Although I am not religious (and honestly have no clue what Easter represents), I definitely enjoy creating themed food for my guests. I tend to lean more toward a spring theme- flowers and sunshine- but my kids adore anything with a bunny butt so I compromise. Here are a few of my favorite easy Easter appetizers and desserts made with minimal effort, easy to find ingredients, and maximum “YES I made that!” pride.
Appetizers
Tulip Tomatoes
This appetizer is so simple yet stunning to present and would make the perfect spring brunch accompaniment. Cherry tomatoes get dressed up as tulips with a few quick snips and a cheesy filling. It is perfect for any spring brunch, not just Easter. Take cherry tomatoes and cut a cross in the top; scoop out seeds with a grapefruit spoon. Fill with any type of cheese mixture- Boursin is an excellent cheese to use because it is already flavored- less ingredients = less costly and less time-consuming. Poke a hole in the bottom of each tomato and insert a green onion or chive in the bottom to add a stem. Wrap the stems with another green onion skin or chive and tie in a bow to create a bouquet.
An alternative to this would be “Caprese Tulip Tomatoes.” You can use the the smaller ciliegine mozzarella balls and stuff them into the tomatoes. Add basil leaves around the tomato and drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with freshly ground salt and pepper.
Carrot-Shaped Egg Salad Sandwiches
If your kids are like mine and insisted on dyeing multiple dozen eggs and you don’t know what to do with them, pawn them off on your guests. You can create these adorable hollow “carrot” crescent rolls and fill them with egg salad. These are created using seamless crescent dough or puff pastry and wrapping strips around foil-covered sugar cones before baking. You can use orange food coloring to brush on for a vibrant color or just leave them plain. Fill with your favorite egg salad sandwich recipe and top with a sprig of parsley or dill.
Bunny Butt Cheese Ball
Create a cheeseball with your favorite flavors (cream cheese + bacon + ranch + cheddar + chives) and coat in mozzarella cheese. Form a bunny butt complete with feet and tail by covering chilled mix with plastic wrap and forming into balls. Add the pink pads to the feet- cut tiny ovals out of deli ham. Add crackers to the platter and serve! Almost too cute to eat. Almost.
Desserts
These fruit-topped flower pot cupcakes are deceptively simple! You don’t need to be a professional pastry chef to pull this off, just wiling to practice with a paring knife. Use a box mix for the mini chocolate cupcakes; when they are cooled, pop into mini flower pots. If you don’t have mini flower pots, you can use cookie dough- just press into mini muffin pans, bake, then press with a spoon to make a well while warm. Whip up some chocolate buttercream frosting, and add a strawberry flower! (Google “Strawberry Rose Tutorial” on youtube). I came up with this concept 4 years ago for an Easter brunch, and it is still one of my favorite desserts!
Easter Egg Truffles
Truffles made with Oreos are so incredibly simple, but still taste delicious. You can choose what flavor of Oreos appeal to your taste- I personally love the flavor of the Birthday Cake Oreos. Crush & Mix with softened cream cheese, bake and let cool. Melt white chocolate and dip eggs in, coating completely. I prefer a Petit Fours glaze because I am not a fan of white chocolate- grab a recipe for that here. Let cool on parchment. Decorate with colored frosting, sprinkles, or colored chocolate.
Cheers to minimal effort appetizers and dessert which leave you room to enjoy your Easter bash!
