Easter’s arrival brings a sense of indulgence — an invitation to embrace rich, decadent flavours and seasonal delights. This is the time for fragrant hints of citrus and spice, the deep, earthy notes of cocoa, and airy folds flecked with vanilla bean.
For Greek-style Easter dessert recipes, reach for Jonathan Barthelmess‘s strawberry galaktoboureko or the tsoureki (Greek Easter bread). Sixpenny’s carrot cake is an impressive Easter dessert to master to manifest an appearance from the Easter Bunny, and we also have a cheeky chocolate version of the UK’s simnel cake. For a showstopper, you can’t go past chef Dan Pepperell’s hot cross cannoli — the chef describes it as “what Tony Soprano would eat at Easter time,” and we’re inclined to agree. It’s Easter, after all, so chocolate is a must.
The best Easter desserts to make in 2026
Ciaramicola
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Ciaramicola
Flour and Stone’s Italian Easter tart
Nadine Ingram from Flour & Stone in Sydney shares her recipe for this favourite shared by many families in Italy at Easter time.
Dan Pepperell’s hot cross cannoli
It’s the flavours of a spiced hot cross bun whipped into a cloudy ricotta filling, then coddled into a crisp chocolate shell. This is going to be a good Easter.
Sticky caramel buns
Australian Gourmet Traveller Portuguese Easter dessert recipe for sticky caramel buns.
Sixpenny’s carrot cake with candied walnuts
The cake that saved Sixpenny during lockdown.
Cuddura Cull’ova (Sicilian Easter biscuits)
These playful Sicilian biscuits are traditionally given on Good Friday for good luck. The dough is also incredibly forgiving – if you stuff up rolling the shapes the first-time round, just re-roll.
Chocolate and almond simnel cake
An Easter dessert recipe for chocolate and almond simnel cake.
Sour-cherry hot cross buns
These sour-cherry hot cross buns are a refreshing take on this Easter favourite.
Colomba Pasquale
A recipe for a classic Colomba Pasquale.
How to make tsoureki (Easter bread)
Yes, it’s laden with tradition and symbolism, but tsoureki is also a really tasty treat.
Sweet Italian Easter bread
Gubana is a half brioche, half strudel from Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It’s traditionally eaten after Lent.
Cassata
There’s a good reason Sicily is known as the sweets centre of Italy, and cassata – decorative and delicious – is it.
Jonathan Barthelmess’s strawberry galaktoboureko
Jonathan Barthelmess shares his recipe for a fruity version of this flaky Greek dessert.
Apple-caramel sponge pudding
Sink your spoon into this.
Flourless fig leaf and pistachio cake with rose and raspberries
What to make when your gluten-free friend is visiting.
Sweet cinnamon buns
There’s nothing quite like the smell of baking to whet your appetite – and even more so when sweet spices like cinnamon and cardamom are involved.
Paskha
Catherine Adams Russian Easter recipe for paskha.
Chocolate and hazelnut babka
Take a buttery, brioche-like loaf, add a generous swirl of rich chocolate and what do you get? A little slice of heaven.
Chocolate eggs
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for dark, milk and white chocolate Easter eggs.
Saffron kulich with candied lemon glaze
A classic recipe for saffron kulich with candied lemon glaze.
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