30 Classic Easter Dishes From Grandma’s Recipe Book
From mouthwatering mains to delectable desserts, we've got your Easter menu covered.
Grandma’s Baked Ham Salad Sandwiches
“This ham salad is another tried-and-true recipe I found in my grandma’s recipe box. I love seeing her handwriting on faded notecards.” —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Get the recipe for Grandma’s Baked Ham Salad Sandwiches.
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnuts
“Guests will have a touch of nostalgia when they bite into one of these old-fashioned doughnuts. Accents of nutmeg and cinnamon, along with a subtle burst of lemon, make them hard to resist.” — June Jones, Harveyville, Kansas
Get the recipe for Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnuts.
Pickled Eggs with Beets
“Ever since I can remember, my Mother served this pickled egg recipe at Easter. It was a tradition that my family expected. I made them for my granddaughter the last time she visited and they were all gone before she left.” —Mary Banker, Fort Worth, Texas
Get the recipe for Pickled Eggs with Beets.
Grandma Nardi’s Italian Easter Bread
“My Grandma Nardi’s bread with dyed Easter eggs represents family and tradition. I fondly remember how she taught me the recipe when I was a little girl.” —Pat Merkovich, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Get the recipe for Grandma Nardi’s Italian Easter Bread.
Marshmallow Easter Eggs
“I’ve been making this wonderful Easter candy for years. These eggs are a big hit with everyone who loves marshmallows.” —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
Get the recipe for Marshmallow Easter Eggs.
Shoofly Pie
“My grandmother made the best shoofly pie in the tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Shoofly pie is to the Pennsylvania Dutch as pecan pie is to a Southerner.” —Mark Morgan, Waterford, Wisconsin
Get the recipe for Shoofly Pie.
Best Deviled Eggs
“Herbs lend amazing flavour to these deviled eggs, which truly are the best you can make! The recipe includes tasty variations that feature bacon, chipotle peppers and crab.” —Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
Get the recipe for Best Deviled Eggs.
Rack of Lamb with Figs
“I’ve been making rack of lamb for years. My grandma gave me this recipe because she knew how much I love figs. And the toasted walnuts sprinkled on top give it just the right finishing touch.” —Sylvia Castanon, Long Beach, California
Get the recipe for Rack of Lamb with Figs.
Lemon Ricotta Cake
“This recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress.” —Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, Washington
Get the recipe for Lemon Ricotta Cake.
Traditional Hot Cross Buns
“On Easter morning, our family always looked forward to a breakfast of dyed hard boiled eggs and Mom’s hot cross buns. I still serve these for special brunches or buffets.” —Barbara Jean Lull, Fullerton, California
Get the recipe for Traditional Hot Cross Buns.
Blueberry Crunch Breakfast Bake
“Blueberries in season make this a very special breakfast, but I find that frozen berries can work just as well. My grandmother used to make this with strawberries and I always loved to eat it at her house.” —Marsha Ketaner, Henderson, Nevada
Get the recipe for Blueberry Crunch Breakfast Bake.
Old-Fashioned Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone
“Not only is this old-fashioned favourite a snap to make but it’s economical, too. Carrots, celery and onion accent the subtle flavour of the split peas, while a ham bone adds a meaty touch to this hearty soup. It’s sure to chase away a chill.” —Laurie Todd, Columbus, Mississippi
Get the recipe for Old-Fashioned Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
“I love the excellent texture of this easy coffee cake recipe. Always a crowd-pleaser, its pleasing vanilla flavour enriched by sour cream may remind you of breakfast at Grandma’s! Make it the night before a holiday to save time in the morning.” —Eleanor Harris, Cape Coral, Florida
Get the recipe for Cinnamon Coffee Cake.
Leek Potato Pancakes
“I received this recipe from my great-grandmother. She brought this over from England, where they enjoyed leeks immensely during the fall and winter.” —Suzanne Kesel, Cohocton, New York
Get the recipe for Leek Potato Pancakes.
