40 Fresh Desserts That'll Put A Spring in Your Step
Each of these spring dessert recipes is great for sharing with family, friends, and neighbors. For a new twist on a classic, try the Key Lime Pound Cake; Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting are perfect for sharing. Many of these recipes are inspired by our favorite spring beverages, from our Strawberry-Lemonade Cake to our Sweet Tea Bundt (of course, you’ll have to serve this with a glass of Mama’s signature sweet tea). And don’t forget about the Easter desserts!
Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Recipe: Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
These citrus treats are too good to keep to yourself. Make an extra batch and bring to a friend for the sweetest surprise.
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Mini Strawberry Tarts
Recipe: Mini Strawberry Tarts
These sweet treats start with a pistachio crust. A dreamy mixture of cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and whipped cream are folded together before filling the individual tarts. Toss the fresh strawberries in sugar, just before topping the tarts, to give them just a hint of added sweetness.
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Strawberry Dream Cake
Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake
You'll fall in love with this too-good-to-be-true strawberry cake. Fluffy whipped frosting made with marscapone cheese, sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla and almond extracts is the perfect finishing touch. We love the presentation of cake slices with upright strawberries between the layers. When it comes down to the details, this sweet confection takes the cake.
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Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake
Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Layer Cake
You can assemble this glorious cake up to two days ahead; store at room temp. Also, you can freeze cooled layers up to a month in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. The sweet-tart Strawberry-Lemonade Jam and Strawberry Frosting make for a delicious finish.
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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake
Trust us: This simple and swoon-worthy sheet cake will be a keeper in your recipe box. File it under "Springtime Crowd-pleaser."
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Key Lime Icebox Cake
Recipe: Key Lime Icebox Cake
Layers of tangy-sweet Key lime custard and graham crackers stack up to make one quick and easy layer cake with just enough pucker to take the heat off summer. Add the lime juice once you've fully cooked the custard to let the cornstarch thicken the mixture properly.
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Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake
Recipe: Lemon-Orange Chiffon Cake
Serve this decadent spring dessert at your next ladies' luncheon and wow the crowd with edible flowers.
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The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake
Recipe: The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake
Expecting a twist on cheesecake? You're in for an even sweeter surprise. These layers are filled with a buttery rich lemon curd instead.
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Classic Coconut Cake
Recipe: Classic Coconut Cake
Look for packaged coconut shavings in your grocer's natural foods section.
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Lemon Bar Cheesecake
Recipe: Lemon Bar Cheesecake
This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust on this tart dessert recipe without having to bake before adding the filling.
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Lemon-Lime Pound Cake
Recipe: Lemon-Lime Pound Cake
This recipe is based on a classic Southern favorite called 7UP Pound Cake, which was created in the 1950s when the soda company suggested using its soft drink instead of other liquid in pound cake recipes. The result: one of the best, and simplest, cakes you'll ever make.
Watch: Lemon-Lime Pound Cake
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Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Recipe: Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake
There are a few things to note about this recipe before you start baking. First, the cream cheese is added after beating the butter and sugar. And, yes, you read the cooking instructions correctly—the cake bakes at a slightly higher temperature than usual.
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Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake
This sinfully sweet dessert is the perfect blend of fresh bananas, creamy cheesecake, and crunchy vanilla wafers.
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Lemon-Yogurt Crumb Cake
Recipe: Lemon-Yogurt Crumb Cake
We love the swirls of lemon curd in this cake, but it's also delicious without it.
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Heavenly Angel Food Cake
Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake
The rich, moist texture of this divine angel food cake is unlike any other. Made from scratch in minutes, it's baked in a 13- x 9-inch pan and spread with frosting that's a lemon lover's dream.
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Easter Cookies
Recipe: Easter Cookies
Try this Easter dessert with a simple five-ingredient dough that can be made up to three days ahead and stored in the fridge.
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Classic Strawberry Shortcake
Recipe: Classic Strawberry Shortcake
With juicy strawberries spooned over sweet and tender biscuits, old-fashioned strawberry shortcakes are the perfect dessert. If the berries are very sweet, decrease the sugar to suit your taste.
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Key Lime Pound Cake
Recipe: Key Lime Pound Cake
Dress up traditional pound cake with a little lime zest and a homemade Key lime glaze for a deliciously tropical dessert.
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Luscious Lemon Bars
Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars
Classic lemon squares are always a popular dessert at teas, luncheons, and showers. As an added bonus, you can make them ahead and freeze for up to one month.
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The Ultimate Carrot Cake
Recipe: The Ultimate Carrot Cake
Truly our best-ever carrot cake recipe, make this classic favorite for a crowd and you might not have any leftovers to bring home.
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Naked Lemon Cake with Flower Crown
Recipe: Naked Lemon Cake with Flower Crown
This cake abides by our #1 spring baking philosophy: Keep it simple and fresh (and when in doubt, add flowers).
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Easter Egg Cookies
Recipe: Easter Egg Cookies
Decorating these cute pastel cookies a great activity for the kids on the afternoon of Easter.
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Sweet Tea Bundt Cake
Recipe: Sweet Tea Bundt Cake
Spring marks the start of porch-sitting season across the South, and we’re celebrating with this Sweet Tea Bundt Cake.
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Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges
Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges
Candied pineapple adds a touch of whimsy to these fan-favorite cupcakes.
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Coconut Pound Cake
Recipe: Coconut Pound Cake
Bring a bit of tropical flair to the BBQ with this lightened-up pound cake.
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Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe: Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting
Overestimated the amount of chocolate eggs your family could actually consume? Make use of the spares as cupcake toppers.
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Chocolate Bundt Cake
Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake
In the spring, we’re all about the light, fruity desserts, but sometimes you just can’t resist a nice, fluffy chocolate Bundt.
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Rose Petal Cupcakes
Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes
The best way to jazz up any simple vanilla cupcakes? Add rose petals.
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Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Make the most of that fresh spring produce and bake up a batch of these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes.
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Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Recipe: Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Not only is this cake visually stunning, but it bakes in a sheet pan, ensuring it’ll feed a crowd.