25 Traditional Easter Desserts You Can Make-Ahead

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Traditional Easter desserts rely on classic Easter cakes, make-ahead dessert bars, and travel-friendly treats you can take to an Easter feast.

A photo collage shows a carrot cake on an Easter table next to photos of other traditional desserts.

Whether you're looking for an easy Easter dessert to take to your Easter potluck party at church or at your family's home or you need a stunning dessert to add to your Easter brunch buffet at home, you can't go wrong with one of these traditional Easter desserts.

My list focuses on classic Easter cakes, rich and delicious chocolate desserts that can be decorated with or without Easter candy, and fresh fruit desserts that are the perfect complement to all the goodies in the Easter baskets.

Even when I'm planning an early morning Easter brunch, I still plan to serve dessert. After all, it is a holiday and I like to end the meal on a sweet note. There are several perfect options for a brunch dessert listed below.

HINT: Stick with ones that have coffee or fruit as an ingredient!

25 Traditional Easter Desserts

From classic Easter cakes to travel-friendly dessert bars and sweet and juicy fruit desserts, find all the best Easter desserts for your buffet here.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The most traditional Easter dessert ever is a classic carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Filled with fresh grated carrots that the Easter bunny would approve and then your choice of raisins and/or pecans with delicate spices, this is our family's favorite Easter treat.

My recipe has a simple small 8x8-inch cake perfect for small gatherings and an easy variation for turning the same thing into a stunning 2-layer cake.

Easy Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This dainty single-layer carrot cake is perfect for feeding a small party. The delicious cream cheese frosting is the perfect finishing touch.
4.60 from 5 votes
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A square slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting sits on a blue plate with a pink fork.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Eclair Cake

This rich and creamy chocolate eclair cake is a make ahead dessert that is perfect for the Easter table.

You could serve it just as is or decorate the top with a few Easter candies.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Eclair Cake
Layers of creamy vanilla pudding with softened graham crackers and a rich fudgy frosting on top tastes just like a chocolate eclair! This classic church dessert is a popular potluck party treat because you can make the no-bake pudding torte in advance and it travels so well.
5 from 1 vote
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A serving of chocolate eclair cake is on a blue plate with a fork.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Use a few of the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs to decorate the top of this delicious no-bake peanut butter pie with whipped topping.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
Cool and creamy no bake peanut butter pie decorated with Reese's peanut butter cups is a perfect make ahead dessert for a party. Let the assembled pie chill in the fridge for up to 2 days and then just frost and decorate before serving.
5 from 2 votes
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A slice of peanut butter pie on a blue plate. You can see the Oreo cookie crust and creamy filling.

Cherry Delight Dessert

Another great make ahead dessert idea, this creamy cherry delight dessert is the same color as bright red Easter jellybeans!

Cherry Delight Dessert
This old fashioned cherry delight recipe is the perfect party dessert to bring to a potluck. Buttery graham cracker crust is topped with a cool and creamy cream cheese layer and topped with a pretty red cherry pie filling.
5 from 51 votes
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A layered cherry delight dessert slice on a white plate. You can see layers of graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and cherry pie filling on top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

This soft and fluffy frosting on top of these pretty pink soft frosted sugar cookies would be perfect for nestling a few Cadbury mini eggs into.

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
This copycat Lofthouse cookies recipe is just like your favorite store bought soft sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles. They are a perfect choice for sugar cookie bakers who prefer to skip the cookie cutters!
5 from 41 votes
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An aqua cake plate has 5 soft frosted sugar cookies decorated with pink icing and sprinkles. One cookie has a bite taken out of it.

Almond Crunch Cake

For a show-stopping centerpiece to your Easter dessert table, make this almond crunch cake with candy crunch pieces and slivered almonds.

It takes a few steps but many of them can be done in advance.

Almond Crunch Cake
This light and airy almond crunch cake is the perfect elegant dessert for a special event like a birthday, wedding shower, or baby shower. Vanilla cake topped with whipped cream, toasted almonds, and crunchy espresso candies.
5 from 41 votes
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The almond crunch cake has candy crunchies and almonds on top. A slice is missing so you can see the light and airy sponge cake underneath.

Classic Almond Cake

A much easier recipe is this classic almond cake with 5-minute almond icing on top.

For Easter, you could decorate it with mini chocolate chips or even make a border of Peeps.

Almond Cake
This old fashioned almond sheet cake has a delicious fluffy almond icing. Serve it with fresh raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries for a quick and easy dessert in under 30 minutes.
5 from 37 votes
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A square of almond cake with white almond icing is on a blue plate and topped with fresh strawberries. A fork is taking a bite.

Banana Pudding

My banana pudding has no bananas in it but if you're a diehard stickler, you can add them in very easily.

Banana Pudding {No Bananas}
This easy potluck dessert recipe is a classic southern church dessert. While it usually features fresh bananas layered in the creamy pudding mix, this recipe is completely banana free for anyone who has an allergy or strong aversion to banana flavor.
4.95 from 51 votes
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A slice of banana pudding sits on a stack of white plates. You can see that there are no bananas in the layers.

