eggplant & Zucchini Parmigiana (Vegetarian & Gluten-Free)
Not everyone at the Easter table eats meat, and this is the recipe that makes sure nobody feels like an afterthought. Luca's mamma's eggplant and zucchini parmigiana is a layered baked dish (or pasticcio, similar to lasagna) made with sliced eggplant and zucchini, homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
It's naturally gluten-free, it's vegetarian, and it's hearty enough to stand on its own as a main course. Calling this a "side dish" would be doing it a disservice. It holds its own next to any of the Easter lasagna recipes above.
Get the Eggplant & Zucchini Parmigiana recipe.
24. Easter Ravioli (Mezze Luna with Anna)
Every Easter, I make ravioli with Anna (Luca's mamma) here in Northern Italy. She's been making these mezzeluna (half-moon crescent-shaped) ravioli for decades, and the tradition of making fresh pasta together before Easter is one of the most meaningful parts of the holiday for our family.
The mezze luna shape is traditional for Italian Easter, and the filling is almost always "ricotta e spinaci" (ricotta and spinach with aged Grana Padano cheese). This is real Italian home cooking at its best because it comes from an Italian nonna's kitchen, not a cookbook.
Get the Easter Ravioli recipe.
25. Spinach Pasta (Green Tagliatelle) with Authentic Bolognese Sauce
If you love the spinach pasta in the lasagna Bolognese but want something a little more hands-off, cut it into tagliatelle and serve it tossed with the Bolognese sauce instead (or buy store-bought egg pasta). It's the same beautiful green pasta, the same incredible ragu, just without the layering and baking.
This is a gorgeous Easter dinner main that comes together faster than lasagna and looks stunning on the plate. The bright green noodles against the rich, meaty sauce is one of the prettiest pasta dishes you'll ever make.
Get the Spinach Pasta recipe. Pair it with the Authentic Bolognese Sauce for the full experience.
26. Easy Gnocchi Bolognese (100% Made From Scratch)
Pillowy homemade spinach gnocchi smothered in slow-cooked Bolognese sauce is the ultimate Italian comfort food for Easter dinner. Making gnocchi from scratch sounds intimidating, but it's actually one of the simpler fresh pastas to learn.
Three ingredients, no pasta machine needed, and the results are light-years ahead of anything from a package. This is a crowd-pleasing Easter main that even kids love.
Get the Gnocchi Bolognese recipe.
27. Authentic Bolognese Sauce (Ragù alla Bolognese)
This is the foundation recipe behind both the lasagna Bolognese and the green tagliatelle al ragù above. A proper ragù alla Bolognese is slow-cooked for hours with a soffritto of onion, carrot, and celery, a mix of beef and pork, white wine, tomato, homemade chicken broth (or beef), and a splash of milk.
Make a big batch on Holy Saturday (or meal prep and freeze it the month before), and you'll have enough for Easter Sunday lasagna, tagliatelle for Monday, and probably gnocchi later in the week.
What About Pescatarian Easter Dinner?
Not every Easter table centers on ham or lamb. For pescatarian guests or families who prefer seafood, these three recipes are elegant enough for any holiday celebration and special enough to feel like a true Easter feast.
28. Crab Risotto
Crab risotto is one of the most elegant Easter dinner options for seafood lovers. Creamy Arborio rice, sweet crab meat, a splash of white wine, and a finish of fresh chives. It's rich without being heavy, and it feels every bit as special as a traditional Easter ham dinner.
This is the kind of dish you'd find at a celebratory Italian seafood dinner on the coast, and it translates beautifully to an Easter table. Creamy dreamy risotto!
29. Crab Linguine
Sweet crab tossed with linguine, garlic, white wine, cherry tomatoes, and a hit of fresh parsley. It's lighter than risotto, comes together faster, and the combination of delicate crab with al dente pasta is hard to beat. This is a beautiful pescatarian Easter main that looks impressive but doesn't require hours of work especially if you buy the pasta instead of making homemade squid ink pasta (which is also quite easy).
Serve it family-style on a big platter and let everyone dig in.
30. Lobster Ravioli
If you're looking for the most showstopping pescatarian Easter dinner, lobster ravioli is it! Handmade (twice milled) semolina egg pasta filled with sweet lobster and Argentinian shrimp meat, served with a tomato cream sauce. Or serve it with a simple browned butter and sage sauce, or alfredo sauce.
All of these sauces let the lobster shine. Yes, it takes some effort. But it can be made days or weeks in advance, frozen, and cooked in just minutes on Easter Sunday. This is the kind of Easter dinner that people will remember! Make it with someone you love and enjoy the process as much as the meal.
