:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/marie-viljoen-author-0421-2000-87b8eaae26b14b688498242eff77a494.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/strawberry-cobbler-0067-d112152_horiz-d96ca813400f41999b0877a44791f1a3.jpg)
To finish the Easter feast, you need a sweet ending that's both dramatic and delicious. It should also be either simple to put together at the last minute or made ahead and ready to be served. Whichever route you choose, there are stellar options in this collection of our favorite easy Easter desserts.
These seasonal sweet treats feature the flavors of spring—lemon, rhubarb, and strawberries—in crisp, cobbler, and cake form. You'll also find a smattering of treats from storied Easter traditions, like Greek cookies and Russian pashka; Martha's take on the molded dessert is truly spectacular, but also simple to make. And, of course, there are chocolate treats and eggs—it wouldn't be Easter without them.
No-Bake Cheesecake
Cheesecake is a favorite year round, but it's especially well suited to Easter. This no-bake version is one of our most popular recipes; it doesn't require any oven time or fussing with a hot-water bath and the result is a smooth, creamy, downright irresistible dessert with the crunchy contrast of a graham-cracker crust.
Strawberry Shortcakes
We put the emphasis on "cake" in our take on this popular strawberry dessert. We swap the usual biscuits for little cakes, using a one-bowl cupcake batter that's so easy you don't even need a mixer. The baked and cooled cupcakes are sliced horizontally and filled with macerated strawberries and whipped cream.
Lemon-Curd Phyllo Tartlets
Crispy shells hold a silky lemon curd filling. These treats are made with store-bought phyllo shells and you can make them super easy by using store-bought lemon curd in place of homemade if you prefer. Don't skip the mint leaves and blueberries for garnish.
Sugared Marzipan Eggs
An Easter egg hunt is about the delight of discovery. We bring the hunt right to the table with these easy, but exciting marzipan eggs: Each little glittering egg contains a treat (a Turkish apricot stuffed with a morsel of good, dark chocolate).
Martha's Pashka
An Easter buffet table is the ideal setting for a dramatic and pyramidal pashka. The traditional Russian Easter dessert may look impressive, but is actually simple to make—the hardest part about making it is finding the necessary space for its overnight draining and chilling. With a texture like a blancmange or uncooked cheesecake, Martha's pashka is scented with citrus and extra-rich with butter and egg yolks. (Pro tip: A flower pot is a very good substitute for a real pasha mold.)
Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
Easier than pie and just as tasty (even tastier?), that's this this strawberry-rhubarb crisp. Our recipe calls for a crunchy oat topping over the fruits.
Rhubarb-Raspberry Cheesecake Squares
Make this gorgeous dessert the day before your meal. Tart rhubarb and scarlet raspberries are paired with lemon juice to make mouthwatering jelly to top the velvety cheese filling and Graham cracker base.
Lemon-Rhubarb Olive-Oil Bundt Cake
The svelte curves of this Bundt cake glitter thanks to the sanding sugar coating its pan. Fruity olive oil stands in for butter, which means this confection is dairy-free. Cornflour adds subtle crunch, while the melting texture of rhubarb brings a subtle but tart contrast to the sweet cake.
Strawberry Cobbler
Teaming strawberries with a buttery biscuit topping is always a good idea. This easy Easter dessert recipe can be served warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of cream or a scoop of ice cream.
Rose Petal and Strawberry Fools
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ring-around-the-rose-petal-fools-LD106104-artersia-f5f747ac67fe47c9bc6f7ce58f771d84.jpg)
Fools are old-fashioned whipped cream desserts flavored with fruit, and very easy to assemble. This strawberry fool goes fancy with a hint of rosewater, and a fetching finish of sugared rose petals. (If you can't find untreated roses, our hot tip is this: tulips petals are very and pretty.)
