Spring is here, and with it comes the chance to celebrate Jesus, renewal, joy, and the sweetest baking traditions of the year. Whether you’re hosting brunch, filling baskets, or looking for meaningful activities with your little ones, these Easter baking ideas are full of flavor and fun.
From symbolic resurrection rolls to festive Easter celebration bread, here are some of my favorite bakes (with recipes included!) that you can make at home.
🌼 1. Easter Celebration Bread (Easy Easter Bread Recipe)
Also known as Pane di Pasqua or Greek Tsoureki, this sweet, fluffy, braided bread is a traditional Easter centerpiece. It’s enriched with eggs and butter, lightly flavored with citrus, and often decorated with sprinkles or dyed eggs.
✨ Why it’s great for kids:
Let them help roll and braid the dough—it’s like edible crafting!
🍞 Ingredients:
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup warm milk
- 2 tbsp softened butter
- 2 eggs
- Zest of 1 lemon or orange
- Optional: pastel sprinkles, 1 egg for egg wash
👩🍳 Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit until foamy (about 5–10 minutes).
- Add eggs, zest, butter, and salt. Slowly mix in the flour. Knead until soft and smooth.
- Cover and let rise for 1–2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Divide dough into 3 ropes, braid, and shape into a ring or loaf.
- Let rise again (30 minutes), brush with egg wash, and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes.
- Cool, then drizzle with glaze or top with sprinkles.
🧺 Optional: Nest dyed eggs into the braid before baking for a classic touch.
✝️ 2. Resurrection Rolls (Easy Easter Recipe for Kids)
Resurrection rolls are simple, sweet, and full of Easter symbolism. A marshmallow is wrapped in dough (the tomb), and after baking, the inside is empty—just like the resurrection story.
✨ Why it’s great for kids:
Minimal ingredients, hands-on steps, and a powerful Easter lesson.
🧁 Ingredients:
- 1 can crescent roll dough
- 8 large marshmallows
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
- Dip marshmallows in melted butter, then cinnamon sugar.
- Wrap each marshmallow in crescent dough, sealing edges well.
- Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Let cool slightly—when you cut them open, the marshmallow will have “disappeared.”
🗒️ Keyword boost: Resurrection rolls recipe, Easter recipe for kids
🥕 3. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake is a springtime classic, and turning it into cupcakes makes it easy to serve and decorate, especially for kids.
✨ Why it’s great for kids:
Mixing the batter and decorating with frosting + sprinkles is a total win.
🧁 Ingredients (makes 12):
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ cups finely grated carrots
- ¼ cup crushed pineapple (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
For Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 4 tbsp butter (softened)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line cupcake tin.
- Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another, then combine.
- Fold in carrots (and pineapple/nuts if using).
- Fill liners ¾ full and bake for 18–20 minutes.
- For frosting: beat all ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Pipe or spread once cupcakes are cool.
🎨 Decorate with mini carrots, bunny toppers, or pastel sprinkles.
🗒️ Keyword boost: Easy carrot cake cupcakes, kid-friendly Easter baking
🌸 Sweet Traditions, Fresh Memories
Easter baking is about more than just sweet treats—it’s about connection, tradition, and joy. Whether you’re shaping dough with your kids, sharing resurrection rolls at brunch, or delivering carrot cupcakes to neighbors, these little rituals make big memories. I hope you have a wonderful time reflecting on Jesus's miraculous sacrifice with your family and baking all the sweet things to celebrate that HE IS RISEN!