Easter Side Dishes
The best Easter side dishes are the ones that make your main course shine without competing with it. These are all make-ahead friendly, full of spring color, and they round out any Easter dinner menu. Whether you're serving ham, lasagna, or a seafood main, these sides go with everything.
31. Best Sauteed Carrots Recipe (10-Minute Restaurant-Style)
Carrots and Easter are the perfect match! These restaurant-style sautéed carrots are glossy, tender, and lightly caramelized, creating even more flavor. They take 10 minutes, they go with literally every Easter main on this page, and they bring that pop of bright orange color that every Easter plate needs.
This is the side dish that ties the whole meal together and costs pennies to make!
32. Easy Mushy Peas
Spring peas belong on every Easter table. These mushy peas are bright green, buttery, and the perfect accompaniment to lamb, ham, or really any Easter main (especially Easter seafood dishes).
They're traditional in British cooking, served alongside fish and chips and roast lamb or beef, and they're one of the easiest make-ahead Easter side dishes you can prepare. Mash them as smooth or as chunky as you like. Kids love them, adults love them, and they take almost no effort.
33. 3-Ingredient Italian Potato Gnocchi
Serve these pillowy gnocchi tossed in browned butter and sage as an elegant Easter side dish alongside lamb, ham, or veal or beef. Just three ingredients (potatoes, flour, and egg plus salt), no special equipment, and the result is nothing like the sad store-bought versions - after making these, you'll never go back.
34. Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Shrimp & Italian Ham
This is the make-ahead Easter side dish that travels well, feeds a crowd, and actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours. Shrimp, Italian ham, fresh vegetables, pan-seared vegetables, cured vegetables, and pasta tossed in a simple, bright vinaigrette.
It's perfect for Easter potlucks, outdoor Easter celebrations in warmer climates, or just having something cold (or room temperature) and refreshing on the table alongside all the warm, rich mains. Make it on Holy Saturday, and it's ready when you need it on Easter Sunday.
Easter Desserts
Easter dessert is where you go big! Easter cakes like our incredibly moist carrot cake, all-natural strawberry cake, and vintage devil's food cake share the table with towering coconut cream pies, Italian crostate, and homemade Peeps that are actually made with real ingredients. Plus, a few crowd-pleasers that disappear before the table is cleared.
This is a favorite section in the roundup because the best Easter dessert table needs lots of delicious options!
35. Incredibly Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (or Matcha Cream Cheese Mascarpone Frosting)
Carrot cake is the Easter dessert, and this version is incredibly moist (the name doesn't lie), loaded with warm spices, and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting that balances the sweetness perfectly.
If you only make one Easter dessert this year, make this one. I show you my purple and orange carrot option with toasted walnuts and raisins, plus my matcha-cream cheese mascarpone option featuring regular carrots, no raisins, toasted pecans, and pistachio garnish. Both versions are equally delicious, but show you how customizable this carrot cake recipe is!
Italian Easter Bread (Colomba Pasquale)
Colomba pasquale (which means "Easter dove" in Italian) is the iconic bread of Italian Easter. It's a rich, brioche-like sweet bread shaped like a dove, studded with candied citrus peel, and topped with a crunchy pearl sugar and almond glaze. In Italy, it's as essential to Easter as panettone is to Christmas. Most Italians buy their colomba from a pasticceria, but making it from scratch is an entirely different experience.
36. Homemade Italian Easter Dove Bread From Scratch (Colomba Pasquale)
The process is artisanal and similar to panettone (long rises, enriched dough, patience), and the result is a golden, fragrant Italian Easter Dove bread like our favorite local pasticceria here in Italy (aka an Olivieri 1882 colomba copycat).
This sweet yeasted dessert bread has candied apricot and salted caramel inside and a crunchy almond-sugar topping that crackles when you tear into it. If you've ever wanted to bake something truly special for Easter (or you just Olivieri Colomba and Panettone minus the price tag), this is the project for you.
37. Triple Coconut Cream Pie with Mile-High Meringue
Three layers of coconut flavor in one creamy, dreamy diner-style pie, topped with a mile-high meringue that gets baked until golden. This easy pie recipe looks dramatic, but it's simple to make. It's the perfect indulgent Easter dessert that never feels heavy or overly sweet.
The filling is all-natural, silky smooth, the pie crust is buttery, flaky, and crisp, and that meringue is everything. Easter dinner deserves a showstopper, and this is it.
38. Black Sesame Coconut Cream Pie (with Whipped Cream Topping)
If the triple coconut pie above is the classic showstopper, this black sesame version is the conversation starter. Nutty, toasty black sesame paste is swirled into a rich homemade coconut cream filling and topped with billowy sweetened whipped cream.
