55+ Easter Cookies Ideas & Recipes
Hey there, fellow cookie lover! Spring is finally here, and you know what that means – it’s time to get your bake on for Easter! I’ve been making cookies for more than half a century now, and I can tell you there’s something magical about creating these adorable Easter treats that bring families together around the kitchen table.
Whether you’re planning a big Easter dinner, preparing treats for the kids’ baskets, or just want to add some spring joy to your day, these 10 Easter cookie recipes are pure gold. I remember when my grandmother first taught me how to shape those little bunny cookies – her hands guiding mine as we rolled the dough and cut those precious shapes.
Now I’m passing that same love and tradition onto you. These recipes are perfect for bakers of all levels. From simple sugar cookies that the kids can help decorate to more detailed creations that will impress your guests, we’ve got something for everyone. So grab your apron, preheat that oven, and let’s make some memories together!
Quick Glance at These Amazing Easter Cookies
| Recipe Name | Difficulty Level | Prep Time | Bake Time | Special Equipment |
| Easter Sugar Cookies | Easy | 15 min | 10-12 min | Cookie cutters |
| Bunny-Shaped Sugar Cookies | Easy | 20 min | 10-12 min | Bunny cookie cutter |
| Easter Egg-Decorated Cookies | Easy | 15 min | 10-12 min | Egg-shaped cutter |
| Easter Thumbprint Cookies | Easy | 10 min | 12-15 min | Thumb or spoon |
| Pastel Iced Sugar Cookies | Medium | 25 min | 10-12 min | Icing bags |
| Bunny Face Cookies | Easy | 20 min | 10-12 min | Round cutter + decorating tools |
| Carrot Iced Cookies | Easy | 20 min | 10-12 min | Orange icing + decorating tip |
| Chick Cookies (Little Yellow Chicks) | Medium | 20 min | 10-12 min | Chick cookie cutter |
| Spring Flower Cookies | Medium | 25 min | 12-14 min | Flower cookie cutter |
| Grass-Topped Easter Cookies | Easy | 15 min | 10-12 min | Fork or decorating comb |
1. Easter Sugar Cookies
I make these classic sugar cookies every single Easter, and they’re always a hit with my grandkids. The key is keeping the dough cold – I always pop it in the fridge for at least an hour before rolling. These cookies have that perfect balance of sweetness and vanilla flavor that makes them perfect for decorating or eating plain.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
How to Make?
- 1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add egg, vanilla, and milk, mixing well.
- Gradually add flour mixture until just combined.
- Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, refrigerate 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut with favorite Easter cookie cutters.
- Place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on wire racks before decorating.
2. Bunny-Shaped Sugar Cookies
These adorable bunny cookies are my absolute favorite to make! I remember watching my wife make these for our children, and now I’m teaching our grandchildren. The trick to perfect bunny shapes is having a sharp cookie cutter and not overworking the dough.
Ingredients:
- Same as Easter Sugar Cookies recipe above
- Pink gel food coloring
- White decorator icing
- Small round tip for decorating
How to Make?
- Follow the Easter Sugar Cookies recipe through step 9.
- Bake cookies 10-12 minutes until lightly golden.
- Cool completely before decorating.
- Outline bunnies with white icing using a small round tip.
- Fill in ears and face with pink icing.
- Add eyes with black icing dots.
- Create whiskers with thin white lines.
- Let icing set for 30 minutes before serving.
3. Easter Egg-Decorated Cookies
I love making these Easter egg cookies because they remind me of all those colorful eggs we’d hunt in my childhood backyard. These cookies become little edible canvases where creativity can really shine!
Ingredients:
- Same base sugar cookie recipe
- Assorted colored icing (pink, blue, yellow, green, purple)
- Wilton decorating writing gel
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Small decorating brushes
How to Make?
- Prepare and bake sugar cookies using egg-shaped cutter.
- Cool completely on wire racks.
- Outline eggs with white icing and let dry 15 minutes.
- Fill in with colored icing using small brush or back of spoon.
- While icing is still wet, add sprinkles for patterns.
- Draw zigzag lines or dots with decorating gel.
- Let cookies set for 45 minutes before serving.
- Store in airtight container.
4. Easter Thumbprint Cookies
One of my go-to recipes for Easter gatherings! These cookies are so easy that I often let the kids help with the thumbprint part. I always make a variety of flavors – raspberry is our family favorite, but apricot works beautifully too.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Raspberry or apricot jam for filling
- Powdered sugar for dusting
How to Make?
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add egg yolks and vanilla, mix well.
- Gradually add flour mixture.
- Roll into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Use thumb to make deep indentation in center of each cookie.
