Easter or Spring Appetizer Recipes

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

When served on skewers, this pasta salad makes a beautifully presented appetizer for your Easter brunch . If you are pressed for time or want to make it a meal, skip the skewers and toss all of the ingredients in a bowl with dressing just before serving.

Recipe: Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

Feta Cheese Truffles

Serve Feta Cheese Truffles with cucumbers, tomatoes, almonds, and olives. For lighter truffles, use low fat feta and cream cheese.

Recipe: Feta Cheese Truffles

Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Pear

Save the final step of drizzling honey over Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Pear for each guest to do. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe: Pancetta Crisps With Goat Cheese and Pear

Shrimp-in-a-Pickle

Shrimp is a light and flavorful spring appetizer. Guests will enjoy this zesty recipe without filling up before your Easter brunch celebration.

Recipe: Shrimp-in-a-Pickle

Yogurt Cheese Appetizer

This fresh appetizer is a great choice for a light spread before your main meal. One online reader suggests using yogurt made out of whole milk to add to the flavor and texture of the recipe.

Recipe: Yogurt Cheese Appetizer

Black Pepper-Goat Cheese Log

Your guests will fall in love the pairing of the smooth goast cheese with toasted baguette slices.

Recipe: Black Pepper-Goat Cheese Log

Beef-and-Asparagus Bundles

Show your guests how to tie Beef-and-Asparagus Bundles with a fresh chive.

Recipe: Beef-and-Asparagus Bundles

Spicy Roasted Bell Pepper Pimiento Cheese

Liven up Spicy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pimiento Cheese by serving it in eggcups (available at most import stores). Thin breadsticks and parsley sprigs, or butterfly cracker halves and chives make fun garnishes.

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pimiento Cheese

Basil-Cheese Roulade

Creamy Basil-Cheese Roulade is as delicious with crisp French bread or crunchy vegetables as it is with crackers.

Recipe: Basil-Cheese Roulade

Mini Caviar Parfaits

To pull this sophisticated dish together fast, purchase peeled, boiled eggs in the deli or dairy section of your grocery store. Use leftover caviar and purchased boiled eggs to make extra-special deviled eggs.

Recipe: Mini Caviar Parfaits

Cheddar Cheese Straws

Cheese straws are like deviled eggs--every Southern cook wants to make great ones. Our best tip for successful cheese straws is to shred your own cheese. It’s stickier and blends better than preshredded cheese.

Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws

Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

Ask for paper-thin slices of meat at the deli counter. This will make the bites lighter and less chunky. Also, we do not recommened jarred mango slices- they're too soft.

Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Mango Bites

Bruschetta-Goat Cheese Cups

Perfect for a host who is running low on time, these cups can be prepared in just 20 minutes!

Recipe: Bruschetta-Goat Cheese Cups

Cream Cheese-Olive Spread

Create a snappy but casual feel at your Easter get-together with this fresh idea.

Recipe: Cream Cheese-Olive Spread

Gorgonzola Truffles

These make-ahead cheese truffles are so much better than the cheese balls you might remember. They are just the right size and ready to pop into your mouth.

Recipe: Gorgonzola Truffles

Mini Caprese Bites

Fresh basil and tangy balsamic vinaigrette awaken the simple flavors of Mini Caprese Bites.

Recipe: Mini Caprese Bites

Herbed Goat Cheese Bites

When we asked South Carolina native Tyler Florence to share a few of his favorite appetizers from his cookbook Tyler's Ultimate this was one of his answers. His easygoing style will come through at your gathering.

Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese Bites

Lemon-Dill Chicken Salad-Stuffed Eggs

Give this Southern favorite fresh flavor by adding dill and shredded chicken. Stacked white cake stands decorated with colored paper napkins create a snappy yet casual centerpiece.

Recipe: Lemon-Dill Chicken Salad-Stuffed Eggs

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Shrimp-and-Blue Cheese Spread

Serve this rich-and-creamy dip with French bread baguette slices, pickled Jerusalem artichokes, and crunchy baby vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumber slices, and radishes.

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Blue Cheese Spread

Jennifer Davick

Split Pea Hummus

This is a fun Southern twist on traditional Greek hummus that is inexpensive and tasty. Serve it as an appetizer with fresh vegetables and pita chips for your Easter celebration.

Recipe: Split Pea Hummus

Easter Appetizers