The flavor is pure coconut with a completely addictive toasty twist! It's a creative take is perfect for the Easter table. You can decorate it to look like a bunny face or bunny tail! If you have a lot of coconut-lovers, serve it alongside the triple coconut pie and let people try both.
39. Crostata di Marmellata (Authentic Italian Jam Tart)
A crostata is the Italian answer to pie or a tart, and it's one of the most beloved desserts in every Italian household. This is the original version made with a buttery pasta frolla (easy to work with Italian shortcrust pastry) and filled with cherry jam (use your favorite jam flavor).
Refined, yet incredibly simple to make. So simple that it's the kind of dessert Italian nonnas make with their eyes closed, and your kids can make!
The lattice top is classic, and the whole thing comes together in about an hour, and you can use a cookie cutter to make easter egg or bunny cutouts for the top. Perfect for Easter brunch, dessert, or just having on the counter for people to slice throughout the day. Did I mention how EASY it is?
40. Strawberry Cheesecake Tart (Cheesecake Crostata)
This is what happens when an Italian crostata meets an American cheesecake. A buttery pasta frolla shell filled with my most popular jam recipe on the blog (a 30-minute homemade strawberry jam), a light, creamy cheesecake filling, and topped with homemade strawberry sugar, and fresh strawberries if you like.
It's lighter than a traditional cheesecake, easier to make, and the combination of Italian pastry technique with American cheesecake flavor tastes G.O.O.D! Spring strawberries make it feel like Easter.
41. Rustic Strawberry Crostata (Crostata di Marmellata di Fragole)
Same delicious pasta frolla crust as the cherry version above, but no chilling the crostata before baking (saves time). Fill it with store-bought or homemade strawberry jam and voila! If your family loves strawberries and isn't concerned with perfectly looking desserts so long as they taste amazing, this is your crostata.
Three Italian crostate in one roundup might seem like a lot, but once you've tasted a real crostata made with proper pasta frolla just like they make it here in Italy, you'll understand why Italians have been baking these for generations. Each one is slightly different, and each one deserves its spot here.
42. How to Make Homemade Peeps (Without Corn Syrup)
Store-bought Peeps are fun, but homemade Peeps made without corn syrup, and no artificial colors are something you won't mind your kids actually eating. They're soft, fluffy, and you can pipe them into any shapes you want!
This is an awesome Easter project to do with kids. They can help shape the chicks, eggs, or bunnies, and coat them in colored sugar because even if they end up looking like a disaster, they're really tasty and your kids will be very proud of their work! Making your own Peeps is a messy-fun Easter tradition that kids love!
43. Best Strawberry Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust
A creamy all-natural strawberry cheesecake with a 2-ingredient Biscoff cookie crust that adds a warm, caramel-like flavor you won't get from a regular graham cracker base. The all-natural strawberry cheesecake filling puts it over the top! This is a really simple, but impressive-looking dessert for Easter dinner without being difficult to make.
Bake it 1-4 days in advance, so it has time to set, and you'll have a stress-free Easter dessert ready to go. Top it with your homemade Peeps!
44. Strawberry Cake Recipe (All-Natural)
This strawberry cake gets its gorgeous flavor entirely from real strawberries. No food coloring, no artificial flavors, no strawberry Jell-O mix. Just fresh and freeze-dried strawberries for delicious strawberry flavor in every bite. It's moist, fragrant, and delicious in cake or cupcake form.
For Easter, it's perfectly spring'y and festive. Bake it as a sheet cake, cupcakes, or a double layer strawberry cake!
45. Best Devil's Food Cake with 7-Minute Frosting (Super Moist Vintage Recipe)
For the chocolate lovers at your Easter table, this vintage devil's food cake with 7-minute frosting is the answer. It's deeply chocolatey, incredibly moist, and has that rich, tender crumb that only comes from a recipe that's been perfected over time.
Not every Easter dessert needs to be pastel and floral. Sometimes you need a serious chocolate cake on the table, and this one delivers. Pair it with a simple chocolate ganache, your favorite buttercream icing or turn it into devil's food cupcakes or sheet cake!
46. Homemade Peanut Butter Biscoff Cups
Think Reese's cups, but better and without the ultra-processed ingredients or fake chocolate. A peanut butter, Biscoff cookies, and chocolate make the perfect homemade Easter candy.
These are no-bake and make a great Easter treat. Make a big batch and put them in the Easter baskets, on the dessert table, or just hide them in the fridge for yourself. Nobody will judge.
