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    Home » Recipes » Easter Recipes

    80+ Easter Dinner Ideas

    Published: March 6, 2023 | Last Updated: July 31, 2024 | Lisa 5 Comments
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    Pictures of Easter Dinner recipes in a collage like a bunny cake, mashed potatoes, lamb, ham, and bunny cupcakes.

    Last Updated July 31st, 2024 at 08:30 am by Lisa

    Dozens of Easter Menu Ideas are included in this recipe collection. All the traditional Easter Dinner classics like glazed ham, rack of lamb, roasted or mashed potatoes, and scrumptious desserts like an adorable bunny cake.

    There are inspiring non-traditional Easter dishes, and creative appetizers too. Spring basket deviled eggs, drinks, cocktails, potluck sides, and more for your holiday feast celebration.

    Plus ideas, tips, and hacks to make your family gathering spectacular from Good Friday through Easter Sunday. ✝️👒🌷

    These are some of the best Easter dinner ideas whether you are having an easy brunch or a holiday dinner. Happy Easter everyone...

    Pin

    Traditional Easter Dinner Main Courses

    This sample Easter dinner menu is full of delicious food, great ideas, and recipes to celebrate with family and friends. Some are sure to become traditions in your home year after year.

    Start planning a sample menu plan with traditional Easter dinner ideas that are classic Easter dinner must-haves. Then add in a couple of non-traditional Easter recipes and then narrow it down as people volunteer to bring main dish items to your gathering.

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    What are the traditional Easter menu main dishes?


    A traditional Easter menu typically has a favorite meat main dish like ham, or lamb, and then sides of scalloped potatoes, spring vegetables, bread, and a tasty treat like cupcakes and cakes.

    These are the most common Easter dinner entree dishes and sides according to the Food Network.

    -glazed ham
    -roast lamb
    -scalloped potatoes
    -cheesy potato casserole
    -au gratin potatoes
    -roasted potatoes

    -glazed carrots
    -deviled eggs
    -macaroni and cheese
    -asparagus
    -hot cross buns
    -Easter bread

    -carrot cake
    -bunny cake

    Pin

    Delicious Easter Dinner Ideas 

    Classic Ham & Beef Roast Dinner

    Enjoy this fun fresh take on a classic ham it could start a new tradition for your Easter ham dinner. Most people bake hams in the oven, and slow cooker ham recipes are so popular now as a main course.

    But I gotta tell you, Kahlua Pineapple Glazed Ham is the BEST spiral-cut baked ham recipe to serve a crowd. The pineapples bake in the same pan and it has a brown sugar glaze. It kinda breaks the traditional ham dinner rules in a good way and has a perfect balance. 🐷🍍

    Serve this Beef Roast Recipe with a wine marinade as an elegant dinner for the holiday. 🍖🍷

    The prep on this is easy, and oh you can serve it with my Creamy Balsamic Horseradish Sauce and make Roast Beef Sandwiches the next day. 🥩🥪

    Make a Twice Smoked Spiral Cut Ham just like a smokehouse pit boss. This holiday meal classic has an amazing smoky flavor with an apple cider orange honey glaze, but it is a winner any time of year! 🐷🍊🍎🔥

    • A spiral baked ham on white platter with wedges of pineapple and sliced oranges.
      Kahlua Pineapple Glazed Ham
    • Thick sliced roast beef on a cutting board with pan juices and ingredients in the background.
      Beef Roast
    • A double smoked ham on a outdoor smoker ready to eat.
      Double Smoked Ham With Orange Honey Glaze

    Fancy Grilled Lamb

    Roast lamb is classic, and most people cook a roast leg of lamb. But what about an elegant grill recipe ready in just 45 minutes? Impress your family and guests with this Cabernet-Rosemary Grilled Rack of Lamb sliced into Lamb Chops served with refreshing Watermelon Skewers. 🐑 🍉

    Grilled Lamb Chops are rubbed and seasoned with mint salt and paired with sweet juicy Peaches for an easy side. Top with parmesan mint pesto, for a gorgeous spring party food idea! 🍖🍑🌿

    Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce are great, wrap a pita around grilled lamb meatballs with chopped tomato, cucumber, and a little parsley. The grilled lamb kabobs are sublime with the cool veggies and sauce all tucked in a pita... 🥙

    • A beautiful grilled rack of lamb on a white platter with rosemary sprigs and watermelon skewers.
      Cabernet Rosemary Grilled Rack Of Lamb
    • A white platter filled with grilled lamb chops topped with mint pesto and grilled peaches.
      Grilled Lamb Chops
    • Greek gyros on parchment paper topped with lamb meatballs cucumber and tomatoes.
      Lamb Gyros With Greek Tzatziki Sauce

    Non Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas

    Gorgeous Fish Ideas

    The 46 days leading up to Easter Sunday are called Lent. These are great choices for those who observe Lent and typically fast from eating meat on Fridays.

    Lobster Ravioli with a Lemon-Limoncello Butter Sauce uses a baked ravioli technique you can make in just over an hour or prep ahead for your holiday dinner party. 🦞🍋

    Grilled Salmon with fresh asparagus, zucchini ribbons, and lemon-dill butter all wrapped in cedar and is a complete recipe all in one. Make this clean healthy dinner for entertaining in minutes, it looks so pretty garnished with lemon slices! 🎣🌿🔥

    A fast oven-baked Shrimp Boil is easy and ready in 35 minutes. Get all the deep delicious taste of this low country classic dish without the fuss of boiling water. 🦐🍤🌿🥔🌽

    • A white plate filled with heart shaped lobster ravioli garnished with parsley.
      Lobster Ravioli
    • A wooden platter with cedar wrapped salmon, asparagus, and lemon butter.
      Cedar Grilled Salmon
    • A white platter filled with corn, shrimp, sausage, and potatoes for dinner.
      Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

    Pork & Chicken Ideas

    There really are no rules for Easter, even pork chops or a chicken recipe can be a great choice. Grilled chicken breasts, a golden roast chicken, or Stuffed Gorgonzola Chicken would be so nice to serve, and this chicken recipe has a pan gravy that is heavenly. 🍗🌿

    For something fancier, this Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin (pork roast) takes minutes to prep and is a gorgeous presentation. Pork tenderloin is another option, these are smaller cuts of meat than the loin cut in this recipe. 🐷🍒 I have served this holiday meal for New Year's with rave reviews.

    With the weather warming up, it is the perfect time to serve Huli Huli Chicken in pineapple bowls with tropical rice. You will feel like you are on vacation! 🍗🍍🌴

    • A sliver carving fork and knife next to a pork loin roast and topped with cherries.
      Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin
    • Cooked Gorgonzola Stuffed Chicken in pan sauce garnished with fresh thyme.
      Stuffed Chicken Breasts
    • Two pineapple halves carved out filled with coconut rice, grilled pineapple and huli huli chicken.
      Huli Huli Chicken

    Comfort Food Ideas

    A turkey recipe like this easy Roast Turkey Breast made with homemade Herb Butter will be amazing. By the way, turkey roasts are easy to find in grocery stores year-round in the freezer section. 🦃🌿

    The best juicy Cheeseburger Meatloaf Recipe is bursting with flavor. Each slice is light, fluffy, and tender. 🍔🥓

    Classic Beef Stroganoff made with ground beef is so popular and beloved worldwide. But what if I shared my secrets to pack in flavor and use various beef cuts like tri-tip? 🥩🍄

    • Top down view of a roasted turkey breast sliced thick and garnished with fresh herbs.
      Turkey Breast Recipe
    • A close up view of meatloaf sliced open and cooked bacon strips on top.
      Cheeseburger Meatloaf Recipe
    • White plate filled with Beef Stroganoff on noodles with mushrooms.
      Best Beef Stroganoff Recipe

    Classic Spring Vegetables & Side Dishes

    The perfect way to enjoy a holiday is to serve a simple side dish or two and let people bring their signature dish.

