Two Easter Lunch Menus: Hot and Cold

Mother Nature is really testing our patience this year, with False Spring behind us and Third Winter blowing about the eves in the form of a whiteout snowstorm.

I feel like pulling the covers over my head to avoid it all – the scraping of the windshield, the frozen compost pail, the pulling on of socks – but instead I open my phone and scroll to photos of past springs. I see that the ice on the lake melts in late March, and by early April, the crocuses are up.

I know Spring is an eventuality, and with it will come the Easter holiday, and so I’m planning my menus in anticipation of peppery radishes, delicate chives and all the good things that come with the thaw.

I’m sharing two Easter menus, a hot and a cold lunch plan, both with plenty of do-ahead options. Brunch or lunch is my favourite time to host for this holiday for many reasons: eggs can be featured, hot cross buns are appreciated, and there’s plenty of time post-meal for a leisurely walk or nap.

A Cold Easter Lunch

Here’s a menu plan for a mostly do-ahead lunch that can be set out, buffet-style and guests can graze. I’ve kept it pretty light, but you could round out the meal with a platter of cold, sliced ham or a mound of shaved prosciutto and other cured meats. A few tins of smoked fish or seafood would also be fabulous, as would a platter of smoked salmon.

Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs

An updated classic appetizer! Dyed with a vibrant beet brine, these eggs bring a pop of colour to the table.
They contain fresh garden chives, a dab of Dijon and a generous spoonful of crème fraîche. You can also make them plain, without the beet brine.

Crudité & Herby Ranch Dip

This versatile Herby Ranch Dip is creamy and delicious; a perfect pairing for springtime crudité. It’s easy to make, uses ingredients you have on hand and keeps for several days in the fridge. What more do you want!?

Toast Two Ways

For the following two lunch-y bites, you could set out the ingredients and let folks build their own. Or, if you enjoy playing with food, assemble them yourself and serve on trays with a sprinkling of edible spring flowers (forsythia, pansy, violets, chive blossom, lilac, magnolia).

Cinnamon Toast with Ricotta and Strawberries

A napkin-lined basket of warm cinnamon toast always elicits an enthusiastic reaction in my house. It’s nostalgic and comforting, and downright delicious when paired with creamy homemade ricotta and sliced berries. Aim to use a nice crusty sourdough for this recipe.

Sea Salt Focaccia with Radish Butter

This fluffy focaccia can be made ahead of time and frozen. To serve, slice into strips, toast slightly and set out with radish butter, flaky salt and chives.

Easy Do-Ahead Easter Cookies

Both of these cookies freeze well and both are fun to make! Stock up on sprinkles and mini eggs, then invite the kids in the kitchen to play.

Funfetti Shortbread Cut-Out Cookies – My daughter’s favourite cookie, we bake them by the dozens to share with friends. It’s a classic, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread, cut into festive shapes and unadorned save for cheery sprinkles.

Cocoa Swirl Meringue Cookies with Mini Eggs – a fun treat to make with kids. Follow the recipe as usual and then fold in a 1/2 cup or so of chopped chocolate eggs or other Easter themed chocolate. Can be frozen. Store in an airtight container.

A Hot Easter Lunch

This menu plan works work well if you’ve got a bit more time and want to do a proper sit-down lunch. Made-ahead mini quiche are our appetizer – dressed up if desired with pickled red onion or flaked smoked fish.

A slow cooker cider ham is our no-fuss main, and then add as many side dishes as you like. Don’t forget to leave plenty of room for dessert, as everyone will be counting on a chocolaty finish.

French Onion Mini Quiche

The most elegant of appetizers to your Easter lunch or brunch. If desired, these can be made ahead, frozen and reheated in the oven for ease. I share lots of variations on the recipe so you can play around with lobster, bacon or even asparagus for your mini quiche.

Alternately, make a whole quiche! My Asparagus and Bacon Quiche tutorial serves up the very best results.

Roasted Radishes with Creamy Kefir Green Godess Dressing

Roasted radishes are paired with a vibrant green goddess dressing featuring creamy kefir – and the result is a cravable, colourful side dish. This recipe also works great with asparagus, or a radish/asparagus combination. This earthy dish is a great balance to rich Easter ham.

Wilted Mixed Greens with Bacon and Egg – This has become my quintessential spring salad featuring any and all baby greens available. A warm bacon vinaigrette makes this dish irresistible. Radishes bring the necessary crunch and cherry tomatoes the acidity.

Slow Cooker Cider Ham – Cinnamon-scented, mustard-crusted and apple cider braised, this tender ham is a simple and sensational main dish. Can be made ahead of time, carved, and later presented cold, room temperature or warm. Serve with mustard pickles or a bold chutney and tuck slices into the brown bread dinner rolls below.

Maritime Brown Bread Dinner Rolls – These tender buns round out any Easter menu. Slightly sweetened by molasses, they are perfect accompaniment to salty roast ham. I recommend baking them fresh, but they can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven.

Easter Desserts for 6 or More

Here’s two make-ahead desserts that are relatively easy and can be decorated any way you like with Easter candy or simple chocolate shavings. From pavlova to chocolate, springtime dessert recipes are my favourite; browse the round-up for many more ideas.

Feed-a-Crowd Perfect Chocolate Cake – Easter Edition

My go-to layered chocolate sheet cake gets the Easter treatment with a full decoration of chocolate bunnies, eggs of all sizes and sprinkles. It’s a real showstopper and feeds 20+ people. The entire cake can be frozen, frosting and all.

Mocha Cream Pie with Espresso Whipped Cream or Chocolate Cream Pie – Another crowd-pleaser, this pie is a dream! make the coffee version or leave out the espresso powder in the recipe and it becomes a chocolate cream pie.

More Easter Desserts:

Springtime Dessert Recipes

Rhubarb Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Frosting

Easter Pavlovas with Lemon Whipped Cream and Vanilla-Rhubarb Compote

Happy Cooking and Baking, and Happy Easter to all who celebrate.