23 Special + Beautiful Easter Cookie Recipes

There’s something MAGICAL about pulling out your best mixing bowls and making desserts that a re a little bit fancy. I’ve gathered up my favorite special-occasion Easter cookie recipes – perfect for your Easter dessert table or bringing to dinner at Mom’s. Each one is absolutely worth the effort.

You’ll find: pretty decorated sugar cookies, unique spring flavors, and some gorgeous traditional recipes.

Delicate, flower-shaped cookies with a glossy lemon icing, garnished with lemon zest and small white flowers. The cookies are styled with a half-slice of lemon and black specks, possibly vanilla or poppy seeds, in the background.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Sometimes the simplest cookies are the prettiest. These are just really good shortbread with fresh lemon zest. They look beautiful stacked on a cake stand and they’re perfect with tea after Easter dinner.

close up view of buttercream thumbprint cookies on rack.

Buttercream Thumbprint Cookies

If you’ve made jam thumbprints before, these are similar – but WAY better. Instead of jam, you’ll fill them with buttercream frosting. They’re basically like tiny little cakes and yes, everyone will ask for the recipe.

Rustic cookies with a hole at one end, threaded with string, presented in a basket alongside a bunch of white daisies. The cookies have a homemade, country-style charm, evoking a sense of spring or Easter celebration.

Chamomile Tea Shortbread Cookies

If you love the Earl Grey ones above, these are similar but with a lighter, honey-like flavor from chamomile tea. The lemon glaze makes them extra special. And yes, you can use regular chamomile tea bags from your pantry.

Sandwich cookies with a creamy filling, cracked open to showcase the moist texture.

Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake Cookies

These are basically carrot cake in cookie form, complete with cream cheese frosting. The perfect thing to make when you want something a little different for Easter dessert. And yep, they use regular carrots from the grocery store – nothing fancy needed.

Pink glazed cookies topped with a cherry, set on a wire cooling rack, hinting at a sweet, fruit-infused flavor.

Old Fashioned Cherry Bonbon Cookies

Here’s a secret: these look WAY fancier than they are to make. You just wrap cookie dough around a maraschino cherry and dip them in pink icing. The hardest part is waiting for the icing to set. Perfect for Easter because they’re naturally pink.

Close-up of round cookies topped with a thick white icing, placed on a cooling rack, evoking a homemade and comforting vibe.

Old Fashioned Pineapple Cookies

LOVE these for something different on your Easter table. They’re soft and cakey with crushed pineapple right in the dough. The pineapple frosting on top makes them extra special. Just drain that pineapple really well or they’ll be too wet.

A close-up of blondie bars with chunks of white chocolate and bits of red fruit, stacked on a plate. The bars have a dense, chewy texture, typical of blondies, with visible pieces of mix-ins that add color and texture.

Strawberries and Cream Cookie Bars

These are a shortcut recipe that starts with a cookie mix (nope, no shame here!) Add white chocolate chips and freeze-dried strawberries. They’re so pretty cut into squares and perfect if you need something that travels well.

Soft white cookies with pistachio pieces, hinting at a creamy and nutty taste experience.

Pistachio Almond Cake Cookies

If you love those pistachio pudding cakes from potlucks but want something fancier – these are your cookies. The almond really makes the pistachio flavor shine. And they look gorgeous on a plate with zero decorating skills needed.

Round cookies with a dollop of dark jam in the center, resting on a cooling rack with a jar of jam in the background. The jam centers give the cookies a jewel-like appearance, reminiscent of classic thumbprint cookies.

Lemon Blueberry Cookies

These look fancy but here’s the truth: it’s a basic cookie dough with store-bought blueberry jam in the middle. The fresh lemon zest in the dough is what makes them special. Make them small – they’re rich.

Close-up of a coconut-topped cookie with chocolate swirls, suggesting a chewy texture with sweet and rich flavors.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Need something that’s guaranteed to disappear? These are basically a really good chocolate chip cookie loaded with coconut. Nothing fancy about them, but there’s never a single one left. Perfect if you’re not sure what everyone likes.

Elegant cookies decorated with lavender icing and drizzle, suggesting a delicate floral note in the flavor.

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

Here’s the deal with these – they’re fancy but SO easy. You just crush up Earl Grey tea and mix it into shortbread dough. They look beautiful stacked on a plate and go perfectly with coffee after Easter dinner. This is an easy recipe but the dough needs to be chilled, so be sure to plan a bit in advance.

Soft, frosted cookies adorned with multicolored sprinkles, nestled in green paper shreds that mimic grass. The pastel icing and bright sprinkles give the cookies a festive, Easter look.Soft, frosted cookies adorned with multicolored sprinkles, nestled in green paper shreds that mimic grass. The pastel icing and bright sprinkles give the cookies a festive, Easter look.

Italian Easter Cookies

If you’ve never had these before, they’re a not-too-sweet cookie with a hint of lemon and a sweet glaze on top. The dough is really forgiving (thank goodness) and they keep well for several days. Perfect if you need to bake ahead.

A stack of pink-flecked cookies with a single cookie resting in front, showcasing a vibrant burst of berry flavor.

Lemon Raspberry Cookies

These ALWAYS get compliments, especially if you add a tiny drop of pink food coloring to make them perfect for Easter. Pop them in the middle of your dessert table.

Round cookies with white glaze and red sprinkled accents resting on a cooling rack, hinting at a sweet strawberry flavor.

White Chocolate Strawberry Shortbread Cookies

Okay, these are a bit fussy but SO worth it. The secret is using those freeze-dried strawberries crushed up in the dough. They won’t spread or lose their shape, which means they’ll look exactly like the picture.

Simple round sugar cookies with sparkling granulated sugar on top, presented on a vintage-style plate, suggesting a classic treat.

Lemon Snap Cookies from 1881

This is an old classic recipe that works – crispy, lemony, and perfect with tea. The dough is super simple but you HAVE to follow the instructions about the hot oven.

Round cookies with a golden edge and a sprinkle of yellow on top, possibly with a hint of floral notes, presented on a rustic fabric.

Shortbread Dandelion Cookies Recipe

These are definitely different! If you’re the person who always brings something unique to family gatherings, here’s your cookie. The dandelions add a honey-like flavor and yes, I promise they’re safe to eat. Just pick them from a spot away from the road.

Snowball-like cookies dusted with powdered sugar on a bright background, giving a sense of a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Lemon Snowball Cookies

These are like the classic wedding cookies but with fresh lemon zest mixed in. They look so pretty dusted with powdered sugar and they freeze beautifully. Make them small – they’re rich and everyone will want to try one.

Oatmeal cookies with chocolate candies and nuts, displayed on a polka dot plate.

Creme Egg Cookies

Let’s be honest – these are totally over the top. You stuff a mini Creme Egg into a chocolate cookie loaded with pecans and oats. They’re rich and messy and everyone goes crazy for them. Save these for when you REALLY want to show off.

Elegant cookies decorated with pink icing shaped like flowers on top, exuding a sense of springtime and festivity.

Pretty, Pastel Springtime Cookies

If you love to decorate cookies but don’t want to deal with royal icing, these are your answer. The secret is using store-bought fondant (nope, no shame!) Cut it into tiny flowers and press them right into the cookies. Fill with jam just before serving.

A selection of pale, intricately embossed cookies cooling on a wire rack. The cookies are in various shapes, including hearts and leaves, and feature detailed patterns that give them a vintage, handcrafted look.

Old-Fashioned Maple Syrup Cookies

Sometimes simple is best. These are basically really good butter cookies with real maple syrup added. No frosting needed. They’re not too sweet and perfect with coffee – especially if you’re having people over for Easter brunch.

Bunny-shaped sugar cookies with white and pink icing details

Easter Sugar Cookies

These are your classic decorated sugar cookies, and yep, you’ll need some patience. But here’s a tip: skip the complicated designs and just do simple bunnies. 

A row of round cookies with a delicate drizzle of pink icing on a white surface, suggesting a sweet and festive treat.

Tangy and Soft Rhubarb Cookies

If you spot rhubarb at the store, grab it for these. They’re different and springy and not too sweet. The pink glaze on top makes them pretty enough for Easter dessert. No food coloring needed – the rhubarb does all the work.

Traditional twisted cookies displayed on a plate with a red background, offering a homemade, comforting appeal.

Greek Easter Cookies

These traditional cookies (called Koulourakia) are shaped like little twists. They’re not too sweet and have a lovely orange flavor. Fair warning: the shaping takes some practice but they don’t have to be perfect!

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More Pretty Easter Desserts

If cakes and cobblers are more your thing, you’ll love these beautiful springtime desserts, perfect to serve to afternoon guests or at Easter dinner.

I hope you’ve found inspiration in these pretty and classic cookie recipes.

picture of smiling female

By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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