38 Easter Candy Recipes That Will Wow Your Guests This Spring

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, no bake, make ahead
• Serves: 18 pieces

This just might be the most riffable Easter candy recipe of all time. "Milk chocolate is most traditional, but I substituted white chocolate and a few festive, sweet-and-salty mix-ins for a spring-themed spin," PureWow food editor Taryn Pire explains. "Feel free to use rainbow mini marshmallows if your local supermarket has them, or trade peanuts for pistachios or walnuts if you’d prefer."

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 12

"Spring is finally within reach, and that means I'm trading my goth winter baking for the most adorable desserts I can get my hands on," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes. First up are these meringues, which are naturally gluten free and light as air. They're layered with chocolate, toasted coconut and teeny-tiny eggs for the occasion.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 25 to 30

Did you know you can shortcut making fudge from scratch by using store-bought marshmallow crème? Gillen did just that, plus upped the ante with an extra generous swirl of the stuff in this sweet-and-salty fudge. "It's beyond foolproof to make (in 15 minutes!)...just be sure to slice it into small pieces; this stuff is capital-S sweet," she adds.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Because the popcorn is enrobed in a simple butter caramel, this snack qualifies as candy in my book. (I'd take it over a chocolate bunny any day.) "It has just enough heat, and a stick-to-your-teeth coating to keep you coming back for another handful," Gillen asserts.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <30 minutes, no bake, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

When in doubt, take a bunch of your kids’ favorite Easter candies, pile them into festive cups and call it ‘jarcuterie’. "When assembling a jar, place studier ingredients on the bottom to hold any skewered items," Gillen advises. "Soft ingredients can go on top, and thin, soft items (like sour candy belts) can be affixed to bamboo skewers for height." Might I suggest lining the cups with edible grass?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 20 pieces

Can you believe these cuties are only six ingredients away? The marshmallow filling is courtesy of powdered gelatin and sugar, along with a dash of salt and vanilla extract for flavor. Better yet, "the combination of milk chocolate and coconut oil means you can make these treats without having to temper the chocolate," recipe creator Erin McDowell explains.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, gluten free
• Serves: 15

It’s almost apricot season, so there’s no better time to showcase the sweet-tart fruit. Substitute maple syrup or agave for honey to make it vegan. (The rest of the ingredients are store-bought, pre-dried produce and pantry staples, so the recipe is as simple as can be.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

"Imagine if Reese's peanut butter cups and Krackel chocolate bars had a baby," recipe creator Brittany Mullins says. Natural peanut butter keeps the filling smooth, salty and nutty, while crispy rice cereal gives the cups their signature look and texture.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 24

"My grandma was known for her saltine cracker toffee," recipe creator Christy Denney writes. "Because I like things with cinnamon and sugar, I came up with this white chocolate version that tastes just like a churro." I'd make a second batch just for the cook, if I were you.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, make ahead
• Serves: 30 truffles

Ganache with a bit of extra chocolate makes a stellar base for this Easter candy recipe. Hot tip: Use high-quality chocolate discs or a bar instead of chocolate chips, which are designed to keep their shape—not melt—when heated.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 10 to 12

"If you visit a Greek Orthodox person’s home during Lent, you're almost certain to find a slab of tahini halva on the counter," recipe creator Georgina Hayden explains. Pistachios add a mild nuttiness that complements the tahini, not to mention that it's very trendy right now, thanks to pistachio butter's ever-rising popularity and the viral Dubai chocolate bar.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Warning: The kids will collectively shriek when this masterpiece hits the table. Before slicing into it, let it come to room temperature for about ten minutes. Then, run your knife under hot water to avoid cracking (although even if it cracks, it'll still taste heavenly).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, Paleo-friendly, low sugar
• Serves: 24 cups

"These almond-butter and dark chocolate cups will satisfy your sweet tooth and require zero bake time," former PureWow food editor Heath Goldman writes. "The key? Just freeze them after each layer to firm up the base." In the words of Ina Garten, how easy is that?

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

This treat is all about spring, from the bee pollen to the edible flowers. It comes together in a flash with the help of a microwave and baking sheet (and a generous dose of yogurt-coated pretzels, of course).

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 16

Don’t tell the Easter Bunny, but these poppables are going to win best dressed at this year’s dinner. Topping them with cardamom whipped cream adds a touch of fragrant, herbaceous flavor to every bite, not to mention peak-delicious spring strawberries.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 20

Who knew humble saltines could be turned into a dessert this epic? I'm betting your kids would be happy to decorate the treat with pastel M&Ms and sprinkles to their hearts' content. (It may be hard for them to wait for the Easter candy to cool before digging in, though.)