47. Mom's Famous Cinnamon Rolls (Best Ever)
My Southern mama's locally famous fluffy cinnamon roll recipe is a perfect Easter dessert or to add to your brunch bar. Buttery, super fluffy-soft with contrasting crispy crunch pecan tops, and ooey-gooey with cinnamon sugar in every layer. Just 9 pantry ingredients, 100% from scratch, and they stay tender for days.
Make them the night before and reheat covered in the oven a few minutes before serving on Easter morning. They also freeze beautifully for easy Easter breakfast meal prep!
Italian Easter Traditions & Recipes
What Do Italians Eat for Easter?
Every Italian family celebrates Easter a little differently, depending on the region and whether the area is inland or closer to the sea. In the Veneto, where we live, radicchio and white asparagus season overlap with Easter, and it's treated with real reverence. You'll see it at every market, every restaurant, and every family table during the weeks surrounding Easter.
You'll find different versions of stuffed fresh pasta like ravioli and cannelloni here in the north (and across Italy) served as "il primo" (the first course) that typically doesn't include meat. With ricotta and spinach filling being the most common. For "secondo" (or the second meat or fish course), you'll often find roast veal and roasted potatoes.
In Abruzzo, where Luca's family also has roots, the traditions lean more toward lamb dishes and handmade pasta. What ties it all together across regions is the importance of making food from scratch together, enjoying it as a family, and taking the time to do it right. Much like Easter meals are everywhere around the world.
The recipes in this section are the Italian Easter dishes I've learned from my Italian family and friends while living here. The colomba pasquale (in the Easter Desserts section) and the Easter ravioli with Anna (in the Dinner Mains section) are also core Italian Easter traditions. I've placed them in their respective sections for easier navigation, but they belong to this story too.
48. White Asparagus with Crispy Ham (Asparagi Bianchi di Bassano)
White asparagus from Bassano del Grappa is one of the most prized spring ingredients in the Veneto region, and it appears on every Easter table here. It has a DOP designation (protected designation of origin), and during white asparagus season, entire festivals are dedicated to it.
The stalks are thicker and more delicate than green asparagus, with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Served simply with crispy ham and a drizzle of good olive oil, this is how we make it and enjoy it best. Italians have been eating asparagus on Easter for generations. Living here during asparagus season is a reminder that the best food is always seasonal, local, and simple.
49. Asparagus Risotto with Pan-Seared Scallops & Crispy Speck
Risotto is a traditional Italian first course for Easter(or any meal), and this version celebrates spring with fresh asparagus, golden pan-seared Diver scallops, and crispy shards of speck (smoked prosciutto from the Alto Adige or Sud-Tirol regions). Risotto is stupid simple to make and consistently produces restaurant-quality results!
The technique matters: toasting the rice, adding warm broth one ladle at a time, stirring patiently until the rice releases its starch into a creamy, flowing consistency. This asparagus risotto is elegant enough for an Italian Easter feast and comforting enough for a family dinner.
50. Authentic Italian Tortellini in Brodo (Tortellini Soup)
Tortellini in brodo is one of Bologna's most iconic dishes, right alongside ragù alla Bolognese and lasagna Bolognese. Little meat and Parmigiano-Reggiano filled pasta served in a clear, golden homemade meat broth. It's a traditional first course for Italian celebrations, including Easter, and it's the kind of dish that takes time but rewards you with something truly special.
This recipe follows the authentic preparation from the Emilia-Romagna region (developed and tested against tortellini in brodo from trattorias across Bologna, Modena, Parma, and Ferrara). It's 100% from scratch, way easier (even stuffing and folding them) than you'd think, and the tortellini freeze beautifully if you want to make them ahead for Easter Sunday.
51. Homemade Limoncello (A Fun Easter Family Project)
Easter weekend is the perfect time to start a batch of homemade limoncello with your spouse, siblings, or in-laws. Peel the lemons together, steep them in alcohol, and by the time summer arrives, you'll have gorgeous bottles of bright yellow Italian sunshine ready for warm-weather entertaining with extended family.
Limoncello is one of Italy's most famous digestivi served ice-cold after dinner. And making it from scratch is one of the simplest and most rewarding Italian kitchen projects you can do. Start it at Easter, bottle it by midsummer to celebrate the Fourth of July, and give bottles as gifts all summer long. It just gets better and smoother the longer it cures😉!
52. Sicilian Cannoli (Authentic Italian Recipe)
Cannoli are one of the most iconic Italian desserts, and they're a natural fit for an Italian Easter table. Crispy, fried pastry shells filled with a sweet ricotta cream (original or flavored) finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and a scattering of pistachios or mini chocolate chips.
