Your Easter Dinner: Baked Ham, Hot Cross Buns, and Delightful Accompaniments

As the spring air freshens and signs of new life emerge, Easter approaches – a time traditionally marked by family gatherings, cherished traditions, and, of course, bountiful feasting. After what feels like an eternity, many of us are looking forward to reuniting with loved ones, sharing laughter and creating new memories around a beautifully set table. This year, my three parents are vaccinated, making a long-awaited Easter reunion in Connecticut possible, and the anticipation is palpable. I sincerely hope that similar joyful reunions are on the horizon for you and your families in the coming weeks and months.

Preparing an Easter meal, whether it’s a vibrant brunch or a hearty dinner, can be a delightful experience. To help you craft an unforgettable holiday spread, I’ve curated a collection of my most beloved Easter recipes. From savory mains like a succulent baked ham served with my grandmother’s irresistible mustard sauce, to comforting sides such as creamy scalloped potatoes, and delectable treats like fluffy buttermilk pull-apart rolls and classic hot cross buns, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate the season. This comprehensive guide also includes refreshing drinks and delightful desserts to complete your festive menu. The recipes are conveniently organized below, ensuring you can easily navigate and find inspiration for every course.

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Hot Cross Buns: A Sweet Easter Tradition

Embrace the quintessential flavors of Easter morning with these delightful Hot Cross Buns. Crafted with a harmonious blend of brown and white sugar, and a hint of warming nutmeg, these buns offer a perfectly sweet and subtly spiced experience. Their soft, airy texture is utterly irresistible, especially when halved and generously spread with butter – a true treat to savor with your morning coffee or tea. What makes these a holiday favorite is their incredible ease and make-ahead convenience. Simply assemble the buns in a pan the night before Easter, allow them to slowly rise in the refrigerator overnight, and then, on Easter morning, effortlessly pop the pan into the oven. This overnight method frees up your precious holiday morning, letting you enjoy more time with family while still delivering warm, fresh-baked goodness that will fill your home with an inviting aroma.

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Easy-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs: Hassle-Free Easter Eggs

Easter isn’t complete without beautifully colored eggs, but the post-holiday peeling process can often be a source of frustration. Dread no more! I’ve discovered two foolproof, easy-to-peel egg-cooking methods that will make your life significantly simpler this Easter: one utilizing the stovetop and another with the versatile Instant Pot. The secret to effortlessly slipping shells lies in steaming the eggs, a technique that prevents the albumen from sticking to the membrane. Both methods achieve perfectly cooked eggs with shells that come right off, making them ideal for decorating or simply enjoying. After you’ve enjoyed your perfectly peeled eggs, I wholeheartedly recommend transforming any leftovers into this incredible egg salad sandwich. It’s a recipe that has quickly become a family favorite, offering a delicious way to extend the enjoyment of your Easter eggs.

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Easter Brunch Punch: The Philadelphia Fish House Punch

Elevate your Easter brunch with a truly special beverage: the legendary Philadelphia Fish House Punch. If you’ve never experienced the magic of a meticulously crafted “house” punch, this is the perfect opportunity to start. This historic concoction is a sophisticated blend of premium spirits, including rich brandy, smooth cognac, and robust rum, balanced beautifully with the bright tang of fresh lemon juice and the subtle sweetness of simple syrup. It’s a drink that not only tastes incredible but also adds an element of elegance and festivity to any gathering. Preparing a large batch in a beautiful punch bowl means you can relax and enjoy your guests, rather than constantly mixing individual drinks. For an added touch of charm and to keep the punch perfectly chilled without diluting it, I highly recommend making an impressive Bundt pan ice ring, adorned with citrus slices or edible flowers, which adds both visual appeal and practical function to your festive spread.

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Sweet Easter Brunch Delights

Overnight Brioche Cinnamon Buns

For an indulgent and effortlessly impressive Easter morning, these Overnight Brioche Cinnamon Buns are an absolute must-make. Imagine waking up to the aroma of freshly baked, pillowy soft brioche, generously swirled with cinnamon sugar and crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting. The magic lies in the make-ahead method: prep these magnificent buns on Easter Eve, and simply let them rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight. This means you can wake up to frosted brioche bliss without any morning rush, delighting all your guests with this decadent treat. These buns don’t just taste good; they transform your Easter brunch into a truly special occasion, promising happy humans all around.

