The Ultimate Guide to Easter Sunday from Cocktails to Dying Eggs

Updated on February 24, 2026

There are many ways to enjoy Easter Sunday and rather than how you celebrate, it’s about who you celebrate with that makes a difference. Warmer temperatures and sunnier skies call out for a party with those you love. Suddenly, sometimes seemingly overnight, you can stand outside in the sun with bare arms. Crocuses and daffodils start to peep out through the frigid soil. All of this sets the scene for Easter, a holiday all about renewal and rejuvenation. Whether it has spiritual meaning for you or you just love the Easter Bunny, these Easter recipes and tips will make sure that you have everything you need to have the best holiday you can.

The Ultimate Guide to Easter Sunday

Different naturally dyed Easter Eggs sit in the bowls in the colors pink, purple, blue, and brown.

Dying and Using Up Easter Eggs

One of the quintessential signs of Easter is Easter eggs. Any other day and hard-boiled eggs would be just another addition to your salad but on this holiday, they’re a crucial centerpiece. Start off your celebration by dying your eggs for the Easter Bunny (or for delectably eating, we won’t judge!) Rather than going to the store and grabbing one of those kits that seem to be more pain than promise, try dying your eggs naturally this year. Using various vegetables and spices found in everyday kitchens like turmeric or red cabbage, you’ll create beautiful, vibrant colors on your Easter eggs. Plus, we think mixing your own natural dye adds to the fun.

A bowl holds Pysanky designed Ukrainian Easter eggs with green easter grass underneath them and some loose on the table.

But, if you’re looking for other options, there are plenty of different ways to dye your eggs including Ukrainian Pysanky. In the Ukrainian culture, they intricately dye and draw on eggs to create detailed patterns. Though you can also opt to use flowers, shaving cream, and even onion skins to create unique looks as well.

Now that you have cartons full of dozens of eggs, it’s time to put them to good use! You could pop these hard-boiled eggs into your mouth with a bit of salt or you could stretch them further by using leftover Easter eggs in recipes. Think Green Goddess Egg Salad, Egg Masala Puffs, Chorizo Scotch Eggs, and more.

A green bowl holds a Green Goddess Egg Salad with dyed eggs to the right of the bowl.

Cocktails, Mocktails, & Wine Pairings

Wine is a large part of Easter celebrations because of its connection to Judeo-Christian culture. Whether it’s turning water to wine, sharing bread and wine at the last supper, or Moses’ daily offerings, wine has always been a part of God’s story. Even during a Passover Sader, followers are told to drink wine as a way to honor the redemption of the Jews from slavery. No matter what main dish you’re choosing to feature this year, you can find a wine pairing for your Easter ham, lamb, or whatever else you may enjoy.

blue pink and yellow peeps with jolly rancher colored martini

For those who are not a fan of wine, maybe you’d prefer a Cottontail Cocktail that proves that kids shouldn’t get to have all the fun at Easter. It uses chocolate syrup alongside vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, club soda, and an egg white for a delectable foam on top. It’s like those little chocolate malted Easter eggs you used to eat as a kid but in adult-form. And in case you’re craving another sugary sip, our Peep-a-tini Cocktail gets its sweet inspiration from your marshmallow Peeps friends.

A Hoppity IPA Cocktail in a tall beer glass sits on a white table surrounded by Easter grass, eggs, and a gold bunny by the pastel backdrop.

Do we have you feeling like a kid at heart yet? If not, our next collection of cocktails and mocktails are sure to throw you back to your youth. Growing up, we all heard the song, “Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail…” But as an adult, we’d rather drink through Peter Cottontail’s tune instead. Whether you’re sipping on the Hoppity cocktail that focuses in on a hoppy IPA base , or a carrot juice-infused mocktail called Hoppin’ Down the Bunny Trail, you’ll want to hippity hoppity over to your own shaker.

Ham & Savory Dinner Dishes

An aerial view of a cooked ham with blueberry yuzu glaze sitting in a white roasting tray with blueberries, thyme, and lemon garnishing the meat.

What would Easter be without a glistening ham or rack of tender lamb on the dinner table? Other than the curing of winter meats lining up with Easter’s timing, we eat ham on Easter since ham/pigs are a symbol for springtime and decadence after straying from meat for the Lenten season. On the other hand, lamb is more of a delicacy as its luxury price-tag makes it perfect for special occasions. Not to mention its association with symbols of sacrifice and new life.

A crown roast of lamb with min sauce from the gilded age sits among a bed of figs and potatoes and greens.

In order to prepare your dinner table for your finest guests (your beloved friends and family), browse our list of lamb and ham recipes for Easter. You’ll have recipes like a traditional Crown Roast of Lamb with Mint Sauce alongside more modern favorites like a Ham with a Blueberry and Yuzu Glaze. No matter which protein you choose this year, accompany it with a homemade Italian Easter Bread. Its subtle sweetness and buttery spread on top will have you grabbing slice after slice.

On a green plate beside a bowl of brightly colored easter eggs sits a round braided Italian Easter Bread with a slice taken out of the top which sits on the table buttered.

Easter Sweets and Desserts

Don’t fill up on your dinner too quickly! There are plenty of desserts and Easter sweets to indulge in that involve fun hands-on decorating and a delicious product.

Chocolate Pretzel Easter Bunny Treats sit on a green striped background made out of pretzels, chocolate, and M&Ms with M&Ms tossed between the treats.

The rabbit is an ancient symbol of fertility, but it’s also become one of the most enduring Easter symbols. To represent this mascot of the holiday, try making Chocolate Pretzel Bunny Treats. These are a fun and simple way to get kids involved in the kitchen with the use of pretzels, M&Ms, and white chocolate.

colorful rice crispy treats made with peeps

Or, if you don’t mind getting a bit messy, create Cardamom Peep Crispy Treats that use Peeps for the marshmallow base. Their rainbow finish is undeniably beautiful.

A flat-lay view of seven carrot miso cupcakes.

But, for an overall show-stopper, Carrot Miso Cupcakes are just grown-up enough with a little bit of umami flavor. Plus, miso has a lot of health benefits so you can feel good about what you’re eating.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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