They originated in Sicily but are beloved across all of Italy(and by anyone with taste buds, frankly). Fill them just before serving so the shells stay perfectly crispy. Or make them ahead by brushing the insides with melted chocolate, which keeps the ricotta cream from making the shells soggy. They're festive, they're fun to eat, and they're always the first thing to disappear from the dessert spread.
53. White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
Panna cotta (which literally means "cooked cream" in Italian) is one of the most elegant and effortless Italian desserts you can make. This version is infused with white chocolate and real vanilla bean for a delicate, silky custard that wobbles just right when you tap the plate.
It's make-ahead friendly, it's light enough to serve after a big Easter meal, but still rich and creamy. Plus, it looks stunning with a drizzle of coulis berry sauce and a few fresh berries on top. This is the Italian Easter dessert for people who want something refined without dedicating much time at all to making Easter dessert.
FAQ
The best Easter side dishes to serve with ham include sauteed carrots, mushy peas, potato gnocchi with butter and sage, and a make-ahead Mediterranean pasta salad. Asparagus is also a classic pairing, either as a simple steamed side or worked into a risotto or lasagna. If you want something lighter, a spring salad like the plum caprese or lazy day refrigerator salad balances the richness of the ham.
A traditional American Easter dinner usually includes ham or lamb as the main course with spring vegetables like asparagus, carrots, and peas on the side, plus a showstopper dessert like carrot cake or coconut cream pie. For an Italian-inspired Easter dinner, serve a first course of risotto or fresh pasta, followed by a lasagna or roasted main, with colomba pasquale for dessert. This roundup has 47 tested recipes covering every option so you can mix and match based on your family's preferences.
Italian Easter dinner (pranzo di Pasqua) is a multi-course meal that typically includes antipasti, a first course of fresh pasta or risotto, a main course of roasted lamb or other meat, spring vegetables like asparagus, and colomba pasquale (Italian Easter dove bread) for dessert. In the Veneto region of Northern Italy, white asparagus is a prized Easter ingredient. Families also make fresh-filled pasta like ravioli, cannelloni, and the meal often lasts several hours with espresso and limoncello to finish.
Carrot cake is the most classic Easter dessert, followed by coconut cream pie, strawberry cake, and Italian crostate (jam tarts). For something fun and kid-friendly, try homemade Peeps made without corn syrup or no-bake peanut butter Biscoff cups. If you're going for an Italian Easter dessert, panna cotta, cannoli, or colomba pasquale (Italian Easter bread) are all traditional and elegant options. The best Easter dessert table has a mix of options so everyone finds something they love.
Many of the recipes in this roundup are make-ahead friendly. Lasagnas can be assembled a day ahead and baked on Easter Sunday. Bolognese sauce improves after a day in the fridge. Colomba pasquale, crostate, cheesecake, and panna cotta should all be made at least a day ahead. The Mediterranean pasta salad, mushy peas, and spinach artichoke dip are also great make-ahead options. Crepe batter can be made the night before. The only things you want to make fresh on Easter day are the risotto, the frittata (or reheat gently), and the French toast.
Colomba pasquale (meaning 'Easter dove' in Italian) is a traditional Italian Easter bread shaped like a dove. It's made from a rich, brioche-like dough with candied citrus peel, topped with a crunchy pearl sugar and almond glaze. The texture and process are similar to panettone (Italian Christmas bread), with long fermentation times that develop complex flavor and a light, airy crumb. Colomba is as essential to Italian Easter as panettone is to Christmas. Most Italians buy it from a bakery, but making it from scratch at home is a rewarding project.
For pescatarian Easter guests, crab risotto, crab linguine, and lobster ravioli are all elegant enough for a holiday celebration. For vegetarian guests, Mama A's eggplant and zucchini parmigiana is a hearty, gluten-free main that holds its own alongside any lasagna. You can also serve the asparagus risotto without the scallops and speck for a fully vegetarian first course, or make the spinach and ricotta crespelle using the basil-parmigiano crepes with asparagus bechamel.
More Roundup Recipes (I've Actually Made)
Choose Your Favorite Easter Recipes to Get Started!
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Food Safety
- Always wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood.
- Cook lamb to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) with a 3-minute rest. Cook poultry to 165°F (74°C). Cook ham to 145°F (63°C) for fresh ham, or 140°F (60°C) for pre-cooked ham.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of serving. Store in airtight containers and consume within 3-4 days.
- When reheating lasagna or other baked dishes, ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Fresh pasta and filled pasta (like ravioli) should be refrigerated if not cooking immediately and used within 24 hours, or frozen for up to 3 months.
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