25 Traditional Easter Desserts You Can Make-Ahead
Traditional Easter desserts rely on classic Easter cakes, make-ahead dessert bars, and travel-friendly treats you can take to an Easter feast.
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.
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.
Meyer Lemon Bars
These sunny yellow Meyer lemon bars are a sweeter spin on classic lemon bars but still have that signature chewy shortbread crust.
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.
Cherry Delight Dessert
Another great make ahead dessert idea, this creamy cherry delight dessert is the same color as bright red Easter jellybeans!
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.
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.
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.
Banana Pudding
My banana pudding has no bananas in it but if you're a diehard stickler, you can add them in very easily.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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! If you want even more dessert ideas, don't miss my easy lemon desserts for Easter.
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.
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