Danish Rhubarb Pudding
“My grandmother used to make this pudding. It’s one of my favourite traditional Danish desserts.” —Kay Sundheim, Nashua, Montana
Get the recipe for Danish Rhubarb Pudding.
Banana Bread Pudding
“When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting banana bread pudding she’d make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren.” —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
Get the recipe for Banana Bread Pudding.
Grandma’s Onion Squares
“My grandma brought this recipe with her when she emigrated from Italy as a young wife and mother. It is still a family favourite.” —Janet Eddy, Stockton, California
Get the recipe for Grandma’s Onion Squares.
Bacon-Cheese Puff Pie
“This recipe comes from my grandma, and it’s one of my family’s favourites. We love the combination of bacon, tomatoes and cheese for brunch at any time of year.”
Get the recipe for Bacon-Cheese Puff Pie.
Lemony Turkey Rice Soup
“While growing up in Texas, I spent a lot of time helping my grandma cook. Lemon and cilantro add a deliciously different twist to turkey soup.” —Margarita Cuellar, East Chicago, Indiana
Get the recipe for Lemony Turkey Rice Soup.
Italian Ricotta Easter Bread
“I changed our family’s traditional Easter bread by adding ricotta and a few other ingredients. The almond flavouring works wonders!” — Tina Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Get the recipe for Italian Ricotta Easter Bread.
Braised Dill Potatoes
“Dill, chicken broth and a few other simple ingredients create a side dish your family will love. The braised potatoes are delicious with sour cream.” —Amie Schmidt, San Diego, California
Get the recipe for Braised Dill Potatoes.
Contest-Winning Rhubarb Meringue Pie
“My husband’s grandmother was an excellent cook, but she didn’t always share her secrets. Luckily, we have her rhubarb pie recipe. I added one of my favourite crusts and a never-fail meringue.” —Elaine Sampson, Colesburg, Iowa
Get the recipe for Contest-Winning Rhubarb Meringue Pie.
Grandma Brubaker’s Orange Cookies
“At least two generations of my family have enjoyed the recipe for these delicate orange-flavoured cookies.” —Sheri DeBolt, Huntington, Indiana
Get the recipe for Grandma Brubaker’s Orange Cookies.
Asparagus-Mushroom Frittata
“My Sicilian Aunt Paulina inspired this fluffy frittata. I remember visiting her garden, picking fresh veggies and watching her cook. Her wild asparagus frittata was my favourite.” —Cindy Esposito, Bloomfield, New Jersey
Get the recipe for Asparagus-Mushroom Frittata.
Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting
“My husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans.” —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Get the recipe for Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting.
Bourbon Ham Balls
“Grandma Nette was the queen of ham ball recipes. I make them salty-sweet with a bourbon and vinegar kick. Serve them alone, in a sandwich or over pasta or rice.” —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, Colorado
Get the recipe for Bourbon Ham Balls.
Apricot Upside-Down Cake
“My Aunt Anne, who is a great cook, gave me a taste of this golden upside-down cake and I couldn’t believe how delicious it was. Apricots give it an elegant twist from traditional pineapple versions.” —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
Get the recipe for Apricot Upside-Down Cake.
Lemon Ginger Icebox Cake
“Everyone searches for grand desserts that have easy ingredients and minimal effort. My lemony ginger icebox cake is the answer. It’s a holiday lifesaver.” —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Get the recipe for Lemon Ginger Icebox Cake.
Grandma’s Rosemary Dinner Rolls
“My grandma (I called her Baba) made these in her coal oven. How she regulated the temperature is beyond me! She always made extra rolls for the neighbours to bake in their own ovens. At lunchtime, my mom and aunts delivered the formed rolls.” —Charlotte Hendershot, Hudson, Pennsylvania
Get the recipe for Grandma’s Rosemary Dinner Rolls.
Blackberry-Orange Cake
“My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that’s always lovely with a meal.” —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
Get the recipe for Blackberry-Orange Cake.
Next, check out these mouthwatering Mini-Eggs dessert recipes.
