Easter dessert marks the moment the meal turns truly festive. Chairs are pushed back, bellies stretched. The roast and potatoes are tucked away and the drama begins, the good kind of drama. We’re talking flaky pastry, pillowy meringues and tender cakes, plus a few fun, crowd-pleasing treats (hello, mini egg cookies).
These 11 best spring desserts for 2026 bring together elegant Easter desserts designed for entertaining, perfect for your Easter table or any spring celebration. From nods to the classics (bring on the world’s best carrot cake), bright lemon tarts, chocolate showstoppers and a mash up of two favourites (we see you baklava and cheesecake), this roundup of Easter dessert recipes combines everything we love about spring baking. Some are weekend projects meant to wow, while others are easy, make-ahead desserts that deliver.
These Easter desserts strike a brilliant balance; beautiful but unfussy, festive and approachable. Which ones will you make?
Bright, zesty and citrus-forward
Vegan Lemon & Raspberry Tart
Lemon desserts abound at Easter, and this vegan and gluten-free lemon tart recipe is a riff on a classic that will satisfy all appetites. Full-fat coconut and cashews add creaminess to the lemon curd, while an oat and walnut tart shell provides texture and contrast. This is an ideal make-ahead Easter dessert – prepare it the day before your celebration to ensure the curd is set and to free yourself up for the main event.
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Lemon Poppyseed Chocolate Bundt Cake
This unique bundt pairs bright lemon and poppyseed with rich chocolate for a perfectly balanced bite. It’s a great option if you’re browsing easy Easter cake recipes that still feel special. ELLE Gourmet tip: The key to making a tender bundt cake lies in using room temperature eggs. They whip to a greater volume, hold more air and yield a more fluffy batter than cold eggs.
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Orange Angel Food Cake
Light as air and delicately floral, this stunning orange-scented angel food cake is a beautiful way to end a rich meal. Serve with fresh berries or seasonal fruit for a simple, elegant finish.
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Classic Easter cakes
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
A show-stopping twist on a classic, this strawberry shortcake cake transforms the traditional dessert into a layered centrepiece. This version layers juicy strawberries, soft cake and clouds of whipped cream for a dessert that feels both nostalgic and celebratory – exactly the kind of crowd-pleasing bake you’d expect from a Dolly Parton recipe.
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World’s Best Carrot Cake
Brown butter adds rich nuttiness to classic, tangy cream cheese frosting making it an ideal complement to this tender, delicately spiced carrot cake. And the absolute best thing about this cake, besides everything, is that the flavour improves after a day or two. Once assembled, it can rest, covered, in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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White Chocolate Bundt Cake
This bundt cake – inspired by the infamous Tom Cruise gifts to his friends – is fit for any gathering from a light brunch to a holiday meal. Toasted coconut is folded into the cake batter adding a deep, complex flavour. Bonus for Easter entertaining? The shaggy coconut coating on a wicked cream cheese buttercream looks like a bunny.
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Decadent chocolate desserts
Torta Tenerina (Italian Chocolate Flourless Cake)
This classic Italian flourless chocolate cake recipe will never go out of style. Known universally for its iconic fudgy centre and sunken crackly top, we love this chocolate dessert for its simplicity. Dress it up with a dusting of powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream and berries. For more indulgence, use whipped mascarpone.
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Chocolate and Passionfruit Tart
For chocolatier Steve Hodge, passionfruit and chocolate are an ideal pair sharing similar floral and citrus notes. In this stunning dessert, the cocoa in the tart provides richness and structure balanced by the creamy passionfruit custard. ELLE Gourmet Tip: For the garnish, make white chocolate curls by pulling a vegetable peeler along the side of a bar of white chocolate.
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Show-stopping Easter desserts
Baklava Cheesecake
This stunning dessert combines the best of two classics; the crunchy, nuttiness of baklava and the decadent creaminess of cheesecake. A surprise layer of sugared pistachios lies hidden among the flaky layers of phyllo pastry on the bottom of the cheesecake adding delight with every bite. ELLE Gourmet Tip: Let the cheesecake cool completely in the oven before chilling in the fridge to prevent cracks on the surface.
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Irish Coffee Meringue Cake
Circles of cloud-like meringue baked crisp and light are layered with Irish coffee-scented whipped cream in this sensational dessert from acclaimed pastry chef, JR Ryall. Chef suggests assembling the dessert a few hours before serving to allow the boozy cream a chance to soften the meringue for ideal texture. ELLE Gourmet Tip: A spotlessly clean glass or stainless steel bowl is required to beat egg whites as even a hint of grease prevents stiff peaks from forming.
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Chamomile Cake With Salted Honey Frosting
Definitely on trend with its herbal notes, theatrical height and natural, whimsical decoration this cake is a guaranteed show stopper at the holiday table. Dried chamomile flowers are available at tea shops, natural food stores and online and make a beautiful garnish.
