Make Ahead Easter Recipes

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These easy Make-Ahead Easter Recipes help you plan a delicious and stress-free Easter with recipes for brunch, dinner, and dessert! Celebrate with the recipes my family enjoys year after year on Easter Sunday that can easily be made in advance. For more Easter recipe ideas, you may want to check out my Easter category page.

Photograph of cooked ham on a white platter.

Make-Ahead Easter Tips!

  1. Plan your menu. Start by planning a menu that includes items that can easily be made beforehand. Some great make-ahead dishes include ham, casseroles, vegetables, sauces, gravies, and desserts!
  2. Shop early. Purchase whatever items you can before the last-minute rush hits the stores. I like to purchase non-perishable items up to a month in advance and then any perishables, like fresh fruits and vegetables, closer to when I make that dish.
  3. Make a schedule. I have a schedule for preparing my holiday meals, which begins days before the holiday and ends when the meal is served.

Make Ahead Easter Dinner Recipes

Baked Ham Recipe

Cola Glazed Ham Recipe - This classic cola glazed ham recipe with brown sugar makes an easy baked ham perfect for any occasion.

Take the stress out of the holiday by using my tips for making your ham ahead of time. It is perfect every time! It is so easy to make and a recipe I turn to year after year!

Photograph of cooked ham on a white platter.

Best Baked Ham Recipe

5 from 1 vote
The BEST Ham Recipe with variations for copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe or an easy cola glazed ham! Easy and delicious!
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Additional Main Dish Recipes:

Make Ahead Easter Side Dishes

While the ham may get lots of attention, the side dishes are really the favorites! And the desserts (of course!).

Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Photo of mashed potatoes in black bowl on white background.

These creamy, delicious mashed potatoes make the perfect side dish for every holiday, I think.

Creamy golden mashed potatoes topped with butter, salt and pepper in a white Dutch oven.

Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

5 from 4 votes
These homemade mashed potatoes are rich and creamy, easy to make, and make the perfect side dish! Learn how to make the best mashed potatoes recipe with our tips!
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More Potato Recipes:

Slow Cooker Green Beans

Photo of green beans topped with bacon in slow cooker.

When I serve these delicious green beans, they are always a favorite. Simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do all of the hard work. How easy is that?

Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe - These are the best slow cooker green beans and have everyone coming back for more! // addapinch.com

Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe

5 from 6 votes
Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe – These are the best slow cooker green beans and have everyone coming back for more!
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More Green Bean Recipes:

Squash Casserole Recipe

Photo of squash casserole on blue plate.

Squash casserole is so easy to make ahead and makes a favorite side dish!

Squash Casserole Recipe

4.97 from 184 votes
Squash Casserole is an essential dish for holidays and special events. Topped with a buttery cracker topping, this squash casserole is an all-time favorite!
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More Squash Recipes:

Garlic Roasted Carrots

Photo of Garlic Roasted Carrots on gray background.

These carrots are such an easy and beautiful side dish.

Garlic Roasted Carrots Recipe - Garlic Roasted Carrots recipe make a quick, easy and delicious carrot recipe! The perfect side dish for easy weeknights as well as when entertaining! // addapinch.com

Garlic Roasted Carrots Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Garlic Roasted Carrots recipe make a quick, easy and delicious carrot recipe! The perfect side dish for easy weeknights as well as when entertaining!
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More Roasted Vegetables:

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Photo of strawberry spinach salaad with spinach, strawberries, onion rings and pecans in white bowl.

A fresh salad is a great idea to include. This Strawberry Spinach Salad is always a fresh favorite for Easter.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe - Strawberry Spinach Salad topped with an easy Poppy Seed Dressing makes for a beautiful and delicious spring and summer salad recipe. Perfect for parties, picnics, and get-togethers! Always a crowd favorite.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

5 from 9 votes
Strawberry Spinach Salad topped with an easy Poppy Seed Dressing makes for a beautiful and delicious spring and summer salad recipe. Perfect for parties, picnics, and get-togethers! Always a crowd favorite!
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More Salad Recipes:

Deviled Eggs

Closeup photograph of deviled eggs sprinkled with black pepper on a white platter.

