EASTER EGG HUNT

Ask me what my favorite holiday is, and Easter is my immediate reply. When I was a little girl, I always looked forward to wearing a new Easter dress (some years even included a matching hat), the Easter Bunny bringing baskets full of gifts and candy, and lunch at my grandmother’s house, followed by an Easter egg hunt in her garden.

Easter evokes images of children loading baskets with candy-filled, pastel-colored eggs hidden in the yard, so why not host an Easter egg hunt that’s all about the kids? Easter is the perfect time for family to come together to celebrate the rebirth and new life that come each spring.

GET THE LOOK

I invited friends and family over for an afternoon of sweets, and I decorated child-sized tables so the kids felt right at home. I set each place with mini Easter baskets and place cards made from handblown watercolor eggs. Kids loved finding their seats, and I sent the baskets home with each child as party favors.

Deciding on decor was easy. I wanted to celebrate the abundance of spring by decorating with bright and pastel Easter egg colors and using fresh flowers like cherry blossom branches, tulips, and daisies. I grew wheatgrass in glass containers to resemble a springtime lawn and tucked in a few speckled eggs to bring the Easter egg hunt to the dessert table.

Nowadays, most people can take high-quality photos right on their phones. Take advantage of this and put together an Easter Day photo “booth” so everyone can take pictures in their Sunday best. Use a brightly colored sheet or tablecloth as a backdrop, and decorate the edges with fresh garland and ribbon. I adore the halos made of ivy and daisies that my friend Steve McLellan made for the girls to wear for photos and during the egg hunt.

ENJOY THE PARTY!

When you’re hosting a party that includes a large activity (like an Easter egg hunt), keep the menu simple. Time these events in between meal times. A midafternoon social means you don’t have to plan a large menu. Sweets or light snacks will suffice. Just be sure to include an idea of what you plan to serve on the invitation so guests know what to expect and don’t show up expecting a meal.

MAKE IT AHEAD

Cakes, cupcakes, and even macarons are great made in advance. Refrigerate overnight and bring to room temperature before the party.

THE MENU

I put Easter Bunny cupcakes at each place setting for the kids to dive into as soon as they arrived. Chocolate eggs held in egg-shaped candy dishes didn’t last long, and a speckled hummingbird cake thrilled adults.

When we headed outside for the egg hunt, I surprised guests with extra treats—Sweet Darling Pâtisserie’s Flower Cart filled with macarons. After everyone had their sugar fix and picture made, the kids ran wild collecting eggs scattered throughout the yard. Parents gathered outside as every last egg was snatched up!

If it’s not in your budget to have dessert catered, make your own tiny creations and display them outside on a table topped with cake stands at varying heights. Lemon whoopie pies with lavender icing (page 44), brown butter Rice Krispies treats (page 47), and key lime coconut bars (page 93) will delight kids and adults alike.

EASTER BUNNY COCONUT CUPCAKES

These cute bunny cupcakes quickly went viral on Pinterest. One reason is because they are irresistibly adorable. The other is because they are so simple to create! To add Easter Bunny ears, pour sprinkles or colored sanding sugar into a shallow dish. Slice a marshmallow on a diagonal, and then dip the sticky sides into the sprinkles or sugar. Arrange a pair like bunny ears on top of the cupcake (the icing will act as glue). Repeat until all cupcakes are decorated. Kids will not only love eating them, but will also have great fun helping to make them!