Many of us are keeping Easter small this year. That means having just our households sitting with us around the table. Just because you’re setting the table for fewer folks, though, doesn’t mean this Easter should be any less festive and fun.
We’ll show you how to put together a smaller Easter event with all the fixings. Yes, that still means Easter baskets, hot cross buns and chocolate bunnies—there’s no need to forego any of your favorite holiday treats!
Small-Scale Easter Recipes
When you’ve got fewer peeps at your Easter table, think about modifying your menu to suit a smaller crowd. You can do this easily by cutting down recipes you love. You can also make Easter recipes that serve four or even just two.
And you certainly don’t need to limit your cooking and baking if you’re staying in this season. There are so many delicious dishes that make smaller quantities—just enough for your nearest and dearest (plus a few leftovers).
- Easter brunch: It’s easy to make your brunch a small affair. Make eggs to order or try something creative like these spinach and egg pizzas or a puff pancake.
- Easter dinner: We know Easter is all about the ham, but there are plenty of other options that don’t take up so much space in the fridge. Proteins like pork tenderloin are perfect for smaller groups. And roasting a chicken is always an impressive (but simple) way to serve just a few.
- Spring desserts: Small-batch desserts can be harder to come by, but there are plenty of options out there. An easy berry fool makes use of fresh spring produce without leaving a lot of leftovers. Or opt for a rustic tart. Enjoy half with your partner on Easter and the other half for dessert (or even breakfast) the following day.
How to Make an Easter Ham
For some of us, though, Easter dinner just wouldn’t be the same without a ham. Even if you only have a few folks at your Easter table, ham can still be a worthwhile make.
The key is to choose the right ham for you and your modified celebration. Look for a smaller ham, of course, and be sure to pick the style of ham—either bone-in, boneless or spiral-cut—that suits your needs and your preferred recipe. Here are some great Easter ham recipes to get you thinking, and be sure to follow this guide on how to carve a ham.
Given the smaller crowd, chances are you’ll have plenty of leftovers. Don’t fret because cooked ham makes for fantastic dishes throughout the following week. You can keep ham leftovers in the fridge for four days. In that time, you can use it to make all plenty of recipes that start with leftover ham, like quiche, pea soup and the day-after Easter classic: scalloped potatoes and ham.
If you can’t finish your ham during that time or just want to save some for later, you can freeze ham, too. Ham can be kept in the freezer for two months. When you’re ready, defrost it and return to those leftover ham recipes.
What to Do on Easter
Even if your Easter celebration is a bit smaller than usual, you can still do all the fun activities that come with the holiday. Don’t skip out on these traditions just because there are fewer folks to enjoy them. Here are a few ideas you can use to celebrate:
- Dye eggs: You don’t need any special ingredients or kits to dye Easter eggs at home. Grab some vinegar, water and food coloring and you’re ready to go.
- Easter egg hunts: If you’ve got little ones at home, you can pull together an egg hunt in your back yard or even your living room. We recommend using plastic eggs filled with candy. Save the hard-boiled eggs for the brunch table.
- Easter baskets: The same goes for Easter baskets. You can still fill and hide these at home—even if there are fewer friends around. Here are our favorite Easter candies to fill those baskets with.
- Video chats: Even if you can’t be near your loved ones on Easter, make time to connect with them. A quick video call goes a long way. You can call any time of course, but it’s fun to coordinate your calls with dinner, dessert or even an Easter toast (mimosas highly encouraged!).
- Cook with the kids: Cute Easter treats are a great way to spread springtime cheer while safe indoors, even if your Peanut Butter Easter Eggs happen to be decorated with last year’s Christmas sprinkles. Kids (and kids at heart) will love them all the same. Share them with friends and family by snapping a picture, or post it and tag us on social media using #TOHFoodie.
Just because you’re having a smaller Easter, doesn’t mean it’s any less festive and fun. Just grab your bunny ears, whip up this silly Peter Rabbit cake and enjoy the season! You’ll be hopping around before you know it.
