8 Delicious Easter Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Spring

April 15, 2025 missourimag Food + Drinks, Trending, Urban to Rural Roots: Homesteading for a Simple Life 0

Easter is the perfect time to celebrate with cheerful, sweet treats that everyone will love. Whether you’re hosting a family brunch, planning an Easter egg hunt, or simply looking for a fun baking day with the kids, these festive cookies will bring a little extra joy to your holiday. From classic sugar cookies to no-bake bird’s nests, here are eight of the best Easter cookie recipes to try this season.

🐰 Best Easter Cookie Recipes 🥚🌸

🐣 1. Easter Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Ingredients:

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract

Royal Icing:

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp meringue powder
  • 5–6 tbsp warm water
  • Food coloring (pastels preferred)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients until a dough forms.
  5. Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with Easter cookie cutters.
  6. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely.
  7. Mix icing ingredients until stiff peaks form. Color as desired and decorate cooled cookies.

🥕 2. Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Frosting:

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
  3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla, then carrots.
  4. Stir in dry ingredients and nuts if using.
  5. Drop dough onto sheet and bake 10–12 minutes.
  6. Cool completely. Mix frosting ingredients and spread on cookies.

🍫 3. Mini Egg Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1½ cups Cadbury Mini Eggs, chopped

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
  2. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla.
  4. Mix in dry ingredients, then stir in chocolate chips and Mini Eggs.
  5. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
  6. Bake for 10–12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

🍋 4. Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
  4. Add dry ingredients to wet.
  5. Roll dough into balls and coat in powdered sugar.
  6. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes.

🪺 5. Bird’s Nest Cookies (No Bake)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 4 cups chow mein noodles or shredded coconut
  • Mini candy eggs

Directions:

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate, butterscotch, and peanut butter until smooth.
  2. Gently stir in noodles or coconut until coated.
  3. Spoon onto parchment paper, forming nest shapes.
  4. Press 2–3 candy eggs into each nest.
  5. Chill until set.

🐇 6. Bunny Face Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 batch sugar cookies (use recipe from #1)
  • Royal icing or buttercream in pink, white, and black
  • Marshmallows, candy eyes, pink jelly beans

Directions:

  1. Bake sugar cookies in round shapes.
  2. Once cooled, decorate with icing for bunny faces.
  3. Use marshmallows for cheeks, jelly beans for nose, and candy eyes.
  4. Let icing set before serving.

🥜 7. Peanut Butter Egg Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Chocolate Easter egg candies (Reese’s or similar)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
  3. Scoop dough onto baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 8–10 minutes.
  5. Press a chocolate egg into the center of each cookie while warm.

🎉 8. Confetti Sprinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
  • ½ cup rainbow or pastel sprinkles

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
  4. Add dry ingredients, then fold in sprinkles.
  5. Roll into balls and slightly flatten on baking sheet.
  6. Bake 10–12 minutes.

Whichever recipe you choose, these Easter cookies are sure to bring smiles and sweet memories to your spring celebration. Happy baking!