Strawberry Cream Pie

A light and airy strawberry cream pie is the perfect pink dessert for the Easter table.

You could make it a chocolate strawberry pie by decorating it with a few small chocolate Easter bunnies.

Strawberry Cream Pie
Sweet strawberry cream pie is an easy no bake dessert that uses fresh strawberries and cream cheese. The longer chill time makes this an amazing make ahead dessert to serve at a party.
5 from 38 votes
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The no bake strawberry pie has a graham cracker crust and fresh strawberries on top. It is in a clear pie plate so you can see the crust.

No-Bake Butterfinger Pie

The Easter candy doesn't need to just be in the baskets, use it as an ingredient for this no-bake Butterfinger cream pie, too!

Add a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a whipped cream border for a pretty dessert for the Easter table.

Butterfinger Pie
This deliciously easy no-bake Easter dessert recipe is perfect for making with the kids. Cool and creamy cheesecake filling on a graham cracker crust and oodles of crushed Butterfinger candies.
5 from 1 vote
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A slice of no bake butterfinger pie sits on a floral plate. You can see the graham cracker crust and whipped topping.

Oreo Cream Pie

A classic Oreo cream pie is an easy dessert to decorate for Easter since chocolate is such a popular flavor for the holiday.

Oreo Cream Pie
This easy no bake OREO cream pie uses up one family-sized package of Double Stuffed Oreos. Cool and creamy and filled with chocolate wafer cookies and vanilla creme filling in the Oreo cookie crust and Oreo cream center, this easy pie is a huge hit with kids.
5 from 53 votes
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The oreo cream pie has one slice missing so you can see the cookie crust, oreo cookie cream center, and whipped topping.

Crescent Roll Cheesecake Bars

While I love the cinnamon sugar dusted crescent roll cheesecake bars just as they are, you can upgrade them for Easter by layering in some homemade lemon curd or fresh lemon zest or adding mini chocolate chips to the cream cheese layer.

Crescent Roll Cheesecake Bars
Layers of flaky crescent rolls surround a creamy cheesecake filling topped with a crispy cinnamon sugar coating. This easy dessert tastes like two treats in one: a delicious rich and creamy cheesecake and a crispy cinnamon churro!
5 from 35 votes
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Two churro cheesecake bars are stacked on a blue and white plate in front of the baking dish of treats.

Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert

Traditional pot luck desserts like this Southern strawberry jello pretzel dessert are always a hit for Easter dessert.

A crispy pretzel crust is topped with a sweet cream cheese layer, fresh strawberries and jello.

Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert
Cool and creamy strawberry pretzel salad is the classic summer torte you've had at many church potlucks and backyard parties. Made with a salty pretzel crust and topped with a sweet layer of cream cheese and refreshing strawberry flavored Jell-O and fresh strawberries, this dessert is always a hit at a picnic.
4.67 from 6 votes
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A 9x13-inch pan has finished strawberry pretzel salad for serving, a plate with a single slice and a fork is in front.

Lemon Meringue Tart

This elegant lemon meringue tart can be prepped ahead in stages before Easter and just assembled the morning of your feast.

Personally? I think the whole thing tastes even better the next day so I like to finish it completely the night before and serve it chilled.

Lemon Meringue Tart
This bright and zingy lemon meringue tart is a stunning dessert to add to your celebration. The filling and crust can be made ahead of time and stored separately to save time.
5 from 1 vote
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The finished lemon meringue tart is on a cake plate with a ceramic lemon decoration next to it.

Light and Lemony Torte

If you want all the same flavors as the lemon meringue tart but a fraction of the effort, don't miss this easy lemon torte made with whipped topping and lemon pudding.

Light and Lemony Torte
This light no-bake lemon torte recipe is perfect for warm weather entertaining. Easily adjustable for sugar-free or traditional sugar use to accommodate your guests.
5 from 1 vote
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A slice of layered lemon torte sits on a blue plate. You can see the yellow lemon layer, a white whipped topping layer, and the graham cracker crust. A twirled slice of lemon sits on top for garnish.

Orange Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

Bundt cakes are a very traditional Easter dessert because they can be made ahead and keep well until you're ready to serve. This orange chocolate bundt cake has just a hint of espresso in the chocolate ganache drizzle on top.

For a brighter flavored cake, you could skip the chocolate ganache and just double up on the orange glaze.

Orange Chocolate Chip Cake
This zesty orange chocolate chip bundt cake is covered in an easy chocolate ganache. Perfect easy cake for a party.
5 from 1 vote
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A chocolate glazed bundt cake sits on a white cake plate with a blue robins egg decoration to the left.

Hello Dolly Bars

Chocolate and coconut are such a traditional Easter combination!

These vintage Hello Dolly bars are loaded with sweetened coconut and chocolate chips and have a bit of crunch from chopped pecans. They're a perfect potluck dessert that travels well.

Hello Dolly Bars
This easy dessert recipe is perfect for beginner bakers. Delicious Hello Dollies are filled with shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and chopped pecans on a graham cracker crust.
4.58 from 7 votes
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A metal baking pan is filled with hello dolly bars topped with shredded coconut and chocolate chips.

