There are so many innovative dessert and savory food options for Easter 2024! I enjoy a good dinner spread and dessert table followed by an Easter morning candy blast. Here are some of my top picks that will work for even the most serious foodies as well as fussy kids!
I comes as no surprise that I pretty much love anything sold on Mackenzie Limited! They have the greatest quality and diversity of cuisines. I learned that most of the French savory and sweet items are actually made in France and then imported for sale here in the states. New for Easter 2024 is this stunning cake simply known as the Elegant Flower Cake. Not only is it great for your Easter brunch, lunch or dinner but it can brighten any garden party or spring get together. It features four decadent layers of golden butter vanilla cake and decadent cream cheese icing intertwined with a layer of vibrant strawberry puree. It does not get better than that, folks! The inspiration for the delicate strokes on the pastel flower adorning this cake is French Impressionism. transforming this Elegant Flower Cake into a work of art that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. The Flower Cake has both a touch of sophistication and a burst of flavor. Treat your guests (and yourself) to a taste of edible artistry that captures the spirit of spring in every delightful bite. The Elegant Flower Cake is 6” and serves 6-8. Order here for $99.95: Elegant Flower Cake. (You can get $10 off a $75 Mackenzie Limited purchase with the code LUXELIFE10, which is good from now until Monday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m.)
Here is another winner from MacKenzie Limited that will put even your friends who think they have tasted everything great under the Sun and cannot be easily impressed. The Gâteau Basque is a traditional cake from the Basque region of France and Spain, with its origins believed to be in the 18th century. Made using a special artisan pan, the result is a flaky pastry crust exterior paired with a creamy custard-like filling with a delicate almond flavor. Both elegant and simple, the Gateau Basque a sophisticated and unique dessert. It is a must-try for anyone who loves custard desserts and already a staff favorite. The almond-flavored pastry custard filling is rich and creamy, while the crumb-textured pastry cake itself is chewy yet tender, with an exterior that adds a touch of sweetness and complexity. The Gâteau Basque cake is so famous in France that it has its own museum as well as a two-day festival in Cambo-les-Bains. Gateau Basque cake is amazing on its own, but it can also be enjoyed with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or ice cream. This unique French delicacy is sure to impress your guests with its unique flavors and texture. Each Gâteau Basque is 35 oz., and serves 8-10. Price is $42.95. Order here: Gateau Basque Cake. (Please note that Mackenzie also has fabulous Easter Delight Cookies shown at the very top of this page; they come a tin of 27 for $59.95 which you can order here: Easter Delight Cookies.)
My love of Ecreamery goes deep and if you recall, when they appeared on Shark Tank, Mark Cuban said that it was the best ice cream that he ever tasted! Several years later, history has been made and there are hundreds of thousands of foodies who agree! Ecreamery produces unforgettable bundles of 4 and 8 pints of ice cream for every holiday and even personalize pints for the recipient! I have paired these with Mackenzie Limited layer cakes for particularly decadent experiences! Here is the list of the amazing four flavors that you get for Easter 2024 (and eight piece collection is also available):
- Mint Cookie Crunch: Mint Ice Cream with Chocolate Cookie Crunch & Fudge Swirls
- Cookies & Cream: Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Oreo Cookie Pieces
- Chocolate Chunk: Chocolate Ice Cream with Chocolate Chunks
- Cupcake Cookie Dough: Cupcake Ice Cream with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Brownie Bites & Rainbow Sprinkles
Right now, the Easter Collection of fis 25 per cent off so you can get it for $59.99–and then get another $10 off by using the code HELLOSPRING24 at checkout! Order here: Ecreamery 4 Pint Easter Collection. (You’re bound to please “some bunny” special!)
