25 Spring Desserts That Are Almost Too Pretty to Eat
These treats are a taste of sunshine!
There are certain smells that capture the essence of spring, such as blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. But let's not forget about the aroma of seasonal baked goods wafting around your kitchen. When the weather gets warmer, there’s nothing nicer than whipping up your favorite spring desserts—think: spiced carrot cake desserts, tangy lemon treats, and sweet berry delights all perfect for enjoying on a sunny afternoon.
Making fruity desserts is a wonderful way to welcome the return of warmer weather, and our list has so many ideas that’ll get you excited for the season. You’ll find layered cakes and decorated pies, plus bite-sized treats like cute cupcakes and dessert bars that are perfect for feeding party guests. Along with classic spring sweets, there are fun upgrades that’ll definitely become new family favorites. Of course, there are plenty of options for special occasions like Easter desserts and Mother's Day desserts and casual gatherings like a spring tea party or an outdoor picnic. Once you try one (or two!) of these spring desserts, you won't imagine any better way to celebrate the spring season!
Lemon Bars
These bright squares taste like pure sunshine! Lemon bars pair a buttery crust with velvety lemon filling—and that’s the perfect fusion of sweet-tart flavors.
Get Ree’s Lemon Bars recipe.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Serve these cupcakes at your next spring get-together and watch them disappear! Think: moist carrot cake, thick cream cheese frosting, and a crunchy pecan topping.
Get Ree’s Carrot Cake Cupcakes recipe.
Strawberry Spoon Cake
Make the most of strawberries by transforming them into a spoonable cake. The fresh berries and buttermilk batter turn tender in the center and crisp around the edges while baking. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream!
Get the Strawberry Spoon Cake recipe.
Coconut Cream Pie
With every bite of this dreamy coconut cream pie, you’ll feel like you’re taking a tropical vacation! This spring dessert will look especially elegant as the centerpiece of your Easter brunch or Mother’s Day lunch.
Get the Coconut Cream Pie recipe.
Panna Cotta
This custard-like treat is such a refreshing choice for springtime. It looks fancy, but it’s surprisingly easy to make. After it chills in the fridge, grab a spoon and dig in!
Get the Panna Cotta recipe.
Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake
Packed with fresh lemon flavors and plenty of poppy seeds, this sheet cake is like a little slice of spring—well, 16 slices to be exact! It’s great for feeding a crowd.
Get the Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake recipe.
Classic Key Lime Pie
Cheery and refreshing, key lime pie is a dessert that’ll elevate any spring celebration. In this classic recipe, the crunchy graham cracker crust is layered with a smooth zesty filling and a heaping of whipped cream.
Get Ree’s Classic Key Lime Pie recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Sandwich Cookies
Turn strawberry shortcake into the cutest bite-sized treats. This treat is bursting with berry flavor from the freeze-dried strawberries in the dough to the sweet strawberry jam in the center.
Pig Cake
It doesn’t get more convenient than this Southern staple: The recipe starts with a box of cake mix, and you can make it days ahead of time! It’s packed with fruity flavor from the sweet citrus cake and pineapple-orange frosting.
Get Ree’s Pig Cake recipe.
Lemon Chess Pie
Every spring menu needs a delightful lemon chess pie. This one has a dense, buttery crust, a silky citrus filling, and a powdered-sugar coating that feels like a sweet escape. If you’re in a pinch, opt for store-bought pie crust.
Get Ree’s Lemon Chess Pie recipe.
Carrot Cake Trifle
Classic carrot cake takes on a new form as a towering trifle! Perfect for an Easter celebration or potluck, this spring dessert features layers of tender, spiced carrot cake sandwiched between a whipped cream cheese topping, decadent pudding, and crushed speculoos cookies.
Get the Carrot Cake Trifle recipe.
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
This beautiful pie is piled high with whipped, toasted meringue. But it's the tart lemon-curd filling that really makes this spring dessert taste (and look!) like a slice of sunshine.
Get the Classic Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Between the buttery cookie crust, the tangy cheesecake filling, and the strawberry swirl, these bars are a celebration of all things sweet. You can stash them in the freezer, and let them thaw whenever the craving strikes.
Get the Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
This comforting cake features cheery flavors of ripe banana and crushed pineapple. The two layers of dense cake are topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting that gives it a sweet-as-nectar flavor!
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Bursting with bright citrus flavor, this spring dessert tastes like a sunny afternoon in the park. The moist texture and pretty dusting of powderer sugar will melt in your mouth.
Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Strawberry Shortcakes
This buttery, crumbly shortcake dough is so easy to make. You can even make a batch of it up to a month in advance! Store them in the freezer, and reheat them whenever you’re ready to dig in!
Get the Strawberry Shortcakes recipe.
Carrot Cake Bars
Instead of cream cheese frosting on top, these carrot cake bars are swirled with cream cheese in the batter for an even prettier look! It's a good thing this recipe makes a big batch, because they'll be gobbled up in minutes!
Get Ree's Carrot Cake Bars recipe.
Lemon Cake
This gorgeous cake is just like a simple vanilla layer cake, but with the added vibrancy and zing from fresh lemon. To balance out the tartness, curls of sweet white chocolate are used as a gorgeous garnish.
Get the Lemon Cake recipe.
Rhubarb Pie
As soon as the weather starts to warm up, it's time for your favorite rhubarb recipes! And this classic pie is a great place to start. The fruity filling and buttery crust make the most delectable combination.
Get the Rhubarb Pie recipe.
Fruit Tart
The only thing more colorful than a bouquet of flowers is this pretty fruit tart! It’s loaded with ripe spring fruit like blueberries, strawberries, mango, and kiwi. And it’ll double as décor during any spring gathering!
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
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