An Easter dinner at my house wouldn’t be complete without a platter of deviled eggs!

Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, holidays, potlucks, picnics and more. This simple and classic deviled eggs recipe is a family favorite! // addapinch.com

Classic Deviled Eggs

5 from 5 votes
Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, showers, and other events. Get this family favorite deviled eggs recipe you are sure to love.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad on plate with fork - addapinch.com

This favorite recipe falls somewhere between dessert and a side dish in my family.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe - Strawberry Pretzel Salad makes a classic, nostalgic recipe. A creamy, fruity recipe made with strawberry gelatin, cream cheese, whipped topping, and pretzels. It is always a favorite. // addapinch.com

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

5 from 22 votes
Strawberry Pretzel Salad is an easy, delicious dessert with a buttery pretzel crust, a cheesecake-like layer, and a sweet strawberry topping. It is the perfect combination of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and salty! A great dessert or side dish!
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Other Fruit Side Dishes:

Dinner Rolls Recipe

Baked dinner rolls brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt.

Dinner rolls have always been a favorite part of my family’s holiday meals.

Photo of buttery dinner rolls in a white baking dish on a marble counter.

Dinner Rolls Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Easy dinner rolls recipe makes light, fluffy, buttery, and the best dinner roll! They are the perfect addition to any meal!
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Other Bread Recipes:

Make Ahead Easter Dessert Recipes

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake recipe topped with cream cheese frosting, pecans on a clear glass cake stand.

This moist, delicious cake has become a family favorite for Easter.

Carrot Cake recipe topped with cream cheese frosting, pecans on a clear glass cake stand.

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe Ever

5 from 16 votes
This Carrot Cake recipe is made from scratch, tender, and moist with a delicious homemade cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Easter or anytime! My favorite carrot cake recipe!
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Carrot Cake Sheet Cake

Bite of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

This sheet cake is great for when you want to make a carrot cake that is a bit simpler than a layer cake.

Easy Carrot Cake Sheet Cake Recipe - This Easy Carrot Cake Sheet Cake recipe comes together easily and bakes into a beautiful, delicious carrot cake! Topped with a fluffy cream cheese frosting, this carrot cake is one everyone asks for the recipe! // addapinch.com

Easy Carrot Cake Sheet Cake Recipe

5 from 4 votes
This Easy Carrot Cake Sheet Cake covered in fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting is moist, delicious, and a favorite carrot cake recipe that everyone loves! Made from scratch with simple ingredients like fresh carrots, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger, this recipe makes a scrumptious dessert for Easter or any time!
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Other Classic Cake Recipes:

Hummingbird Cake

Photo of Hummingbird Cake ion a pewter cake plate, topped with a cream cheese frosting.

This cake is one my Grandmother made for Easter and other special occasions.

Hummingbird Cake Recipe | ©addapinch.com

Hummingbird Cake Recipe

4.94 from 30 votes
Hummingbird Cake is a classic, Southern cake recipe. Made with bananas, pineapple, and pecans and topped with a cream cheese frosting!
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Other Fruit Cake Recipes:

Ultimate Coconut Cake

Photo of coconut cake in white dish.

What could be better for Easter than this scrumptious coconut cake?

Ultimate Coconut Cake Recipe

5 from 8 votes
The ultimate coconut cake recipe for coconut lovers! Made with coconut cream, coconut milk, coconut whipped cream and topped with coconut flake!
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Other Coconut Dessert Recipes:

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Slice of cream cheese pound cake with dollop of homemade whipped cream and red strawberry on a white dessert plate.

It’s always a family favorite anytime, but especially for Easter dessert.

Slice of cream cheese pound cake with dollop of homemade whipped cream and red strawberry on a white dessert plate.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

4.92 from 25 votes
This Cream Cheese Pound Cake recipe makes the most delicious, moist, and perfect pound cake! Easy to make with this time-tested recipe and just 7 simple ingredients, it's the best pound cake and is sure to be a favorite!
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Other Pound Cake Recipes:

Key Lime Pie

Photo of Key Lime Pie with whipped cream and lime wedges on a white pie plate.

This classic pie has just the right flavor for a springtime or Easter meal.