There’s a new dessert brand that I am in love with and it is called Caroline’s Cakes! This brand is most famous for the Coconut Cloud pictured above as well as the seven layer Caramel Cake, which was the late owner’s gateway into creating her business in 1982. As the story goes; Caroline Ragsdale Reutter from the Spartanburg area of South Carolina was in a pinch when a cake did not arrive for her son’s christening luncheon back in 1982. (This son now runs the company.) Clever Caroline whipped up her now-famous caramel cake and got tons of raves, leading her to decide to market it! The rest, as they say, is baking history. I think the Coconut Cloud Cake is the perfect Easter dessert! It is four delicate layers of yellow cake filled with coconut buttercream to create the most delicious dessert you can imagine–truly a cloud cake. Fresh coconut is carefully blended into the frosting and it is the perfect degree of sweetness! (I do not have to tell you that most coconut layer cakes fail because they are made too sweet.) The Coconut Cloud Cake is round and 9″ in diameter. It serves 14-20. Order here for $70: Caroline’s Coconut Cloud Cake.
The Small Easter Cheese & CharBUNNY Board by Boarderie is quite possibly the cutest appetizer tray that I have seen anywhere this year! It’s classy and no muss, no fuss! No wonder this brand has made Oprah’s Favorite Things for two years in a row and wowed all the sharks on Shark Tank! Boarderie is creative and brilliant with their whimsical trays full of super fresh charcuterie, cheese, nuts, olives, breads and even sweets! The little added florishes like Easter cookies and egg shaped candies makes the Small Easter Cheese & CharBUNNY Board go totally “off the chain” in terms of fun aesthetics. The Small Easter Cheese & CharBUNNY board serves 2 to 3 (although we found that it has enough items to fill up five hungry guests as a “starter” for Easter dinner), and it includes such delicacies as a white cheddar egg and bunny, Double Creme Gouda, Merlot Pecorino, Blueberry Wensleydale, Salami Picante, Peppered Salami, Juicy Dried Cherries, Hand-Cut Turkish Figs, Tangerine & Chili Marinated Green Olives, Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers, Pepperoncini, Everything Seasoned Cashews, Chocolate Egg Malt Balls, Salted Caramel Malt Balls and more! Accessories include a 9.5″ long Acacia wood cutting board and bamboo cutlery. It’s hard to believe that you can get something this gourmet and gorgeous for only $139 with free shipping but you can. This Easter board is also available in medium and large sizes for $169 and $249, respectively. Order ASAP! There are Boarderie boards available for every theme from birthdays to Christmas and back again, and you can get them unthemed as well. There are even boards available that cater to vegans and people with food sensitivities. Order here: Small Easter Cheese & CharBUNNY Board.
Lady M’s signature cake is famous worldwide! It is arguable New York’s most popular boutique cake and you cannot even get near one of the Lady M boutiques in midtown around lunchtime! Anyway, this legendary cake called the Lady M Mille Crêpes and features no less than twenty paper-thin handmade crêpes layered with ethereal light pastry cream. Delicate and irresistible, the top is gently caramelized till golden. Sink right into a slice with a big fork and you will experience delicious layers of alternating crêpe and cream that literally melt in your mouth, leaving a subtle sweet finish. A 9″ cake serves 10-14 and is priced at $115. Cakes are shipped in gorgeous blue logo freezer bags that you will love and reuse time and time again. This is a must have for Easter not just because of its heavenly taste but because it is something that few people know how to make. I always enjoy desserts that are one of a kind and the Lady M original Mille Crepe Cake is one of the most memorable cakes I have ever eaten. There are many delicious and fun variants on the original flavor including Chocolate and Green Tea flavors, but the original is my favorite! Order here for $115: Lady M Mille Crêpe 9″ Cake.
How cute are these chocolate Easter eggs? Chocolat Modern makes all their ultra high quality sweets by hand right in the heart of Chelsea and as a result, their quality cannot be beat. Winning designs and winning “melt in your mouth” flavor are a sure fire recipe for success when it comes to chocolate. Pictured above is the Three-Piece Chocolate Egg Easter Collection–these are beautiful hand-painted eggs for milk chocolate lovers and they are one of the most kid friendly items in the Chocolat Modern store. These eggs measure 3″ x 2″ and weigh 46 grams, the average size of four of CM’s bonbons. (Larger sets are also available.) They are filled with luscious house-made salted caramel, creamy white chocolate strawberry ganache, and pure milk chocolate ganache. I urge any chocolate lover visiting New York to check out Chocolat Modern, and if you are nice, the staff might take you in the back to see goodies being made. Order this item for $39 here but be sure to peruse the whole site for a jaw dropping chocolate spectacle: Three Piece Chocolate Easter Egg Collection.
