Fresh Fridays, April 7 | Happy Easter!
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Hello there, my dear friends! Wishing you a joyous Good Friday. May this day and the upcoming weekend provide you with an opportunity to pause and reflect on God’s radiant light, abundant grace, boundless forgiveness, and immeasurable mercy. And may you spread these beautiful qualities to everyone you meet this weekend!
This week’s newsletter is packed with so much goodness! From life-saving hope to the most delicious Easter recipes, including family favorites and some brand-new ones that you won’t want to miss.
And now, as a subscriber, you’ll also have access to my exclusive subscriber library, where you can find even more inspiration, and freebies.
I hope this newsletter brings you a sense of joy and hope, and that you find some inspiration to create something amazing in the kitchen. Thank you for being a part of our community!
If you have never ventured over to Ann Voskamp’s website, she is full of encouragement, truth and beauty. Be sure to check out her Holy Week post.
In My Life
What a wild ride this week has been! But overall, it’s been a great one. Remember the wacky weather I mentioned last week? Well, we hit the 60s on Monday and then woke up to a lovely blanket of snow on Tuesday!
Personally, I’m a big fan of any form of moisture, so I couldn’t be happier. Plus, the tulips and daffodils peeking out from the soil are tough little guys and gals who can handle the cold and snow.
Do you have any plans for Easter? I’m hoping you’ll have a chance to spend time with your loved ones, be it, family or friends. As for me, we’re having a dinner party and have invited my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and a few close family friends to join us. Everyone usually brings a dish to share, so I only have to worry about making the ham (yum!), the mouth-watering potatoes au gratin, and a fun drink. I can’t wait!
We’ll spend Resurrection Sunday morning with our beloved church family. I adore this group of people; they’re genuine, honest, fun, and wise. We always kick off our gathering with a potluck brunch, which is perfect for me because I love testing out new recipes on them! Last year I brought this decadent (but easy) White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake, and it was a huge hit! Please keep reading for what I’m bringing this year!
Of course, on this special day, it’s about so much more than just food. It’s about the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for each and every one of us, both in the past, present, and future. It’s about His loving invitation and the free gift of abundant life that He offers to us all.
If you want to chat more about this, feel free to shoot me an email!
What I’m Cooking
I’ve been rushing to get these recipes out to you, and I know you’ll love them! This first one is what I’m bringing to our church potluck this weekend!
Cream Puff Cake!
You are going to LOVE this easy, but show-stopping dessert! A giant cream puff, filled with a light and silky vanilla cream and topped with fresh whipped cream.
Skinny Grapefruit Paloma Mocktail
Vibrant, fresh and oh so easy! Just 3 ingredients to this simple mocktail!
Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Similar to my crock pot cinnamon roll casserole, this one is easily baked in the oven, perfect for a busy Easter morning!
Told you it’s been a busy week, still hoping to squeeze one more recipe out before Easter hits, so be sure to bookmark my home page and scroll down to “Fresh & Hot Recipes.”
What’s Trending Easter Week
I always get a kick out of seeing what recipes take off leading up to a holiday. And I have a feeling that you’re going to love these too! Don’t forget to check out all of my Easter recipes while you’re at it!
Best Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
Tender, better than Cinnabon ooey and gooey Cinnamon Rolls dripping with brown sugary cinnamon insides and topped with this luscious cream cheese buttercream.
Italian Pizza Rustica Recipe (Easter Pie)
A traditional Italian Pizza Rustica is like a pastry, pie, and pizza all baked into one flaky, flavorful, tender dish. And it’s amazing! Stuffed with cheese, eggs, meats, and vegetables. A traditional Italian Easter pie.
Honeybaked Ham Recipe (Copycat)
Learn how to cook spiral Ham without drying it out, it is easier than you might think. My copycat Honeybaked Ham Recipe is a perfectly moist spiral ham. With a honey sugar crust and most of the work is done in your crock pot.
Easy Corn Casserole without Jiffy
Easy corn casserole without Jiffy is so simple, using everyday, all-natural ingredients. This corn pudding recipe, simply put — is the best corn side dish. Plus easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free.
Peeps Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
As if we need another way to enjoy the marshmallow sweetness of Easter Peeps this year, why not try my Peeps Rice Krispie Treat Recipe! These Peeps Rice Krispie Treats in the oven are quick and easy!
Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise)
Potatoes au Gratin are the best!! This classic French potato side dish is also known as potatoes Dauphinoise. Thinly sliced potatoes layered with a creamy herb and garlic infused sauce, studded with rich and nutty Gruyère cheese; baked to golden, creamy, bubbly perfection! Oh and they are naturally gluten-free!
Best Orange Glazed Scone Recipe (Panera Bread Copycat)
Panera Bread Orange Scone recipe, our tested, step-by-step orange scone recipe will guide you can recreate the same fluffy, citrus scones.
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe
You are going to love my Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake Recipe. This rich, moist cake is an easy cake recipe filled with rich lemon flavor and creamy ricotta that is an authentic Italian treat – made right in your kitchen. This easy lemon ricotta cake may look plain, but the taste is out of this world! An Italian cheesecake if you will!