1 / 40
Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
Get the kids involved in making these chocolate and peanut buttery treats, well worth the sticky fingers! —Mary Joyce Johnson, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania
Coconut Egg Nests
Looking for an Easter activity that kids will enjoy assembling and eating? Try these sweet birds nest cookies. They're a snap to make and call for just a few ingredients. —Tonya Hamrick, Wallace, West Virginia
Peanut Butter Fudge Cups
My husband often travels during the week, and this fast-to-fix microwave peanut butter fudge recipe is perfect for just my 2-year-old and me. —Lori Brow, Manhattan, Illinois.
Black Cherry Swirl Fudge
This colorful treat is sure to satisfy the sweetest tooth in any family! It's always been a favorite with my nine kids, eight grandkids and my Bible study group. I even vary the soft-drink flavors to match other holidays during the year. —Pauletta Bushnell, Lebanon, Oregon
Bunny Tails
My granddaughters and I came up with this clever and easy idea for Easter. —Kelly Ciepluch, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Easter Egg Cookies
My mother started baking these cookies with me and my eight brothers and sisters when I was a child, and I carried on the tradition with our four youngsters when they were little. Now, my children are grown and can make these cookies with their own tots. —Barbara Neuweg, West Point, Iowa
Marshmallow Puffs
With peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallows, these treats were very popular with our three kids as they were growing up—and now I make them for our two grandchildren. They're perfect for the holidays when time is so precious. —Dody Cagenello, Simsbury, Connecticut
Crispy Peanut Butter Balls
I make over 40 different types of treats during the holidays for friends and family. These crispy peanut butter balls are one of my favorite candies to give away as gifts.—Liz David, St. Catharines, Ontario
Peppermint Patties
My family loves these refreshing candies. At Christmastime, I like to add a few drops of green food coloring to the mixture before shaping and dipping them in chocolate. —Mary Ester Holloway, Bowerston, Ohio
Bird Nests
This is a fun, kid-friendly recipe I pulled together a few years ago. My kids love helping me make these. —Jessica Boivin, Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Raspberry Cream Sugar Cookies
We make sugar cookies and fill them with a tangy raspberry cream cheese. They taste best after they've been refrigerated for at least 45 minutes.—Heidi Farnworth, Riverton, Utah
Coconut Joys
If you like coconut, you’ll love these no-bake, no-fuss sweets. They are cute as can be and make a satisfying after-school snack to keep in the fridge. —Flo Burtnett, North Gage, Oklahoma
Candy Bar Fudge
My manager at work, who knows I like to try new treat recipes, shared this one with me. I've made this chewy and chocolaty fudge many times since. Packed with nuts and caramel, it's like a candy bar. Everyone who's tried it loves it. —Lois Freeman, Oxford, Michigan
Cookies & Cream Truffle Balls
For easy truffles, I roll cookies and cream cheese into balls and dunk them in white chocolate. That’s merry and bright in one bite. —Carla Giorgio, New York, New York
Pixie Dust Cookies
These crisp and buttery cookies are based on a favorite Scottish shortbread recipe. They're just the right amount of sweet—and fun to decorate! —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
Salted Peanut Rolls
A Christmas gift of homemade candy is always a hit with sweet tooths. I dip these peanut rolls in chocolate, but they're yummy plain, too. —Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba
Haystack Cookies with Peanut Butter
Peanut butter haystacks are one of my favorite desserts. I love to serve them to guests because they marvel at how something so simple tastes so good! —Starrlette Howard, Ogden, Utah
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge
Something about the combination of dark chocolate and raspberry is just so addicting. This fudge makes a heartfelt homemade gift, or just a treat that's worth sharing. —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania
Trail Mix Clusters
These delicious snacks make wonderful gifts, and although they look and taste like they came from an expensive chocolate shop, they couldn't be more guilt-free. The dried fruit and nuts are heart-healthy and full of fiber. Bet you can't eat just one! —Alina Niemi, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bird's Nest Treats
I make this birds nest recipe in the spring when the birds are starting to build their own nests. They are so easy to make and disappear just as fast. —Pam Painter, Poseyville, Indiana
Red Velvet Cake Bites
Everyone loves red velvet, but any cake mix can work. I've rolled chopped macadamia nuts into pineapple cake and dipped them in white chocolate. Whatever you do, have fun! —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama
Coconut Almond Candy
The secret ingredient in this homemade candy is a true surprise— no one tasting these delicious morsels will guess what’s in the sweet, creamy filling! —Katrina Smith, Lawrence, Kansas
Nut Butter Cups
My indulgent, nutty treat is simple to make and looks great. At our house, we use all-natural ingredients for them. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Rainbow Strawberries
Dip fresh strawberries in melted candy-coated discs to create a rainbow of color. Or get adventurous and make a unicorn. The creative possibilities are endless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Crunchy Candy Clusters
These cereal and marshmallow clusters are so simple that I make them for the holidays each year, as my family looks forward to them. —Faye O'Bryan, Owensboro, Kentucky
Peeps House
Create a sweet house for your favorite Easter basket treat. Use pastel candies to decorate the roof and nest. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coconut Creme Chocolates
I'm a proud wife, mom of three and grandma of many. I've cooked many things over the years, including these marshmallowy chocolates. —Dolores Wilder, Texas City, Texas
Lemon Bark
I wasn't a fan of white chocolate until I made this candy. It's tangy, sweet and creamy all at the same time. The bark was a lovely treat during a springtime shower but would be nice year-round. —Diana Wing, Bountiful, Utah
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
These chocolate-covered pretzels came from my grandma who loves to make candy and treats for my students. I have followed in her footsteps and make these for people at my work and for other family members. —Aimee Worth, Fair Oaks, California
White Chocolate Easter Egg Candies
Candy making can be easy! Have kids help roll the candies in sprinkles, colored sugar or jimmies. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chocolaty Peanut Clusters
I turn to my slow cooker to prepare these convenient chocolate treats. Making candies couldn't be any easier! —Pam Posey, Waterloo, South Carolina
Jelly Bean Bark
Homemade Easter candy really doesn't get easier than this. It's so simple—all you need are three ingredients, a microwave and a pan! —Mavis Dement, Marcus, Iowa
Soft Chewy Caramels
One of my first experiences with cooking was helping my mother make these caramels. We'd make up to 12 batches each year. Today, I do at least 95 percent of the cooking at home, but my wife does much of the baking. —Robert Sprenkle, Hurst, Texas
Chocolate-Covered Eggs
These pretty little candies beat any store-bought variety hands down! Decorating them can take as little or as much effort as you like. The looks of delight on the faces of those who try them make every minute worth it. —Louise Oberfoell, Bowman, North Dakota
Turtle Dove Nests
Inspired by the traditional carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," our Test Kitchen staff created these cute chocolate nests. With jelly bean eggs, they would make fun treats for Easter, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Pinwheel Mints
Both my grandmother and my mom used to make these eye-catching confections as a replacement for ordinary mints. When I offer them at parties, guests tell me the candies are wonderful, and then ask how I created the pretty swirl pattern. —Marilou Roth, Milford, Nebraska
Marshmallow Pops
Making these pops is a fun activity for a children's party because any age can participate. Customize them for holidays or special occasions by rolling them in coordinating colored sprinkles. —Marcia Porch, Winter Park, Florida
Magic Wands
These fun and colorful magic wands don't take a magician to make. You can change the colors for any theme party, too!--Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota
Marbled Orange Fudge
This decadent treat doesn't last long at our house. The Creamsicle flavor of this soft fudge brings on the smiles. Bright orange and marshmallow swirls make it a perfect takealong for events and get-togethers. —Diane Wampler, Morristown, Tennessee
Easter Bunny Treats
These cute treats were easy for our kids to assemble, and the whole family had fun making them. —Holly Jost, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
The post How to Have a Tiny Easter Gathering appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lisa Kaminski