Angelina Paris is one of my favorite places on the Upper East Side to check out the latest and greatest for both personal sweet tooth gratification and for my Easter dessert table. I want to add that Angelina is only one block from 6 train at 77th and Lexington so it is super easy to get to. For Easter, there is a limited edition Mont-Blanc Passionfruit that is even better than the classic hazelnut Mont-Blanc and you can see it on the top right above! Grab one before they’re gone in a month! The Angelina crew also added some very gorgeous little cheesecakes with raspberries on top into their selection, and this is the first time any cheesecake item like this has appeared at Angelina other than their famous Cheesecake Marron (you can see it in the bottom right of my photo). The classic Millefeuille Vanille is on the bottom left and a must for anyone who loves super flakey buttery pastry and homemade vanilla cream. I think this crowd pleaser is perfect for rounding off your Easter dinner. Oh, there is also the legendary and classic Tarte Au Citron that has the freshest tasting lemon cream filling that you will every have and the contrast is beautiful with the firm and buttery crust. The Angelina staff probably thinks that I am crazy because I can often be found staring at the pastry-filled refrigerator cases through the front window! (I am more of a stalker of pastry than of people, LOL!) Everything is always so fresh here and I am very impressed by the knowledgeable French staff who can describe every nuance of the products that they sell! You can go and pick up your pastries in person after ordering online, and they are generally about $11 each: Angelina Paris Individual Pastries.
Omaha Steaks Private Reserve® is more than a label–it’s a guarantee that you’re about to enjoy an exceptional eating experience. It’s the legendary company’s very best beef, pork, lamb, and veal have been hand-selected for quality, color, and marbling, extra-aged for maximum tenderness, trimmed to their closest specifications by only our most experienced butchers, and continually inspected for perfection. Private Reserve® is delivered in beautiful custom packaging guaranteed to impress. I feel in love with the Private Reserve New York Strips the minute I bit into one. I just cooked an 11 ounce rib a cast iron skillet for six minutes on each side and got one of the most beautiful marbleized pieces of meat of a lifetime! So quick, so easy and with steakhouse quality…your Easter guests would go nuts if they got to eat one of these. I cannot recommend them enough. I also love the five ounce Private Reserve Crown Steaks as a more economical option (they are also phenomenally juicy). Order the strip steaks here for about $174.99 for four 11 ounce pieces: Private Reserve Strip Steaks.
Succotash is a favorite across America–and when you can get one full of green and yellow veggies like edamame and corn that make it perfect for you Easter dinner table,you’ve got a winner! The clever chefs at Omaha Steaks recently concocted this mouthwatering Corn & Edamame Succotash and it is a crowd pleaser! Omaha Steaks Corn & Edamame Succotash uses only the highest quality ingredients: fresh, crisp sweet corn, protein-packed edamame (young soybeans), zingy onion, and mild red bell peppers. It’s an uncomplicated recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Try adding chopped bacon, a dash of oil, and your favorite mixed steak spice seasoning to elevate this dish to even greater heights of deliciousness. Best of all, you won’t believe how easy it is. Just take the bag straight from your freezer, heat, and it’s done in mere minutes. It’s the perfect side to pair with tender, juicy steak (such as the Omaha Steaks Private Reserve Strip Steaks mentioned above), chicken, pork, or seafood. Order now on this link–it’s only $9.99 for a 15-ounce bag with any other Omaha Steaks order: Corn & Edamame Succotash.
Omaha Steaks has a best kept secret with 5 star ratings all over the internet! It’s their amazing Cannoli Cake, which is a delicious take on the beloved individual Italian pastry. It’s made from scratch in small batches using only quality ingredients…every cake is made, assembled, and decorated by hand to deliver an authentic homemade taste and beautiful appearance. It starts with two layers of a moist yellow cake that are separated by a luscious layer of creamy cannoli filling made with real Ricotta cheese. Then, it’s frosted with a smooth layer of mascarpone whipped cream and accented with dark chocolate swirls. Each cake easily serves eight and is sure to impress anyone who is lucky enough to eat it… so make sure you have one on hand for your next Easter celebration. It is unforgettable and addictive! It’s only $49.99 with any other Omaha Steaks purchase. Order here: Cannoli Cake.
I am a longtime Sugarwish fan and I first discovered them at a press preview in the New York Hilton where they had a huge display of all the candies you can select from and yours truly scooped up a solid pound of mixed vintage classics including Mary Janes to bring home and devour! Their history is interesting! Back in 2012, Sugarwish has created an innovative gifting model allowing the giftee to choose their favorites. Instead of individuals searching for the perfect gift, Sugarwish flipped the gifting model, re-inventing gifting with a personalized and unique alternative. You sign onto your account, pick an e message and an amount, and then your giftee picks out whatever they want off the Sugarwish app. Sugarwish has the advantage of an eGift (immediate delivery/no address required) with the personal touch of a thoughtful physical gift. This female-owned company delivers a remark my fun gifting experience with products that can be sent instantly via email, SMS, Slack, Facebook, Teams, or any messaging app. In the past few years, the gifting categories have grown from just assorted sweets to include lifestyle items like flowers, wine and candles–and even pet snacks! Pictured above is the Three Times A Lady gift from the Lifestyles series–it’s three stunning mini orchid plants and is one of the $99 deluxe plant options. You can send a deluxe flower Sugarwish to your recipient and they will get this and about a dozen other deluxe potted plants to choose from. Check out the collection here: Sugarwish Deluxe Flower Gifts.
You can’t help but love Veroni if you’re a fan of authentic Italian salumi–their mouth watering imported items make creating a charcuterie board a breeze, especially if you utilize their new AperiTime trays. Each six-ounce size AperiTime tray retails for about $8.50 and can serve as a personal lunch or snack on the go–even better, you can take the unique mix of salumi products out of each tray and create a colorful charcuterie board or antipasto. Your guests will be impressed and think that you spent hours curating just the right meats, cheeses, olives, breadsticks, nuts and dried fruits! I vote Veroni the top “appetizer aide” for Easter 2024 not only because of their great assortment of products but because of the freshness level of their products. Their cured meats taste as good as if you just got them sliced at a famous New York area Italian deli or gourmet store (Veroni’s prices are better than those at Italian delis and gourmet stores as well)! I think that besides the AperiTime items, the Veroni six-ounce prosciutto trays are a “must” to keep on hand for one of the easiest Easter appetizers: cantaloupe slices wrapped with prosciutto. Here is a great video created by Veroni that gives you great ideas for creating charcuterie boards: https://youtu.be/bv0bM4vTTOU. Here is an unforgettable Instagram reel that will have you drooling: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2sNPdeoWpE/. Be sure to visit the official Veroni site to see the whole product line: Veroni USA. Veroni products are carried at Publix and other fine US supermarkets.
How much do I love Seven Sisters Scones? Well, I could probably eat six or seven in one sitting, and that says it all! Before you ask, yes it was really started by someone who is one of seven sisters and who happens to have two brothers as well! This is an artisanal, handmade product and can elevate any Easter brunch–as a matter of fact, if you are a lazy host, you can pull off a classy Easter breakfast or brunch by simply putting out a couple dozen Seven Sisters Scones (one sweet tray and one savory tray) and a few bottles of champagne (you will have the classiest event in town)! I also recommend Seven Sisters Scones for any Mother’s Day happening or afternoon tea. There are vegan and gluten free scones as well as the traditional kind! Even the most diehard foodie who isn’t impressed by much will love Seven Sisters’ modern, creative flavors, including Fig and Goat Cheese, Strawberry Champagne (yes, it has really bubbly in it!), Bacon, Cheddar & Chive and Jalapeno and Green Olive & Cheddar. Lately, they’ve been working on an Espresso Martini scone. Talented owner and chef Hala Yassine says that the Atlanta-based Seven Sisters Scones celebrates the joy of good food and family and we cannot agree more! You can order Seven Sisters products on the Goldbelly app or on their own site, and the package of a dozen large scones is $61. Here’s a link to order and find out more about this super inventive baking company: Large Scone Sampler.