- Fill each well with 1/2 teaspoon jam.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on wire racks and dust with powdered sugar.
5. Pastel Iced Sugar Cookies
I spend most of my Easter baking time on these beauties! They’re perfect for elegant Easter brunches or as gifts for neighbors. The key is patience – let each layer dry before adding the next.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie base recipe
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons warm water
- Food coloring (pastels)
- Clear alcohol (vodka) for thinning icing
- Small offset spatula
How to Make?
- Bake cookies and cool completely.
- Beat meringue powder and warm water until foamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
- Divide icing into bowls and tint with pastels.
- Thin with clear alcohol to consistency of thick paint.
- Flood cookies with thinned icing using offset spatula.
- Let dry for 4 hours.
- Create details with thicker icing in contrasting colors.
- Add sparkle with clear alcohol-dampened brush.
- Allow to dry completely overnight.
6. Bunny Face Cookies
These cute little bunny face cookies are always the first to disappear at any Easter gathering. Kids absolutely adore them, and adults can’t resist their charm either!
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie base
- Pink candy melts or pink icing
- Mini chocolate chips for eyes
- Red fruit leather or red icing for bow tie
- Small round cutter
How to Make?
- Cut cookies using round cutter and bake as directed.
- Cool completely before decorating.
- Melt pink candy melts according to package directions.
- Dip each cookie halfway into pink candy, let excess drip off.
- Place chocolate chips for eyes while candy is still wet.
- Cut small heart shapes from red fruit leather for bow tie.
- Let candy set completely, about 15 minutes.
- Attach bow tie with a dab of melted candy.
7. Carrot Iced Cookies
These carrot cookies bring the best of Easter and spring together! The orange color is so vibrant, you’ll want to pop them in your mouth right away. I always make a double batch because they vanish so fast.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie base
- Orange gel food coloring
- Green food coloring
- White icing base above
- Small star tip for grass
- Clear alcohol
How to Make?
- Prepare sugar cookies and cool completely.
- Make white icing as directed in Pastel Iced Cookies.
- Divide icing and color one portion bright orange.
- Flood cookies with orange icing and let dry 2 hours.
- Make green icing and thin slightly.
- Use star tip to pipe grass around top edges.
- Create carrot texture with toothpick lines going down cookie.
- Let all icing dry for 1 hour before serving.
8. Chick Cookies (Little Yellow Chicks)
Oh my goodness, these little chick cookies are the sweetest thing ever! I make them every year for our Easter breakfast, and my grandkids fight over who gets to help with the decorating. The orange frosting for beaks is crucial – don’t skip it!
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie recipe
- Yellow food coloring
- Orange food coloring
- Black decorating gel
- Red food coloring
- Small round tip
- Orange candy melts
How to Make?
- Prepare, bake, and cool sugar cookies.
- Make white icing and tint bright yellow.
- Flood cookies with yellow icing, let dry 2 hours.
- Outline chicks with black icing using small round tip.
- Add tiny brown dots for feathers if desired.
- Make small orange triangle beaks with orange icing.
- Add pink cheeks using red icing diluted with water.
- Let dry completely before serving.
9. Spring Flower Cookies
These flower cookies are pure spring magic! I love making them in all different colors and arranging them on a platter. They look stunning on any Easter table and smell absolutely amazing.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie base
- Purple, pink, yellow, and green food coloring
- White icing base
- Small round tip for centers
- Petal tip (#104) if available
How to Make?
- Bake flower-shaped cookies using flower cutter.
- Make white icing and divide into portions.
- Color each portion different spring colors.
- Flood each flower petal with matching color icing.
- Let base color dry for 30 minutes.
- Use petal tip to add detail lines on each petal.
- Fill center with yellow icing using small round tip.
- Add texture with toothpick if desired.
- Let dry completely for 2 hours.
10. Grass-Topped Easter Cookies
These cookies are so much fun to make! The edible grass adds that perfect spring touch that makes everyone smile. I always make a bunch to give away as Easter gifts.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie base (any shape works)
- Green food coloring
- White icing base
- Green decorating sugar or coconut
- Fork or small comb for grass texture
- Clear alcohol for thinning
How to Make?
- Prepare, bake, and cool cookies.
- Make white icing and tint bright green.
- Flood cookies with green icing.
- Immediately sprinkle with green decorating sugar.
- Use fork to create grass texture by pulling through icing.
- Add another layer of sugar if needed for more texture.
- Let dry for 1 hour.
- Gently shake off excess sugar.