Chocolate Flourless Torte

Chocolate flourless torte can serve as the perfect base for an Easter variation. Drizzle my creme anglaise vanilla sauce over the top of each slice and add fresh strawberries for a pop of color.

Or, you could add dollops of whipped cream and nestle a marshmallow Peep or chocolate mini eggs along the border.

Chocolate Flourless Torte
This rich and fudgy chocolate flourless torte is the perfect easy gluten-free dessert to make for any special occasion.
5 from 1 vote
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A rich chocolately round torte is on a cake plate with a pink ceramic flower accent. Powdered sugar is dusted over the top.

Strawberry Lemonade Cake

This pretty pastel pink strawberry lemonade cake would be right at home on the Easter dessert table, especially if you use festive Easter sprinkles to decorate the top.

Made with real lemonade in the cake batter and in the frosting, it is a bright and zesty finish to your meal.

Strawberry Lemonade Cake
This perfectly portable 9x13 pink lemonade cake is an awesome potluck party dessert. Bright and tart, it is delicious straight out of the fridge ice cold but can be served at room temperature, too.
5 from 1 vote
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A square slice of strawberry lemonade sheet cake with a fork taking a bite. The frosting is pale pink with little pastel sprinkles.

Easy Tiramisu

If you're hosting an Easter brunch, plan to make this make-ahead tiramisu with espresso soaked lady fingers.

It is both light in texture and rich in flavor, that burst of coffee flavor is the perfect pairing for a brunch dessert.

Easy Tiramisu
This cool and creamy no-bake recipe is a classic Italian dessert. Tiramisu, or "pick me up," is so easy to make ahead for your party.
5 from 35 votes
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A slice of tiramisu is on a white plate, a spoon has a bite on it showing the cream filling and spongey cookie layer.

Easter Sugar Cookies

Classic sugar cookies with royal icing can be decorated with just 2 colors to make the cutest Easter desserts!

Check out these simple designs for sugar cookies that look like eggs, bunnies, or even Peeps.

Easter Sugar Cookies Design Ideas
These simple 2-color sugar cookie designs for Easter include all the prettiest patterns of the season: Easter eggs, yellow chicks, pastel bunnies, and more.
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A collage shows several Easter cookie designs for sugar cookies.

Strawberry Poke Cake

Poke cakes are a traditional buffet or potluck dessert because they are easy to make and travel well. My strawberry poke cake recipe starts with an angel food cake and has a pretty strawberry jello filling.

You can top it with fresh kiwis for a pop of spring green color or change the fresh fruit to any seasonal berry your family loves.

Strawberry Kiwi Cake
Cool and refreshing, this fruity poke cake features Jell-o and a whipped topping and is perfectly delicious straight out of the fridge.
5 from 1 vote
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A square slice of strawberry kiwi cake shows the red Jello poke stripes, fluffy whipped topping, and has two thin slices of fresh kiwi on top for garnish.

Grand Marnier Creme Brulee

With all the chocolate hanging out in the kids' Easter baskets, I actually think a vanilla bean crème brûlée with fresh berries would make the perfect make ahead Easter dessert.

Serve the custards chilled (you can prep them the day before!) but just wait to torch the crispy sugar topping until you're at the table.

Grand Marnier Creme Brulee
This elegant restaurant quality vanilla bean creme brulee dessert is shockingly easy to make right in an average home kitchen with a few simple tricks. Serve as a special treat for a dinner party or Valentine's Day and let your loved ones torch their own caramelized sugar crust.
5 from 50 votes
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A serving of creme brulee with fresh strawberries. A spoon has cracked through the sugar topping.

Plain Cheesecake with Toppings

Grab a giant vanilla cheesecake from Costco and prep one of these easy cheesecake toppings for a totally traditional but totally easy Easter dessert!

I vote for the triple berry or strawberry sauces.

Easy Cheesecake Toppings for Delicious Desserts
From fresh and fruity to rich and creamy caramels and fudgy chocolate sauces, all the best cheesecake toppings are on this list. Add some fresh fruit, chopped nuts, and mini chocolate chips for the finishing touch.
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Southern Peach Cobbler

Last but not least, my southern peach cobbler would be an absolute hit for Easter dessert.

You can use canned or fresh peaches and pair it with a vanilla bean or peach ice cream. It's the perfect fruity balance to all the chocolate in the candy baskets.

Southern Peach Cobbler
From fresh and fruity to rich and creamy caramels and fudgy chocolate sauces, all the best cheesecake toppings are on this list. Add some fresh fruit, chopped nuts, and mini chocolate chips for the finishing touch.
4.56 from 9 votes
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A dish of peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and a spoon.

More Easter Recipes

Planning a festive and memorable Easter feast for your family and friends doesn't need to be complicated.

Focus on the flavors of the season and ask for help by hosting an Easter potluck!

Fill in the menu with these kid-friendly Easter side dishes and homemade Easter breads and you'll have the best Easter brunch at home your family has ever had.

A classic carrot cake on an Easter table is featured next to 3 more easy desserts.

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