5 Tasty Easter Desserts

Take your pick from traditional European desserts to cheesecake or lemon cupcakes. Any are wonderful for a post-egg-hunt or after-dinner treat, and can be altered to taste: Feel free to add other fruit to the berry shortcake, for instance, or try different flavors and colors of cupcake frosting. Welcome, spring!

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Think spring and make lemon cupcakes your Easter dessert. — Rua Castilho/the food passionates/Corbis

1. Lemon Cupcakes by George Geary

These lemon cupcakes are a kid-friendly option for your Easter feast — especially if you decorate them with colored frosting in the shapes of bunnies or chicks.

Per serving: 208 calories, 5g saturated fat, 29g carbohydrates, 3g protein, 0g fiber

2. Easter Coffee Cake (Kulich)
by Anya von Bremzen and John Welchman

This Eastern European cake takes a bit of effort to make, but you'll end up with a super-light, full-flavored dessert, with hints of vanilla, orange and almond.

Per serving: 709 calories, 14g saturated fat, 95g carbohydrates, 13g protein, 4g fiber

3. Mini Chocolate Nut Pastries by Victoria Blashford-Snell and Brigitte Hafner

These bite-sized treats with chocolate-hazelnut filling are fun to make (you'll need filo sheets) and delicious to eat. You can top them with drizzled honey or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Per serving: 53 calories, 1g saturated fat, 6g carbohydrates, 1g protein, 1g fiber

4. Berry Shortcake by Christopher Idone

The classic combination of mixed berries, shortcake and cream is a great way to welcome warm weather. You might want to keep the components separate and let guests build their own desserts according to their preferences.

Per serving: 487 calories, 18g saturated fat, 51g carbohydrates, 6g protein, 7g fiber

5. Polish Easter Cheesecake by Sarah Leah Chase

This cheesecake is fluffy and citrusy, made with a ricotta and lemon filling. You can bake it in an oblong pan, the traditional Polish way, if you have one. If not, use any baking pan you have on hand.

Per serving: 382 calories, 12g saturated fat, 35g carbohydrates, 9g protein, 1g fiber