55+ Easter Sugar Cookies Complete List
🐣 Classic Sugar Cookies:
- Easter Sugar Cookies
- Easter Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
- Easter Iced Sugar Cookies
- Easter Egg Sugar Cookies
- Easter Bunny Sugar Cookies
- Pastel Easter Sugar Cookies
- Soft Easter Sugar Cookies
- Old-Fashioned Easter Sugar Cookies
🐰 Bunny & Animal Theme Sugar Cookies:
- Bunny Face Sugar Cookies
- Bunny Butt Sugar Cookies
- Bunny Paw Print Cookies
- Chick Sugar Cookies
- Easter Lamb Sugar Cookies
- Easter Bird Sugar Cookies
- Bunny Ear Sugar Cookies
🌸 Floral & Spring Theme Sugar Cookies:
- Easter Flower Sugar Cookies
- Daisy Easter Sugar Cookies
- Tulip Easter Sugar Cookies
- Blossom Easter Sugar Cookies
- Spring Garden Sugar Cookies
- Pastel Floral Sugar Cookies
🥚 Egg-Shaped & Decorative Sugar Cookies:
- Decorated Easter Egg Sugar Cookies
- Marbled Easter Egg Cookies
- Watercolor Easter Egg Sugar Cookies
- Speckled Egg Sugar Cookies
- Gold-Accented Easter Egg Cookies
🍬 Fun & Colorful Easter Sugar Cookies:
- Sprinkle Easter Sugar Cookies
- Confetti Easter Sugar Cookies
- Rainbow Easter Sugar Cookies
- Tie-Dye Easter Sugar Cookies
- Pastel Swirl Sugar Cookies
🍫 Filled & Frosted Sugar Cookies:
- Cream Cheese Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Royal Icing Easter Cookies
- Glazed Easter Sugar Cookies
- Frosted Sandwich Sugar Cookies
- Jam-Filled Easter Sugar Cookies
🧁 Soft, Thick & Bakery-Style:
- Thick Easter Sugar Cookies
- Crinkle Easter Sugar Cookies
- Bakery-Style Easter Sugar Cookies
- Chewy Easter Sugar Cookies
🎨 Kids-Friendly Easter Sugar Cookies:
- Painted Easter Sugar Cookies
- Sticker-Style Easter Cookies
- DIY Decorating Easter Cookies
- Funny Face Easter Cookies
🌿 Special-Diet Easter Sugar Cookies:
- Gluten-Free Easter Sugar Cookies
- Vegan Easter Sugar Cookies
- Dairy-Free Easter Sugar Cookies
- Eggless Easter Sugar Cookies
✨ Extra Decorative / Modern Styles:
- Minimalist Easter Sugar Cookies
- Rustic Easter Sugar Cookies
- Boho Easter Sugar Cookies
- Vintage Easter Sugar Cookies
- Modern Pastel Easter Cookies
- Lettered Easter Sugar Cookies
- Monogram Easter Sugar Cookies
- Marshmallow Easter Egg Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! I always make my cookie dough a day ahead and keep it refrigerated. The decorated cookies last about a week in an airtight container. Undecorated baked cookies freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
My icing isn’t smooth enough – what did I do wrong?
Don’t worry! This happens to everyone. Your icing might be too thick. Add a few drops of clear alcohol or water and mix well. If it’s still not smooth, beat it a bit longer in your mixer.
Can kids help with these recipes?
Most definitely! My grandkids start helping when they’re about 5 years old. They love stamping cookies, adding sprinkles, and mixing icing. Save the detailed decorating for adults, but let the little ones get involved in the fun parts.
Can I use pre-made cookie dough from the store?
Of course! While homemade tastes better, store-bought works fine in a pinch. Just add your own decorations and love to make them special.
How do I get my cookies to hold their shape when baking?
The secret is keeping your dough cold! I always refrigerate it for at least an hour before rolling. Also, don’t overbake – take them out when edges are just lightly golden.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it – 10 absolutely delightful Easter cookie recipes that have been tested and loved by my family for generations. I hope these recipes bring as much joy to your kitchen as they’ve brought to mine over the decades.
Whether you’re making all 10 recipes or just picking your favorites, remember that the most important ingredient is the love you put into every batch. These cookies aren’t just treats – they’re memories in the making, smiles to be shared, and traditions to pass down.
I encourage you to get the whole family involved. Let the kids help with the mixing and decorating. Share a few cookies with your neighbors. Most importantly, don’t stress if they don’t look perfect – the taste will always be amazing, and the time spent together is what really matters.
From my kitchen to yours, I wish you a beautiful Easter filled with sweet memories and these wonderful cookies. Happy baking, my friends!
If you are looking for some other recipes, please do check out:
