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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
- Old Fashioned Lemon Pie used condensed milk to an easy, creamy filling.
- I love Key Lime Pie in spring, and this one is topped with a perfect meringue.
- Coconut is a spring classic. These Coconut Cupcakes are filled with lemon curd.
I hope you’ve found inspiration in these pretty and classic cookie recipes.

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.