Recipes the World Forgot: Easter Edition
All the best Easter recipes in one place! Tried-and-true favorites that are simple to prepare for a no-fuss, elegant, delicious Easter menu!
I’ve compiled eight of my favorite Easter recipes below that should definitely not be forgotten if you are planning an Easter menu this year.
This is a far cry from all the Easter recipes I know and love (more Easter recipes compiled here), but the recipes featured below are definitely some of our family favorites!
Our Easter menu stays pretty classic every year, with some variations depending on my mood.
This year, I’m pretty sure we’re looking at serving:
our beloved sweet baked ham, most likely made in the Instant Pot
cheesy au gratin {funeral} potatoes
buttery cornmeal crescent rolls
roasted asparagus
and fruit salad (in some form)
Of course, for dessert, I’m still deciding between this unbelievable carrot cake or this carrot cake cheesecake or breaking from carrot cake tradition (don’t know if I can do it) and going with this divine lemon blueberry number.
Decisions, decisions.
I’d LOVE to know what Easter food traditions YOU have! Share below in the comments!
Here are all my forgotten recipe posts in one place!
I love your menu! Your site is always my “go to”. This year i’m making your crock pot ham, deviled eggs (can’t go without those), cheesy au gratin potatoes, green beans, and Challah bread. I might also attempt to make Russian cream with berries. We’ll see!
Thank you, Mel for all of your wonderful ideas! I am a mom to 9 children (ages 6-26) and we like to eat as healthy as we can. Your recipes are very easy to double and I like the healthier choices you are doing more of now. I have read your blog, I think, since the beginning!
For Easter, we also like to make Strawberry Shortcake for dessert if we can find nice, ripe strawberries. Have a wonderful Easter! I am thanking Jesus for coming to earth as a baby, living a perfect life, and dying on the cross to give us peace with God. Jesus has taken my sin and given me His righteousness! 2 Corinthians 5:21 ” For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” I pray you know Christ as Savior and Lord!
Thank you, Cindy!
Haha, these aren’t forgotten in our house! We are having (for the 4th year) sweet baked ham, chantilly potatoes, buttery crescent rolls, honey lime salad, roasted asparagus, and still deciding if my kids/husband will eat carrot cake……
Ok, you’ve made me think I should change my funeral potatoes to chantilly potatoes. I love those things.
We always have leg of lamb, grillled or convection roasted, marinated in herbs/lemon juice/olive oil/garlic, with little new potatoes, asparagus, spinach & mandarin orange salad, rolls, and whatever desserts the family is feeling. I love carrot cake! Guys like turtle cheesecake or banana dulce de leche pie. Sometimes we have ham on Easter too, if not on Easter we will have one a few days before. We love the leftovers, and now that i have an instant pot I love a ham bone to make bean soup. Easter blessings to all!
What a delicious menu!
Mel, I don’t know if you have tried Lost Recipes by Marion Cunningham, but it’s one of my favorite cookbooks. Ever. I believe you would LOVE it!
Serious?? I’ll definitely be checking it out!
I made that lemon blueberry cake for Easter dinner last year! It was such a hit that our friends that came over for dinner that night requested it for his birthday cake this past month. I think I am going with your carrot cake this year though. In fact my menu is almost exactly the same as yours, only I will probably be using a different roll recipe, though from your site as well!
Which roll recipe, Heather?
We used to do a BIG, FANCY, SPREAD for Easter. And, then, my husband became a priest. We are all entirely too tired after the events of Holy Week and Easter weekend to attempt that anymore. So, we grill. Hamburgers, brats, and chips, with caramelized onions and mushrooms being the most labor- intensive part of the meal. I might attempt strawberry pretzel jello salad this year, though, now that dye-free strawberry jello is available where I live. It’s make-ahead. LOL Making any meal for 7 kids is labor-intensive, so this relaxed approach feeds us in both body and soul.
I love this, Karen! Honestly, it just goes to show that food traditions can be meaningful even if they are outside the box. Good for you for being flexible and recognizing how to make the work for you family.
We go a little different direction on Easter and have a symbolic meal with broiled fish, honey with honeycomb, unleavened bread (thick tortillas), grape juice, and olives. Then we talk about the symbolism of everything we are eating. It’s become an important tradition in our family, and my kids look forward to it every year (especially the honeycomb, of all things). We also do popovers for Easter breakfast.
I’m so glad you posted the maple ham. I wanted to make it last year but my mother in law absolutely detests maple syrup. Think it could be subbed for honey?
Could definitely try! Or maybe a combo of honey and agave nectar?
The honey lime fruit salad is my favorite, I make it all the time. I’m going to tackle Chicken Cordon Bleu this weekend!
Good luck, Desiree!
My family (of about 30 or so) has ham or creamed chicken and sometimes both. My brother and his wife are nice enough to host each year since my dad passed away in 2015 and he makes the main dish. I typically bring 5 lbs of cream cheese mashed potatoes and basic green bean casserole (with cr. of mushroom and Durkee fried onions). Another sister brings 5 lbs cream cheese mashed potatoes as well and usually mixed beans. Other sister makes veggie pizza and some sort of layed jello, and another sister (Joan-big fan of yours like me) brings the buns and a salad of some sort typically. Other sister isn’t a huge cook or baker so we have her bring a couple gallons of milk. Then my sister-in-law (host) makes a lot of desserts (pies, bars, etc) and my other sister-in-law usually brings buttered carrots or pasta salad. That about sums it up. Lots of people, lots of food…… I’m now hungry thinking about it!
This spread sounds amazing, Lori!
Why thank you. I think yours does as well!
I have made many, many of your recipes and I am so grateful my sister told me about your website. In fact this week, I took a couple of your recipes along with me and that’s how I grocery shopped. (Anyone else do that?) My poor other cookbooks and recipes get so neglected. I can’t help it. You have so many good recipes to try!!
This is Joan! This is my sister, Lori. Yes, we are big fans, Mel. Constantly sharing and comparing recipes we find on your website. I get about a million compliments when I make your food and I always highly recommend your recipes. Thanks for ALL you do!
🙂 Thanks, Joan! You and your sister, Lori, made my day!
I do ham as well, but am required “by law” to accompany the main dish with ambrosia salad. A rite of spring around here … Love your menu!
Hi Mel,
It’s kind of old school but we serve baked pineapple on Easter. It’s super easy and goes great with ham.
In a large bowl beat 3 eggs with 1/2 cup sugar. Add 5 slices of torn regular white bread with crusts removed and 1 20oz can crushed pineapple with its juice. Stir to combine and put into greased casserole. Bake for 30 minutes at 350.
Have you ever tried Brazilian Carrot Cake? I made it the other day for an upcoming event & I can’t wait to try it! Super easy to make in a blender & it’s a lovely orange colour since the raw carrots get puréed.
It’s on my to-try list after I saw Sara from Our Best Bites post a recipe for it this week (my husband lived in Brazil, so I want to make it for him).
It was her recipe that I tried. I think the chocolate glaze will be yummy!