    Of all my recipes, this one might have surprised me the most! Learn my trick to get Mashed Potatoes super creamy (hint: cream cheese). It is wildly popular, and people love to make these ahead and reheat them cleverly. Or bake a delicious side dish of Smashed Potatoes with golden crispy edges. 🥔🧈🥣

    Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables can be prepped ahead, and then roasted the day of your party. 🍠🥕🌿

    • A white casserole dish filled with mashed potatoes and squares of melted butter on top.
      Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
    • A sheet pan of smashed potatoes with fresh herbs baked with crispy golden brown edges.
      Crispy Smashed Potatoes
    • A square white dish filled with colorful roasted vegetables and topped with squares of butter garnished with herbs.
      Vegetable Roasting

    Make sure these easy Dinner Rolls (Pull-Apart Bread) are on your table. They are beautiful and easy to make with store-bought frozen dough. Brush with melted butter, and add toppings you love like grated cheeses & herbs. Everyone goes crazy for these, both kids and adults, these make picky eaters happy. 🍞🧀🌿

    This Sauteed Asparagus recipe is a perfect side dish every time. Loaded with fresh flavor and topped with Gremolata. 🌱🌿 Plus it's an easy low-carb keto recipe.

    Green Goddess Dressing bursts with fresh herb flavor. This is my Mom's 1970's original recipe from California. 🍃💚

    • A close up of baked Frozen Dinner Rolls topped with cheeses, herbs, and seasonings.
      Dinner Rolls
    • A white plate filled with cooked asparagus topped with gremolata garnished with lemon wedges.
      Stovetop Grilled Asparagus
    • A small glass bowl with green goddess dressing and white plates of mixed salad greens on a table.
      Green Goddess Dressing Recipe

    Non-Traditional Easter Side Dishes

    Parmesan Risotto has an amazingly deep flavor. But the best part is hands-free cooking requiring no constant stirring like most risotto recipes. It's an easy side for a delicious meal full of artichokes and toasted pine nuts. 🧀🍚💛

    Cowboy Baked Beans are loaded with browned hamburger meat and crispy applewood smoked bacon. A wildly popular party food recipe and great to bring to potlucks. 🤠🥣

    This is no boring soggy cabbage recipe. Crispy Roasted Cabbage Steaks get crunchy edges and golden brown centers. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts for a savory finish. 🥬🍋🌿

    • A black cast iron pan with risotto made from arborio rice topped with artichokes and pine nuts.
      Parmesan Risotto
    • A large white spoon scooping a serving of cowboy baked beans out of a casserole dish.
      Cowboy Beans
    • Cabbage steaks on a white rectangle platter garnished with parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts.
      Roasted Cabbage Steaks

    For all you avid fans of Sweet Potato Casserole, this signature side dish is the original recipe from the famous Ruth's Chris Steak House. The combination of the pecan and fluffiness of the sweet potato mixture takes this great non traditional holiday side for Easter way over the top. It is so scrumptious, the whole family will rave and want a second scoop, and it might just become an Easter tradition. 🧡🍠

    A classic famous Cheese Soup with simple ingredients and extraordinarily deep rich flavors. An easy soup recipe and one of my favorite things to serve on chilly nights in the winter months when it's soup time. 🧀🫕

    A healthier Alfredo Sauce recipe is possible with just a fraction of the calories. Let's lighten things up and ditch the high fat version loaded with carbs. It has the right creamy texture and clings to the fettuccini with cheesy goodness. 

    • Lifting a scoop of sweet potato casserole out of a white casserole dish with large serving spoon.
      Sweet Potato Casserole (Ruth's Chris Recipe)
    • White bowl filled with cheese soup and a homemade crouton on top.
      Cheese Soup
    • A fork holding twirled fettuccine out of a large skillet.
      Healthy Alfredo Sauce

    Breakfast & Easter Brunch Menu

    Easter Pie (Pizzagaina) is an Italian type of quiche made from a pie crust base and filled with ham, salami, prosciutto, ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. For easy Hash Browns, bake them in a muffin tin! 🧑🏼‍🍳🥔

    Everyone will love to dive into this bubbly Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole right after the Easter egg hunt. Another amazing recipe is a Brie and Bacon Mini Quiche. Baked up in a muffin tin, and so darn pretty. 🥓🥚🍳

    • Three golden crispy edged hash browns baked in a muffin tin on cutting board.
      Oven Baked Hash Browns
    • A vintage silver serving spoon taking out a piece of tater tot casserole just baked.
      Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
    • A vintage wire rack with four baked brie and bacon mini quiche.
      Brie and Bacon Mini Quiche

    Easter Dinner Side Salads

    Potato Salad is a classic BBQ side dish. Loaded with crispy bacon and blue cheese and topped with fresh parsley. This is a great picnic food idea because it has no eggs or mayo. 🥔🥓

    Try this Frozen Wedge Salad with Pistachio-Avocado Dressing. 🥬🥑💚

    Broccoli Salad with crisp green apples, crunchy broccoli, and grapes create all tossed with a creamy 3-ingredient orange sweet dressing. 🥦🍇

    • Wedge salad with avocado dressing drizzled on top with pistachios on a black slate board.
      Iceberg Wedge Salad
    • A small white bowl filled with bacon potato salad garnished with crispy bacon.
      Bacon Potato Salad
    • A turquoise salad bowl filled with broccoli salad with colorful grapes and pistachios.
      Broccoli Salad

    Seven-Layer Salad also known as an overnight salad or "7 Layer Salad", is a colorful party food recipe that serves large groups, and everyone goes for seconds. 🥗💚

    An easy Pasta Salad with fresh herbs, bell pepper, and cheese. This is a mayo-less salad, perfect to serve crowds for parties and picnics. 🧺🌿🥣

    The BEST Macaroni Pasta Salad recipe with chopped eggs, pickles, and PICKLE JUICE! A favorite old-fashioned recipe loved by all but just a little different with those pickles. 💚🍽

    • A glass trifle dish filled with 7 Layer Salad full of colorful ingredients.
      7 Layer Salad
    • A wooden bowl filled with pasta salad and wooden serving tongs.
      Easy Pasta Salad
    • Looking down on a white plate filled with macaroni salad and a silver fork.
      Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe

    Dressings & Vinaigrettes

    Take any green salad and top with homemade dressing from this collection of recipes. Each one of these is an easy recipe, and would be an excellent choice for your family gathering! I love to make vinaigrettes at home with ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar. Then toss on mixed greens or a spinach salad.

    Added bonus: each one of these can be made in a mason jar in minutes with simple ingredients. You can drizzle on any spring green salad mix and toss in fresh herbs and grated parmesan for a gorgeous salad. 🍶🍋🥗

    • A mason jar with lemon vinaigrette inside on a messy cutting board.
      Parmesan Lemon Vinaigrette
    • A large Mason jar filled with ranch dressing made at home with a small serving bowl and spoon.
      Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    • A vintage silver spoon resting on an open jar of vinaigrette.
      Meyer Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette

    Easter Dinner Party Appetizers

    As the family gathers, put out some gorgeous tasty recipes for people to nibble on. Put out a plate of Easter Deviled Eggs that look like little spring baskets, are they pretty or what? They have fresh herbs and edible flower garnish with tons of tips. 🥚💐🪴🧺

    Crudités with a green goddess dip is an easy appetizer. Serve veggie cups and a purple cabbage "bowl" for a unique relish tray at your party. Little dipping cups are great for kids and guests to enjoy munching on veggies while the party gets going. 🥒🥕🫑🥦

    And Crostini is an easy appetizer topped with a cream cheese spread, edible flowers, and herbs. 🥖🌸🌱🌼🧺🌺

    Serve with bubbly champagne or drinks at your gathering...

    • Pretty Easter deviled eggs with green filling and decorated with fresh herbs and edible flowers.
      Easter Deviled Eggs
    • A cutting board with crudites and dip with bright colored vegetables cut into strips and sticks.
      Crudités With Dip
    • A white platter with crostini recipe topped with edible flowers and herbs.
      Spring Crostini Appetizers
    Looking down into a pastel blue egg shaped plate loaded with deviled eggs for Easter decorated with edible flowers and herbs.Pin

    Easter Drinks & Cocktails

    One of the best parts of life is relaxing with those you love over a beverage. Offer a variety of alcohol and no-booze options for guests. Lemonade, iced tea, punch, or serve hot cocoa or coffee and let guest top their creations with bright color spring sprinkles, whip cream, or chocolate shavings.

    Chocolate Easter Bunny Martinis are delightful cocktails with sweet flavors every chocolate lover will adore. These creamy chocolate martinis are so fun on special occasions like Easter, Valentine's Day, or during the holidays! 🍫🐰

    Make a DIY Wine Ice Bucket with flowers frozen inside the ice. It is gorgeous and chills bottles of wine or champagne. This is best at an outside party as the ice melts! 🧊🍾💐

    Just like they serve in the pubs of Ireland, make this classic Baileys Irish Coffee for Easter Sunday brunch. It can be made with a kick of Jameson Irish whiskey or a dash of Bailey's Irish Cream. 

    • A chocolate martini served in a glass garnished with a mini chocolate bunny.
      Chocolate Easter Bunny Martinis
    • The side of a frozen floral ice bucket with pink and purple flowers and a bottle of wine inside chilling.
      Party Ice Bucket
    • A glass mug with Irish Coffee on a vintage green table topped with green sprinkles and edible gold.
      Irish Coffee With Baileys or Whiskey

    These St. Germain Cocktails are easy spritzers with Elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, hibiscus tea, and a splash of club soda over crushed ice. 🌸🍾

    Hibiscus Tea Cocktails are low carb, low sugar, vegan, keto, and gluten-free. A healthier refreshing keto cocktail under 100 calories! 🌺🍹

    Ice cold Blueberry Lemonade can be made in minutes with homemade blueberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, and sweet honey. 🫐🍋

    • Two glasses filled with St Germain cocktails garnished with tiny purple orchids and white jasmine flowers.
      St. Germain Cocktails
    • A decorative etched cocktail glass with a red hibiscus keto cocktails garnished with an orange slice.
      Hibiscus Cocktails
    • Mason jar handled glasses with blueberry lemonade garnished with blueberries, mint, and lemons halves.
      Blueberry Lemonade

    Limoncello is also known as Lemoncello. It is an icy cold Italian lemon liqueur, perfect to serve on holiday evenings. 🍋

    These Mojitos are 100% authentic Cuban Mojitos! Learn the secret ingredient in these famous Cuban cocktails. 🧊🌿🌴

    Bloody Marys have a mix of fire-grilled green chiles (jalapeno, Anaheim, or Hatch Chiles) tomatoes, onions, horseradish, and spices. And try my recipe for Pickled Green Beans! 🍅🌶🌿

    • Two small glasses of icy cold limoncello (lemoncello) ready to sip.
      Limoncello
    • Four Havana club glasses filled with mojitos garnished with mint.
      Authentic Mojito Recipe
    • A pitcher of bloody marys with two drinks garnished with olives, pepperoncinis, and beef sticks.
      Spicy Bloody Marys

    Indulgent Desserts Ideas

    With 2-3 desserts, that is a party! 🎉 I usually buy a few things and make a couple. Prepare ahead and bake a cake or cookies, or make a nice snack mix with pastel Easter candy M&Ms, nuts, and pretzels.

    You could set up a chocolate fondue bar or even a chocolate fountain and let guests dip away! This works great with strawberries, marshmallows, cookies, and pineapple. 🍓☁️🍪🍍🍫

    Each year I try to come up with the best treats for celebrations and potluck parties with family and friends. These are the desserts everyone always loves.

    Of course my all time favorite is this Bunny Cake, it was the first cake recipe I baked as a young girl. 🐰💝🐇

    One of the best Easter Dinner Ideas, an adorable bunny cake on a hot pink table surrounded with jelly beans.Pin

    Coconut Macaroons shaped like bird nests with chocolate eggs are so dang cute!! 🐣💛

    Lemon Bars are a classic for springtime, but these take you to a tropical island with coconut and lime 🍋💛🥥

    • An adorable bunny cake on a hot pink background surrounded with jelly beans.
      Easter Bunny Cake
    • An overhead view of fresh baked and decorated Easter dessert coconut macaroon cookies.
      Easter Coconut Macaroons
    • A white plate with large lemon bars cut into squares dusted with powder sugar.
      Coconut Lime Lemon Bars

    Easy Easter Desserts

    Festive Easter desserts that are made in minutes, and these are great recipes for kids! Easter Cupcakes with a homemade Frosting Recipe, that is fluffy, not too sweet, and so spreadable. Cake Mix Cookies are an easy recipe baked in 11-minutes and just 4-ingredients. You can mix in candies, sprinkles, or chocolate chips. 💕🍪🥣

    And Chocolate Bunny Cupcakes are an easy dessert. Top baked cupcakes with buttercream frosting, sprinkles, and chocolate bunnies-nothing could be easier. 🐰🥕🐇🌸🌷

    Easter Cookies are great to decorate, set up a decorating station for the kids at your party, where they can decorate cookies, eggs, or a cake together!

    • Easter cookies with sprinkles and icing on parchment paper lined cookie tray.
      Easter Cookies
    • A white plate filled with freshly baked cake mix cookies with pastel m&m candies.
      Cake Mix Cookies
    • A display of Easter cupcakes decorated with chocolate bunnies and green sprinkles.
      Chocolate Easter Bunny Cupcakes

    Fruity Desserts

    Peach Cheesecake Pie is a 30-minute no-bake easy recipe with a crisp graham cracker crust, sweet cream cheese filling, and juicy summer peaches! 🍑🍰

    These Pineapple Coconut Madeleines have fresh pineapple pieces and sweet coconut to create a nice crumb and prevent them from drying out while baking. 🍍🥥🌴

    A real fresh Strawberry Cake with no artificial ingredients like food coloring or jello. It has sweet juicy summer strawberries and is topped with amazing strawberry buttercream frosting. 🍓🍰

    • A slice of peach pie on a white plate with a silver fork on a red white check tablecloth.
      Peach Cheesecake Pie (No-Bake)
    • Overhead looking a madeleines cooled on a round baking rack with fresh pineapple and coconut fruit.
      Pineapple Coconut Madeleines
    • A freshly baked and decorated strawberry cake with real strawberries as decorations.
      Fresh Strawberry Cake

    Easter Gathering Ideas

    Pin

    Table Setting Ideas: Pick white, vintage print, or pastel dishes. It might be time to finally use that vintage china from your family with the flower patterns!

    Plan an area for your dining table, buffet, or serving area. A nice long table, the dinner table, or a kitchen counter spaces all work great for special occasions. Plan for your number of guests and space to walk around the buffet or space at the dining table for each guest.

    Buffet Table Tips: Try to set up a buffet table with levels. Use what you have to create different heights and to keep people moving around trying different dishes. I sometimes use boxes under pretty linens and tablecloths to create high and low places.

    Place things up high, low, and spilling out of spring-colored baskets. Pick bright spring linens and floral prints. Use or use colorful paper goods, basket grass, fresh flowers, bright-colored fruit, and eggs.

    Use serving pieces you have, look high and low for trays, baskets, cute bunny bowls, or buy inexpensive ones. Trust me you have great pieces to use or borrow from family and friends!

    Guests: Plan for your number of guests, space to walk around the table, chairs, and places to sit in the shade. Set up additional folding tables and chairs, and borrow them from friends and neighbors if you need more seats.

    Grazing Boards: Arrange a long-serving table and put a GRAZING BOARD down the middle! Oh my goodness, this has changed how I entertain. I load it full of...cheese crackers, chips, pretzels, or breadsticks. Sliced cheeses, string cheese, and spreadable cheese roasted salted peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, chocolate-covered almonds, candies, caramels, or mints.

    Leftover Tip: Have containers to send leftovers home with guests, people love it! I use inexpensive Chinese paper takeout containers or grocery store brands.

    A great recipe for Easter dinner white cake plate with bird nest coconut marcaroons with candy eggs.Pin

    Easter Party Checklist

    • Easter Menu Plan
    • Candy, Chocolate Bunnies & Easter Baskets 🐇🐰🐣
    • Hard Boiled Decorated Easter Eggs 💜🥚🐰💚💖
    • Chilled Serving Trays - food stays cold
    • Electric Food Warming Trays - food stays hot
    • Small Plates & Small Bowls
    • Serving Spoons & Grilling Tongs
    • Pretty Spring Table Cloths
    • Cheese Board, Knives & Spreaders
    • Plates, Napkins, Utensils
    • Colorful Baskets with Paper Liners or Paper Plates
    • Red Solo Cups, Cooler & Ice
    • Beer & Wine 🍷🍾
    • Bottle Opener & Corkscrew
    • Punch, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Soda, Bottled Water 💦🥤🧃
    • Chips, Dips, Pretzels, Snacks 🥨🍿
    • Signature Cocktail and Drink Recipes 🍹🍸
    • Easter Desserts 🍰🍬🧁
    • Chinese Take Out Containers (share those leftovers!)
    • Pop-Up Food Tents/Covers (keep critters off your food!) 🐜🐜🐜

    Easy Decorations

    • Use fresh spring flowers like lilies, daffodils, daisies, or tulips. You can even add fresh carrots with tops into the arrangements! Just add those at the last minute. 🥕💐🌼🌷
    • Arrange a large beverage container, fill with punch or lemonade, and decorate with flowers and decor pieces you love all around the base.
    • For simple pretty table decorations, place flowers tied with ribbons in small jars, glass bowls, or tiny buckets.
    • Scatter jelly beans or small candies on the table or put cute little fluffy chicks in small baskets. 🍭🍬🧺🍫🐥
    • Serve bread, cookies or rolls from spring baskets with bright cloth napkins.
    Pin

    Ways To Keep Food Warm

    1. Use an electric Heated Warming Tray. These are great for large gatherings when people can arrive at different times.
    2. Put a Hot Pad Under A Dish Towel, and place your casserole dish right on top.
    3. A classic Chaffing Dish with Sterno Cans is a great way to keep food hot.
    4. To transport dishes to a party, take them from the oven, wrap them with heavy aluminum foil, and cover them with towels. Place in a cardboard box to keep the food warm in the car.
    5. Slow Cookers are so great to serve from at buffets and are how I love to make crowd pleasers like my Cowboy Baked Beans.

    Ways To Keep Food Cold

    1. Serve out of the heat, cover food, and try to keep any salads or meat items covered or under food nets.
    2. Serve salads in large chilled bowls on ice packs with a pretty towel covering the ice packs underneath.

    PRO TIP: Buy platters that stay chilled for up to two hours, I have a couple and love them. They also can be heated in the winter for parties and holiday celebrations!

    Serving Inside Or Outside?

    Plan for the weather, I have found that by the time Spring is here most of us will be entertaining indoors because the weather is so unpredictable, and for many parts of the US and around the world, it is too cold outside.

    Best to have a backup plan, and if you do have your party outside set up under a covered patio or use a popup tent and patio heater.

    In Southern California, we can usually get away with being outside in spring. You could light up a smokeless fire pit which are all the rage now for people to cozy up to. And have a nice stack of matching inexpensive cotton blankets the ones I love are from Mexico!

    Pin

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    An Easter Dinner Ideas collage of recipes for dinner, desserts, and appetizers.Pin
    Print Pin Recipe

    Easter Dinner Recipes & Ideas + Sugar Cookies

    Dozens of Easter Menu Ideas are included in this recipe collection. All the traditional Easter Dinner classics like glazed ham, rack of lamb, roasted or mashed potatoes, and scrumptious desserts like an adorable bunny cake and Easter Cookies with a classic sugar cookie dough recipe drizzled with an easy buttercream vanilla icing and lots of adorable sprinkles.
    There are inspiring non-traditional Easter dishes, and creative appetizers too. Spring basket deviled eggs, drinks, cocktails, potluck sides, and more for your holiday feast celebration.
    Plus ideas, tips, and hacks to make your family gathering spectacular from Good Friday through Easter Sunday. ✝️👒🌷
    These are some of the best Easter dinner ideas whether you are having an easy brunch or a holiday dinner. Happy Easter everyone...
    Prep Time 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    3 days days
    Total Time 40 minutes minutes
    Servings 36
    Calories 178kcal
    Author Lisa Hatfield

    Equipment

    Easter Cookie Cutters
    Easter Egg Sprinkles
    Non-Stick Pastry Dough Mat

    Ingredients

    Easter Sprinkles

    Cookie Recipe

    • 1 cup butter softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 egg I used EggBeaters, it works perfectly!
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 tablespoons orange juice freshly squeezed from an orange
    • 1 tablespoon good vanilla
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

    Vanilla Buttercream Icing

    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • ½ cup butter   softened, room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 4-6 tablespoons milk  add more milk if necessary until icing is easy to decorate on cookies
    • festive sprinkles
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    Instructions

    Cookie Instructions

    • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, add sugar and softened butter. Mix until combined.
    • Next add egg, baking powder, orange juice, vanilla, and mix. Next add flour gradually, mix until well combined.
    • Wrap cookie dough in plastic food wrap and chill until firm 1-2 hours.
    • On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ thickness. Use a pastry mat for easy cleanup.
    • Use Easter shaped cutter to cut out the cookies. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet at least 1-2 inches apart.
    • Heat oven to 400 degrees, and bake 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
    • Cool the cookies completely, then decorate.

    Vanilla Buttercream

    • Cream room temperature butter with a hand mixer, the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, or a wooden spoon until smooth and fluffy. Next, slowly add the powder sugar until fully incorporated.
    • Add milk and the vanilla extract, then beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Add more tablespoons of milk if necessary to make it soft and the correct consistency to ice the cookies.

    Decorate The Cookies

    • Fill a strong zip top bag and snip the end or, fill a pastry bag fitted with a small tip, and pipe a zig zag line back and forth over each cookie going back and forth.
    • Next, add sprinkles on top of the icing. Enjoy!
    • Chill the cookies in a single layer on a piece of wax paper in the refrigerator.
    • Then stack in a container, keep chilled. Will stay good in fridge up to two weeks.

    Notes

    cookie dough

    Chilling the dough really helps the cookies to cut easier and hold their shape while baking. 

    buttercream frosting

    You can freeze this buttercream, simply place it on the kitchen counter and bring it to room temperature. Snip a small corner off the zip-top bag, and use a back and forth motion to ice your cookies, then add colorful Easter sprinkles. 
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 248IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
    Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shirley Haskle says

      March 27, 2023 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      Such cute Easter cookies, they are so good.

      Reply
    2. Rehoboth says

      March 18, 2023 at 8:20 am

      Wonderful post.
      Thanks

      Reply
    3. Seanna Borrows says

      March 20, 2022 at 7:06 am

      So many wonderful Easter recipes. Your lamb chops with the grilled peaches look amazing. And the lobster ravioli. To die for!

      Reply
    4. Laura says

      March 19, 2022 at 7:03 pm

      What a great collection of recipes for Easter. They are all so beautiful. I’m not sure which one to pick this year. Thanks for compiling all of these Easter ideas.

      Reply
    5. Jessica Robinson says

      March 19, 2022 at 6:34 pm

      Lisa,
      This is SUCH an amazing post with so many fabulous ideas for Easter dinner! Beyond beautiful pictures and incredible ideas!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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