When it comes to Easter dinner (or brunch), we already know the glazed ham is going to steal the show. But it’s a holiday, and in our book, that means there should be plenty of libations to pair with the meal (or act as a social lubricant when your aunt brings up your relationship status). These Easter cocktails range from classics, like mimosas and Bloody Marys, to inventive sippers that embrace all the seasonal produce (hi, snap pea mojitos). Read on for 25 ideas to serve this holiday.
25 Easter Cocktails to Liven Up Your Spring Celebration, from Mimosas to Rhubarb Mojitos
Is it really brunch without a Bloody Mary?
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Published Feb 26, 2024
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Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Katherine Gillen
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Among the eggs Benedicts and stacks of pancakes, no brunch is truly complete without a mimosa. Instead of the usual orange juice, try our trio of flavors: paloma, mango-pineapple and strawberry-basil. A one-to-one ratio of alcohol to juice is traditional, but we think how much Champagne you add is a personal decision.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
We’ve all experienced Bloody Mary letdown at one time or another. The key to making a brunch cocktail with is to use high-quality bottled or fresh tomato juice (finally a reason to use that juicer) and to season the juice properly so that it’s both savory and spicy.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
If you’re inviting a sizeable crowd to your Easter celebration, you’re not about to measure and stir individual cocktails for a crowd. Enter these big-batch beauties, which are slightly lighter, sweeter and more floral, plus you can make eight at one time.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
A crisp, dry rosé paired with tangy grapefruit juice is basically the easiest batched cocktail you’ll ever make. Add a splash of gin if you want to live on the edge.
6. Strawberry Citrus Easter Punch
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <15 minutes
Nothing says first holiday celebration of spring like a big batch of berry punch (spiked with brandy, of course). We love not playing bartender with a cocktail shaker.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Mint Juleps always roll around for Derby season, but we like them enough to introduce them early. Using maple syrup instead of simple syrup adds complex flavor and eliminates a few extra steps, a win-win.
8. Pimm’s Cup
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
This tart-sweet refresher is citrusy and surprisingly easy to assemble, as long as you have a garden’s worth of fruit and fresh basil.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
This Easter cocktail relies on habanero rum for heat, but you could use any white rum if spicy isn’t your cup of tea. Use the ripest strawberries you can get your hands on for the sweetest, springiest flavor.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Since it’s lower in alcohol, the Aperol spritz is an ideal Easter cocktail for anyone not looking to get lost in the sauce by 11 a.m. Add a splash of lemon juice if you want to try a brighter twist on the classic recipe.
11. Blueberry Mint Bourbon Lemonade
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
If this holiday is your excuse to look forward to warmer days ahead, try serving up this fruity drink alongside your feast. Blueberries are technically in season in the summer, but it doesn’t hurt to start a little early.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
We love a cocktail that seems fancy but can made in one pitcher. If you find the drink a little too tart, just adjust the amount of strawberry syrup you add.
13. Rosé Sangria
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser
As it turns out, the classic Spanish summer drink can easily be made Easter brunch–appropriate by swapping the usual red wine for a lighter rosé. The pitcher is flavored with various citrus, so use whatever you please (like grapefruit, limes, lemons, oranges and kumquats).
14. Sugar Snap Pea Mojito Mocktail
- Time Commitment: 17 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Slightly sweet with bright herbaceous notes, sugar snap peas are a surprisingly delish addition to this classic cocktail. Leave the alcohol out for the kid’s table, or add rum for the adults.
15. Violet Eyes
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <15 minutes
Aka a lavender coconut vodka sour, or the fanciest Easter cocktail that requires very little extra effort. Shaking it with an egg white adds a frothy layer to the top, which is traditional for a sour, but you can leave it out if you don’t want to deal with the raw eggs.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
When life hands you lemons, make this lemon-gin-honey tipple. For a more floral variation, try replacing the honey syrup with elderflower liqueur. (And if you don’t like gin, vodka would work too.)
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
The delicate, fennel-esque flavor of tarragon pairs well with herbal gin and adds a festive color to the drink. Blanching the tarragon before making the syrup will preserve its bright green hue.
18. Rhubarb Mojito
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Sweet-tart rhubarb is only available for a short season, so take advantage of the spring vegetable while you can find it at the farmers market. To make it non-alcoholic, simply omit the rum.
19. The Verdant Garden Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
With Chartreuse, celery bitters, lemon and herb-infused simple syrup, this green cocktail is like a garden in a glass. Garnish each drink with edible flowers for extra flair.
20. Rhubarb Ginger Beer Margaritas
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
You’ll need something refreshing to wash down all the jelly beans you’ve been sneaking from your cousins’ Easter baskets. Here, ginger beer adds spiciness and lightens up the typically potent margarita.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Six ingredients, ten minutes and one pitcher are all you need to make this crowd-pleasing treat. To serve, rim the glasses with coarse sugar and add a wedge of fresh lime.
22. Sparkling Citrus Pineapple Sangria
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
It screams tropical summer vacay, but did you know that pineapple is a spring fruit? Here it’s paired with lime, lemon, orange, basil, mint and white wine for an easy Easter cocktail to serve a crowd.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Speaking of easy, these margs come together in no time thanks to store-bought jam. Set out a range of different flavors and let everyone shake up their own drink.
24. Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy
A gimlet is similar to a martini, but with lime juice instead of vermouth and a splash of simple syrup. This version uses elderflower liqueur for a sweet, spring-y vibe.
25. Blackberry Thyme Margarita
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Is there a better use for fresh blackberries? We can’t think of one. You can double or triple the recipe to make more than one cocktail at a time and add more or less tequila to adjust the potency to your liking.
