Through the years we've adapted some for the kids to carry on these fun traditions to instill those same values but make it fun using peeps are other delicious easy ingredients.
Growing up mom and grandma always made Easter bread, cassata, and many kinds of cookies one especially that were soft wedding-style Italian cookies with colorful frostings.
One thing I learned over the years is variety is the spice of life and everyone is so different so we have learned to cut recipes in half and make almost everything you will see today.
The dessert tray is always a huge assortment at Easter time.
We also start a week ahead of time making some of the fun candies the kids love and help with.
You may also like to visit our Best Easter Italian Food Roundup, those are several meals we prepare at Easter.
Scroll through these recipes with links backs to all the recipes we make and the family can't miss a year making at Easter time in our Italian family household.
Italian Pastry Filled Tarts
These are in Italian called pastaciotti, simple cookie style dough filled with various cream filling IE vanilla pastry cream, chocolate, lemon, or just about any pie fillings.
Pusties
Fried Tubes Filled
These cylinder shapes pastry is filled with a ricotta creamy confection surrounded by a flakey pastry fried dough.
Italian Cannoli
Easy Easter Bread
We actually use two recipes for Easter bread, one is Grandma's old vintage recipe and now a quick easy version that requires less kneading both come out perfectly delicious.
Easy Italian Easter Bread
Pastel Cookies
This is a simple soft cookie found on many Italian wedding trays, they can be frosted with any colors to make the theme of the party. Grandma called these wedding tray cookies.
Italian Wedding Tray Cookies
Ricotta Filled Cheesecake Dessert
Here is another dessert mom would make in large quantities called cassata and give away to neighbors and friends. We now make another smaller same recipe version made in cupcake tins we decorate them with little rabbit cutouts and for a smaller family.
Italian Easter Cassata
Some Special Candies for the Kids
Here is a simple candy we make every year and they're so easy the kids can help make them and a perfect way to teach kids to get creative in the kitchen.
Peanut Butter Candy
Cream Puff Filled Italian Pastries
Sometimes St. Joseph's day falls around Easter so we have these special pastries filled with a smooth creamy custard.
St. Joseph's Day Pastry
A Carrot Cake Everyone Loves
This is a cake everyone loves and super fast because it starts out with a cake mix and tastes like scratch.
Carrot Cake Cake Mix Cake
Other Fun Recipes We Love You May Like To Try
Peep Fun Ideas
Sugar Cookie Mix Easter Egg Cookie Candy
Peanut Butter Krispie Eggs
25 Best Holiday Cookie Roundup
Easter Bird Nest Candy (Asian Noodle version)
Fun Platter Garnishing Ideas
- colorful pastel candy-covered Jordon almonds
- jelly beans
- miniature assorted colorful marshmallows
- chocolate covered eggs
- malted milk eggs
- tinted coconut on the platter before adding your desserts(years ago mom used colorful fake grass but with animals or little ones we have made colorful tinted coconut instead
- surrounded the platter with marshmallow chicks and rabbits
Pin for later
A Fun Easter Project for the Whole Family
Here is a fun project and makes great memories, our little ice cream cone Easter Baskets!
How To Make Ice Cream Cone Easter Baskets
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2021.
These are beautiful, Claudia! I am sad to say that I have never tasted these, but am inspired to try to make one.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've been cooking a lot for Easter, and those are adorable, will go to perfection with a cup of tea or coffee after lunch ends...at 6PM! happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteEaster at my Italian grandmother's house was almost bigger than Christmas-sounds like your house, too! I love your holiday recipes, just looking at the photos and reading the recipes brings back so many great memories.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Happy Easter to you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post Claudia, thanks for re-posting. These desserts remind me of the days back home. Anisette bread and cannoli are two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen or tasted these but am so tempted to try them! Looks so moist and yummy!Happy Easter, to you and your family, dear Claudia :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen or tasted these but am so tempted to try them! Looks so moist and yummy!Happy Easter, to you and your family, dear Claudia :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for giving me the link that lead me to so many beautiful, traditional Italian recipes! You make me want to go clean off the counters and put some comfy shoes on and start whipping up something special for EASTER!
ReplyDeleteI will bake something special, I just haven't decided what.
You have a wonderful cooking blog here.
Email me some time at:
CookingUpAStorminCA@gmail.com
Polly Motzko
happy easter,claudia!your desserts are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteDid I die and go to dessert heaven?
ReplyDeleteI love all of these and spending a few days in the kitchen to make pastries you only make once a year make them even more special. Delizioso, Claudia - as always.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! This looks great :-)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of these before, but they look great.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou have so many great recipes and ideas. I've been a fan of great Italian food because of the wholesome "realness" about it. You only need to take a look at the Italians and Greeks to see how long and healthy they live. Great blog!
http://www.cooking-made-easy.com/easy_pasta_recipes.html
Thank you Claudia! I am going to make that cheesecake! Everything looks delish!
ReplyDeleteYUM! Those pastries look so good!
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower and would love for you to stop by my blog today and link up to So Sweet Sundays with these delicious treats!
morrowsunshine.bogspot.com
How Cute and Adorable are these. And I adore anything Italian!!!
ReplyDeleteThis desserts looks totally delicious.ill definitely try to make it
ReplyDeleteI will try this delicious desserts in my upcoming events.
ReplyDeleteLamb Recipes
Loving all the ideas for Easter, we have decided to go with the Easter bread and carrot cake! Will let you know how we get on!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, these all look gorgeous - what beautiful ways to celebrate Easter. But which one to try first?!
ReplyDeleteTotally drooling over all the Italian Easter desserts! My favorite - cannoli!
ReplyDeleteThose Italian desserts are amazing! Only if I could have all of them on my holiday table and taste all of them!
ReplyDeleteLoving all these Italian Easter dessert. So tasty and delicious. I'd love to try them. Happy Easter!
ReplyDelete