Beloved Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

For over a decade, this incredibly popular buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake has consistently ranked as one of the most cherished recipes on the site, and for good reason. Its tender crumb, bursting with juicy blueberries and a delicate tang from the buttermilk, makes it an absolute showstopper for any brunch. It strikes the perfect balance between a comforting cake and a delightful breakfast pastry, not too sweet, yet utterly satisfying. It’s especially wonderful during spring and summer when fresh blueberries are in season, but it performs beautifully with frozen berries too, ensuring you can enjoy this beloved classic year-round for your Easter celebrations or any special morning.

Effortless Overnight French Toast

Prepare to discover the easiest French toast you’ll ever make, and quite possibly, one of the most delicious too. This overnight baked French toast recipe delivers an unparalleled texture: wonderfully crisp on the exterior, yielding to a rich, custardy interior with every bite. The beauty of this dish is its simplicity and make-ahead nature, allowing you to prepare it the night before and simply bake it on Easter morning. It emerges from the oven piping hot and golden, a perfect canvas for your favorite toppings – a drizzle of warm maple syrup, a scattering of fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a delightful combination of all three. For an truly exceptional experience, I recently made it with homemade brioche bread, and the results were nothing short of extraordinary, elevating this simple breakfast staple to gourmet heights.

Fresh Blueberry Scones and Muffins

No sweet brunch spread is complete without freshly baked goods, and these blueberry delights are sure to be a hit. Choose between light and flaky Fresh Lemon-Blueberry Scones, infused with bright citrus notes, or the incredibly moist and tender Best Lemon-Blueberry Muffins, each crowned with a delicate sugar crust. Both recipes celebrate the vibrant flavor of blueberries, making them perfect for a spring Easter gathering. Whether you prefer the rustic charm of scones with a dollop of clotted cream or the comforting familiarity of a muffin, these treats are simple to prepare and offer a burst of fruity freshness that complements any sweet brunch menu.

Wholesome Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal and Oatmeal Muffins

For those who prefer a more wholesome start to their Easter festivities, or simply wish to balance the sweeter treats, consider these comforting oatmeal options. Our Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal is an exceptional dish that can be entirely assembled the night before. This makes it a fantastic choice for entertaining, as you can simply slide it into the oven on Easter morning, waking up to a warm, hearty, and satisfying breakfast. It’s infinitely customizable with your favorite fruits, nuts, and sweeteners. Alternatively, our delicious Oatmeal Muffins offer a healthier-ish grab-and-go option. Made with plenty of oats, whole wheat flour, and a touch of brown sugar, these muffins are moist, flavorful, and a hit with both kids and adults. They’re perfect for a lighter bite or alongside other brunch items.

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Savory Easter Brunch Options

Balance your sweet brunch offerings with a selection of satisfying savory dishes. These recipes are designed to be flavorful, comforting, and many can be prepared in advance, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed Easter morning.

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Easter Dinner: Main Courses to Celebrate

When it comes to planning a festive Easter dinner, a baked ham often presents itself as the ultimate holiday centerpiece, offering a wonderfully stress-free alternative to other elaborate roasts. Unlike a roast turkey, which demands brining, basting, and precise carving, a baked ham is remarkably forgiving. For starters, most hams are already cured and pre-cooked, eliminating the need for extensive marinating or brining. Your primary goal is simply to heat it through and allow its flavors to fully develop, making it virtually impossible to overcook. This effortless preparation means you can spend more quality time with your family rather than being tethered to the kitchen. You can find all my comprehensive tips for a perfect baked ham right here.