Key Lime Pie Recipe - Key Lime Pie makes a classic, refreshing dessert recipe. Made of simple ingredients, this updated key lime pie recipe comes together quickly and chills to a light and airy consistency for an elegant dessert. // addapinch.com

Key Lime Pie Recipe

5 from 11 votes
This updated key lime pie recipe comes together quickly and chills to a perfect light and airy consistency for an elegant key lime pie you’ll love.
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Other Lemon/Lime Dessert Recipes:

Coconut Cream Pie

Photo of coconut cream pie with toasted coconut topping with fork on a blue plate.

This pie has been a generational favorite in my family.

Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

4.99 from 186 votes
Decadent Coconut Cream Pie with rich, creamy coconut custard topped with pillowy whipped cream and toasted coconut in a flaky homemade pie crust. Delicious dessert perfect for entertaining!
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Other Pie Recipes:

Banana Pudding

Photo of banana pudding with meringue topping on a white background.

No Easter dinner would have been complete at my Grandmother’s house without this banana pudding.

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe - An heirloom family recipe for banana pudding that is a classic, Southern dessert. Creamy, traditional banana pudding topped with airy meringue. // addapinch.com

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe

4.96 from 130 votes
This easy Southern Banana Pudding recipe makes a delicious old-fashioned homemade banana pudding from scratch! Rich and creamy homemade banana pudding between layers of vanilla wafers and fresh bananas and topped with an airy meringue make a favorite dessert!
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Other Dessert Recipes:

Chewy Sugar Cookies

Photo of a stack of three sugar cookies on a dark background.

When I serve sugar cookies, they are a hit with both the kids and the adults.

Photo of a stack of three sugar cookies on a dark background.

The BEST Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe!

4.90 from 371 votes
The BEST Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe – Absolutely the BEST sugar cookie recipe I've ever tasted! These sugar cookies are soft, chewy and produce a flavorful bakery style soft sugar cookie! Quick and easy to make, this sugar cookie recipe makes cookies that turn out perfectly every single time!
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Peanut Butter Bars

Photo of a stack of three peanut butter bars with a layer of peanut butter filling topped with a layer of chocolate on a dark background.

What is it about Peanut Butter Bars that make the world just feel right? 

Photo of a stack of three peanut butter bars with a layer of peanut butter filling topped with a layer of chocolate on a dark background.

Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

4.83 from 17 votes
Peanut Butter Bars make a quick and delicious treat. This no-bake peanut butter bars recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and makes between 20 and 36 bars.
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Make Ahead Easter Brunch Recipes

French Toast Recipe

Photograph of French toast on a white plate with maple syrup and a bowl of fruit in the background.

There’s something special about this rich and delicious French Toast drizzled with warm maple syrup, whether you are serving two or a crowd!

Best French Toast Recipe

5 from 226 votes
This French toast recipe makes a delicious breakfast or brunch. Make this simple, yet perfect French toast recipe that everyone will love.
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Other Toast/Waffle/Pancake Recipes:

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Photo of breakfast casserole with sprinkles of green onion with egg and sausage.

The breakfast casserole recipe is a family favorite. It is filled with eggs, sausage, cheese, and tender buttermilk biscuits.

Breakfast casserole in a glass pan.

Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole Recipe

5 from 8 votes
This easy breakfast casserole is made with eggs, sausage, and cheese and comes together quickly and easily. Makes the best make-ahead breakfast casserole!
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Other Breakfast Casseroles:

Southern Sausage Cheddar Quiche Recipe

Photo of sausage cheddar quiche with pastry crust and fork with bite of quiche on white plate.

This delicious, savory Southern Sausage Cheddar Quiche makes a perfect entree for a holiday brunch!

Photo of sausage cheddar quiche with pastry crust and fork with bite of quiche on white plate.

Southern Sausage Cheddar Quiche Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This Southern Sausage Cheddar Quiche recipe makes a quick and easy brunch, lunch or dinner. Ready and on the table in 30 minutes, it is a Southern update to a classic!
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Other Quiche Recipes:

Breakfast Potatoes

photograph of Breakfast Potatoes in a blue bowl.

Breakfast Potatoes just take a breakfast or brunch menu to the next level, in my opinion.

Breakfast Potatoes Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Breakfast Potatoes make a delicious addition to any breakfast or brunch menu. Get this scrumptious, yet so very simple breakfast potatoes recipe.
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Other Brunch Recipes:

Angel Biscuits

Angel Biscuits stacked on a white plate.

 Made from simple ingredients, these angel biscuits have gone from being a quick bread that accompanies a meal to being the most favored item on the buffet on many occasions.

Angel Biscuits Recipe

4.91 from 11 votes
Angel biscuits make a delicious addition to any meal. Lightly sweetened, these fluffy biscuits will quickly become a favorite.
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Other Biscuit Recipes:

Blueberry Muffins Recipe

Picture of blueberry muffins on white plate.

Blueberry Muffins are one of my family’s favorite muffin recipes and are perfect for an Easter brunch!

Blueberry Muffins on white platter

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

5 from 15 votes
Blueberry Muffins Recipe – This BEST Blueberry Muffin Recipe is easy, delicious, and made in one bowl! Bakes beautiful, bakery-style blueberry muffins every time!
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Other Muffin Recipes:

Oven Baked Bacon Recipe

Photo of bacon on a white plate.

No brunch would be complete without crispy bacon.

Photo of bacon on a white plate.

How to Cook Bacon Recipe

4.82 from 11 votes
Learn How to Cook Bacon in the Oven for perfect bacon every time! Enjoy delicious, crispy bacon and less mess with this oven-baked bacon recipe.
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Other Brunch Meat Recipes:

Citrus Scones Recipe

Photo of citrus scones topped with orange glaze on a white plate.

These bright and fresh scones are so full of flavor and are so easy to make.

Citrus Scones Recipe with Orange Glaze

5 from 5 votes
Citrus Scones with Orange Glaze are wonderful for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Bright and delicious, this scones recipe is like a slice of sunshine and is ready in 30 minutes!
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Other Scone Recipes:

Fruit Pizza

Fruit pizza on a marble surface surrounded by bowls of blueberries, strawberries, and cream cheese frosting.

This fruit pizza recipe is so fun and easy to make. It’s perfect for serving any time of the year, especially at Easter.

Photo of fruit pizza with a slice for serving.

Fruit Pizza Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Easy fruit pizza recipe with a soft sugar cookie crust, thick, creamy cream cheese frosting, and your choice of fruit toppings!
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Other Fruit Brunch Recipes:

Rice Krispie Treats

Rice cereal treats on a white bake plate with one in front.

Rice Krispie Treats are a favorite, quick, and easy snack or dessert I know my family and friends will love.

Stack of rice krispie treats on a white platter.

Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

5 from 1 vote
The BEST Rice Krispie Treats with the perfect ratio of marshmallows and cereal! Big, thick treats with the perfect gooey, crunchy deliciousness!
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Other Brunch Dessert Recipes:

Drinks

Lemonade

Photo of a clear pitcher of lemonade with lemon slices and 2 clear glasses of lemonade with lemon slices on a white background.

What better drink for an Easter meal or brunch than a fresh, tart glass of lemonade?

Photo of a clear pitcher of lemonade with lemon slices and 2 clear glasses of lemonade with lemon slices on a white background.

Fresh Lemonade Recipe

5 from 9 votes
Refreshing homemade Fresh Lemonade recipe made with fresh lemons! It's a classic delicious drink perfect for any occasion! Includes how to make lemonade concentrate!
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Other Lemon/Lime Drink Recipes:

Southern Sweet Tea

Photo of clear pitcher of tea and two clear glasses filled with tea, ice, and topped with mint leaves with lemon slices and ice cubes on a white background.

No Easter meal is complete at my house without Southern sweet tea!

This Southern Sweet Tea recipe is smooth, sweet, and delicious! It includes tried-and-true tips for how to make sweet tea that everyone loves! // addapinch.com

Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

4.92 from 12 votes
This Southern Sweet Tea recipe is smooth, sweet, and delicious! It includes tried-and-true tips for how to make sweet tea that everyone loves!
View Recipe

Other Drink Recipes:

Happy Easter!

Robyn xo

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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