• Time Commitment: 4 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 12 to 16

Eat your heart out, Cadbury. These decadent chocolates are made almost entirely from pantry staples, like corn syrup, butter and powdered sugar. Just leave plenty of time for the fillings to freeze overnight; they need to be hardened before they're coated in the final layer of chocolate.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, gluten free, make ahead
• Serves: 14 eggs

Speaking of copycats, these give Reese's a run for their money—despite being vegan. (Believe it: The outer shell is mostly raw macadamia nuts, unsweetened coconut and cocoa butter.) Feel free to substitute other nut and seed butters for PB if you're allergic or not a fan.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 50 pieces

These chocolatier-level confections are only four ingredients away—and they're begging for an Instagram debut. The secret? Using candy melts and bunny molds for uniform color and shape. "The amount of candy melts you will need may vary," recipe creator Brandi Crawford writes. "I recommend purchasing at least one additional bag (if you aren't using multiple colors), just to be safe."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10 to 12 pieces

Ready your piping bags, friends. These simple treats are only as Insta-worthy as their outer designs, which are made with melted white chocolate-almond brittle. "If you want to get extra cutesy, you can even attach a small strip of scrapbook paper or cardstock to a cupcake liner to make a little 'Easter basket' for the eggs to be served," recipe creator Ali Martin suggests.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 18 pieces

A flourish of flaky salt goes a long way in taking this timeless Easter candy recipe up a notch. If you find the chocolate is too thick when you’re dipping, thin it out with coconut or vegetable oil.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 45 cookies

Just as fun for the kids to decorate as hard-boiled eggs—only with way less mess and waste. Buy a variety of colored candy melts so they can get creative with their dipping, and feel free to mix up the cookies if Oreos aren't your kids' fave. (Nutter Butters would be a tasty alternative.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes (includes cooling time)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

Nothing beats a no-bake dessert, especially on a food-heavy holiday like Easter. Feel free to add whatever seasonal mix-ins you’d like, like jellybeans, freeze-dried berries or candied nuts. Or, keep it easy-peasy with pastel-colored M&Ms.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 20 pieces

Think thick, luxurious buttercream filling and rich, slightly bitter dark chocolate. The filling is flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, but you can go rogue by subbing lemon extract, cocoa, freeze-dried strawberry powder or even espresso powder.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10

The recipe for these pretty lollies—made with nothing but Jolly Ranchers—is almost more like a craft than a real recipe. (That means even the kitchen-averse will be up to the task.) They're so pretty that they just might overshadow the dyed eggs.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead, gluten free
• Serves: 18 cookies

Because they’re made from itty-bitty meringues, I consider these cookie-candy hybrids. Even better, the chocolate-hazelnut filling is as easy as opening a jar. I won't tell if you opt for store-bought meringues (and your guests won't notice, thanks to all that Nutella).

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 30 pieces

Why are they called phantoms, you ask? Because they’re bound to vanish before your eyes, of course. "The cookies are super-chocolatey and moist with almost half their weight in macadamia nuts," recipe creator Rose Levy Beranbaum writes. "This contributes to their unique, slightly waxy crunch. The chocolate and nuts are held together by just one egg and a tiny bit of flour."

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free
• Serves: 18

Sort of like low-lift buckeyes, these cups are a cinch to make ahead. Pipe the tahini filling straight into the chocolate and gently swirl your wrist for a photogenic, marbled finish that'll make your guests think you bought the cups at a fancy candy store.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free
• Serves: 12

Make ’em once and you’ll never buy an Almond Joy again. The bars start with a classic macaroon base, which is topped with toasted almonds and all the melted chocolate your heart desires. Top them with cacao nibs for extra crunch.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 20

You know that bottle of Irish cream that’s been collecting dust on your bar cart since last St. Patrick’s Day? Put it to good use by making these irresistible, five-ingredient candies. Their look is inspired by Brazilian brigadeiro.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, no bake, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 22 pieces

Because booze could only make your holiday shindig better, no? If you do want to skip the bourbon, substitute water and vanilla extract. Be sure to plan ahead for this Easter candy recipe, as these treats taste best if made a day in advance.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 40 pieces

This Philadelphia staple tastes just as divine on St. Patrick's Day as it does on Easter, since it's stuffed with cream cheese and sweetened shredded coconut. "These potato candies taste like a fancy Mounds candy bar, but with cinnamon instead of chocolate," McDowell explains.  

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: one 9-by-13-inch pan

By the looks of the peanut-studded nougat and extra-thick caramel, the store-bought kind could never. (Really—the nougat layer stars jarred marshmallow crème.) Keep the bars in the fridge until dessert time so they don’t get too gooey.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 24 pieces

Since the recipe uses store-bought caramel instead of homemade, you’ll be able to assemble the candies in no time. (And you’ll only need three additional ingredients to do it, which just might be in your kitchen cabinet right now.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 cups

Why not fill this year’s plastic eggs with tiny baggies of cinnamon-sugar nuts? (OK, maybe your picky kids won’t go for it…but hey, then there’ll be more for the grown-ups.) The recipe calls for a mix of almonds and pecans, but you can use walnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts—you get the picture.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, gluten free
• Serves: 4

One saucepan, one baking sheet and enough homemade candy to gift all your relatives—sound easy enough? All the sweet-and-salty stans at the party will beg you for the recipe, which gets its savory richness and a touch of smoke and salt from thick-cut bacon. Call it an Easter miracle.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: varies

This Southern delight is the definition of decadence. The pralines get their slight chew and deep flavor from butter, brown sugar and molasses, while pecans supply their crunch. "If you prefer flat pralines, replace cream with one cup of milk," recipe creator Jocelyn Delk Adams advises. "Also, you can replace molasses with dark corn syrup and keep the cream for thicker, chewier pralines."

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes (plus cooling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 40 pieces

Snacks, candy and bubbly, a trifecta that all but guarantees a good time. Finish the caramels with chic metallic sprinkles, extra potato chip crumbs or a flourish of flaky salt (or fleur de sel, if you're fancy) for good measure.