Orange-Cardamom Madeleines
Madeleines are quick-baking, deceptively light little cakes that are incredible delicious. After a lavish meal they are a featherweight finish that offers just enough sweetness to make you feel replete. These cakes are perfumed with orange zest and its best spice-friend, cardamom. Bake the night before you need them.
Grand Raspberry Trifle
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/a100453_1203_bigtrifle_vert-cf3909536a344f1ba876f36e85f1b2f8.jpg)
The party-appeal of English trifle is undeniable. This version's glory lies in rich color and restraint: Scarlet layers of fresh raspberries mashed with raspberry jam are separated by slices of lemon syrup-brushed pound cake and lashings of cream. It's an ooh and ah moment when you carry it in.
Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
This is the ultimate no-stress dessert. Chocolate cookies sandwiching strawberry ice cream? Yes, please! Bake the cookies up to one week ahead, fill with store-bought strawberry ice cream, wrap, and freeze.
Clementine Granita
For the lightest and brightest of finishes to your meal, these jewel-like, frozen clementine cups can be made a day ahead (give them 15 minutes out of the freezer before serving). Their frosty filling is a simple granita, spiked with fresh ginger. Spoonfuls slip down easily, soothing and refreshing.
Pavlova with Rhubarb and Pistachios
This is spring on a plate. The beauty of a make-ahead meringue base is that last-minute prep time is minimal. Have your whipped cream, poached rhubarb, and pistachios waiting and this stunning dessert is ready in minutes.
Greek Butter Cookies
These scrumptious, butter-and-honey cookies are served traditionally at Easter or Christmas in Greek households. Their distinctive, cedar-like flavor comes from mastiha, a liqueur infused with the resin of the mastic tree. They're wonderful with a side of vanilla ice cream.
Caramelized Pears
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sweet-spot-caramelized-pears-med108749-002a_vert-74dc7c66b8b74032beaa00e79c118745.jpg)
While we're all about the fruits to come, in many parts of the United States, the new growing season is not yet underway. Apples and pears are still asking to be bought at grocery stores and farmers' markets. They make a warmly comforting yet light dessert after a good meal. These easy, pan-cooked pears yield a caramel that will make you lick your bowl clean.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vanilla-sponge-cake-with-strawberry-meringue-buttercream-102934733-horiz-3bb2908d20c740d8bb3db90de7d2f053.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/daffodil-cake-82g5t3NA4iMBjvZWpeiWaJ-0422-6cefdd8d318f4cab953d66babf6d4f67.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/neapolitan-ice-cream-cake-103282737-2000-horiz-0323-4e492e6a1d354854a0b5326c50907b46.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/carrot-cookie-0014-d112652_vert-2000-ea209b8bf7e0423585c3720d2d5e11fe.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/med105471_0410_macaroon_sundae-horiz-2000-189b782ed7e143429020fb5b0ea9c784.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pull-apart-vanilla-wafer-cupcake-cake-with-berries-103293959-6b3da5bd0077409ea85f32791e23f92c-horiz-ccd428acec304847aada3ce2aa492ac5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rhubarb2-d103274-123-0308_vert-54aa4cf1b4a04561a8e2020f703b9917.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/icecream-sundae-opener-297-d112073_vert-ca8ed878ffb945c2af268329a01df6d6.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/strawberries-cream-stack-cake-98kmdZ_Cq6pB691BZHy54c-0621-onecms-eea33bf31dd04d32895982bb38366bc4.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/variety-floats-At0PD1ROqbO9qURYRnffb9-0622-b0e3b476b6c74c028df12e55d5ed3ff2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/med104339_1208_cran_trifle-aa65c6ca680b4fb193d6514762d667ac.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/egg-noodles-with-asparagus-and-grated-egg-yolks102940870-8d26479fb00b492da3c1b11a409feae7.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/lemon-cake-raspberry-cream-cheese-frosting-e785a2ae-horiz-0622-2ff16f730b8944f0aec6db445fd6fd09.jpg)