This year, we will be featuring a luscious brown sugar glazed ham, a recipe that promises a beautifully caramelized crust and tender, juicy meat. It’s absolutely essential to serve this alongside my grandmother’s mustard sauce – a recipe that has been passed down through generations and is simply the best accompaniment for ham. The tangy, slightly sweet sauce cuts through the richness of the ham, creating a perfect flavor balance. And here’s a pro tip: don’t discard that ham bone! It’s the secret ingredient for making a deeply flavorful, comforting batch of split pea and ham soup, providing a delicious second meal that makes the most of your holiday bounty.

If you’re making lamb, here are two delightful condiments that will perfectly enhance its rich flavors:

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Alice Waters’s Potato Gratin (Scalloped Potatoes): A Holiday Staple

Just like for Thanksgiving and Christmas, a grand Easter dinner wouldn’t feel complete without the presence of Alice Waters’s potato gratin. This cherished dish, a staple at nearly every big holiday gathering my mother has hosted for as long as I can recall, possesses a remarkable ability to steal the spotlight. Its creamy, tender layers of thinly sliced potatoes, baked to golden perfection in a rich, flavorful sauce, make it utterly irresistible. Whether served alongside a succulent turkey, a glazed ham, or a roasted rack of lamb, this gratin consistently garners rave reviews and often becomes the most talked-about item on the table. It’s a comforting, classic side that embodies the spirit of holiday indulgence and family tradition, making it an essential part of your Easter feast.

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More Sides: Fresh & Flavorful Accompaniments

With an Easter table often laden with rich and indulgent main courses, incorporating a fresh and vibrant green salad is a wonderful way to provide balance and cut through the richness. I particularly enjoy crafting a simple yet elegant salad using a medley of crisp Boston lettuce, slightly bitter endive, peppery arugula, or whatever fresh greens look most appealing at the market. To dress these greens, my favorite choice is a delightful citrus-shallot vinaigrette, a bright and refreshing variation of my classic shallot vinaigrette recipe. In this version, finely minced shallots are marinated in a blend of tangy vinegar and freshly squeezed orange juice. This addition infuses the dressing with a wonderful zest, making it a little fresher, a little brighter, and distinctly lighter than traditional vinaigrettes, perfectly complementing your holiday meal.

Should you desire a more substantial and intriguing salad to grace your Easter table, here are a few more exceptional ideas that offer both texture and layers of flavor:

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Sweet Endings: Irresistible Easter Desserts

No holiday meal, especially Easter, is truly complete without a show-stopping dessert. These sweet selections offer a range of flavors and textures, ensuring a perfect grand finale to your festive feast.

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Artisan Breads for Your Easter Table

While I often lean towards serving classic rolls on a festive holiday table for their individual charm and ease of serving, it’s genuinely hard to surpass the sheer delight and minimal effort of this overnight, refrigerator focaccia. Its effort-to-reward ratio is simply unmatched. This focaccia is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring no complex kneading, and yields a remarkably flavorful, airy, and crisp-crusted bread that will impress everyone. Its rustic elegance makes it a perfect accompaniment to any Easter meal, from dinner to brunch.

However, if you are truly dedicated to the tradition of warm, homemade rolls, rest assured that both of the recipes featured below are no-knead wonders. This means minimal hands-on time and maximum convenience. Each dough can be prepared well in advance and leisurely stashed in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake, making holiday meal prep significantly less stressful. Last Christmas, I experimented with making the buttermilk pull-apart rolls slightly larger, dividing the dough into 20 portions instead of the usual 24. This slightly more substantial size proved absolutely perfect for crafting hearty leftover ham sandwiches the day after, a cherished post-holiday tradition. Explore these and even more tempting options, ensuring your bread basket is as memorable as the rest of your Easter feast. You can find more inspiration in our dedicated section for → Favorite Bread Recipes.

On the left: These No-Knead Buttermilk Pull-Apart Rolls are a revelation. With a subtle sweetness, a delightfully soft and squishy interior, and a texture reminiscent of classic Parker House rolls, they are perfect for soaking up gravies or serving alongside any main course. On the Right: Discover our Easy, No-Knead Dinner Rolls. These boast a wonderfully buttery and crisp exterior that gives way to a soft, tender interior, making them an irresistible addition to any holiday spread. Both offer the homemade touch without the fuss of traditional kneading.

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