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole Recipe with Corn Flakes
Cheesy potato casserole topped with buttery corn flakes, creamy, cheesy, easy with no canned soup. The best potluck and holiday dish ever. Make ahead and gluten free option.
Hammy Sammies {Funeral Sandwiches}
Make ahead ham and Swiss sandwiches that never fail to please. Delicious! We call them Hammie Sammies or others call them Funeral Sandwiches
Our Favorite Easter Side Dishes
Our family has a few side dishes that are favorites year after year. Please excuse the less-than-perfect images; some need to be updated! But trust me, the recipes themselves are incredible!
Easter Sides
Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Bacon
Made without canned soup, this is our much-requested casserole at every holiday gathering!
Tropical Mango Fruit Salad
Light, bright and so fresh and delicious! Mango and blueberries shine, add other berries for this scrumptious fruit salad.
Best Crudite Dip Recipe for Veggie Platters
Always a hit for a fresh and healthy appetizer to keep hunger at bay while the rest of the meal is being prepared.
Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners
So super simple, started in your bread maker, these hot, fluffy, light and slightly chewy easy yeast rolls will become a favorite of yours too!
Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise)
If there is ham, there are these cheesy, gluten-free potatoes au gratin -- made with rich and nutty gruyere cheese.
Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad
This salad and dressing recipe has literally traveled the world! It will become your favorite too!
Subscriber Library – Free Access to all my Printables
Check out my NEW SUBSCRIBER LIBRARY! As a subscriber, you have access to these free printables anytime. Use the password “Thankyou” to get in!
Favorite Easter Drinks
Because Easter should be much more memorable than every day, make something fresh and fun! I even have a FREE sign for how to make this Strawberry Gin Cocktail — that way, your guests can make their own!
Easy Blueberry Limeade Drink
Using a homemade blueberry syrup, make this easy, refreshing Blueberry Limeade drink, or use lemonade for a blueberry lemonade either way, this is a sweet and easy, non-alcoholic summer drink recipe!
Blueberry Gin Cocktail
Learn how to make this gorgeous, layered Blueberry Gin Cocktail or as I like to call it, Blueberry Gin Gin Fizz. Made with a layer of homemade blueberry syrup on the bottom, spicy ginger beer in the middle and topped with this beautiful gin. Easy steps to create this lovely ombré layered look by a simple "float" process.
Easy Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced peach green tea lemonade. This copycat Starbucks version is a bit lighter, using all natural flavor, no sugar, fresh peach juice, light lemonade and Jade Citrus Mint Tea, a flavorful green tea.
Easy Elderflower French 75 Cocktail with St Germain
If you have never tried a French 75 Cocktail, you are in for a treat! This easy cocktail is a delightfully sparkling floral champagne cocktail with only four ingredients. And St. Germain elderflower liqueur adds sweet flavor and floral notes.
Tangerine and Thyme Gin & Tonic
A twist on the typical Gin & Tonic, incorporating seasonal fruits and thyme. Blood orange and tangerine enhance this bright and lively cocktail, perfect for a dinner party or a romantic dinner.
Homemade Strawberry Refresher
The Strawberry Refresher is a light non-alcoholic drink made with summer fresh strawberry syrup, lime juice and your favorite mixer. Perfect for a warm spring or summer day, refreshing and delicious.
Our Top Easter Desserts
Whether you are going for a make-ahead, no-bake dessert, or you want something cute and fun, or a spectacular dessert we’re got you covered – check out all of my sweet treats.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
The best and easiest part, this Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake recipe uses cake mix and pudding! Make bundtlets, mini bundts or cupcakes too!
Best White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake {Copycat}
An easy from-scratch Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake recipe, White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake. Raspberries, white chocolate, and creamy cream cheese buttercream frosting makes a great spring dessert!
The Best Key Lime Pie
Don’t take my word for it, this has become the go-to recipe for thousands of readers. Simply the best!
Giant Cadbury Cookie Cake
This simple, yet elegant make-ahead Cadbury Cookie Cake is the perfect and quick dessert for any Easter celebration. Soft, chewy, giant sugar cookie!
Crumbl Sugar Cookie Recipe
You are in for a HUGE treat with this easy copycat Crumbl Cookie Recipe for the best Chilled Sugar Cookies, ever. Using simple pantry ingredients, in 30 minutes you will enjoy, large, soft, buttery cookies, frosted with an amazing almond buttercream frosting.
Peach Cobbler Pound Cake Recipe
Today I will show you how to make a peach cobbler pound cake recipe, in bundt cake form! A comforting classic made with real fresh peaches and cream cheese to produce the rich flavor of this perfectly dense and moist pound cake—YUM!
Best Oreo Dessert Pudding (Oreo Delight)
My Oreo dessert pudding recipe features one delicious, indulgent layer after the next. A buttery Oreo cookie crust, a pillowy whipped cream and cream cheese layer, and rich, thick chocolate pudding all come together for an absolutely heavenly dessert!
Lemon Dump Cake Recipe
Filled with tangy lemon curd, fluffy cake mix, and yummy cream cheese, my lemon dump cake recipe is the ultimate! This is one of those easy dessert recipes that comes together with just 15-minutes of prep time! Also called lemon cream cheese dump cake.
Lemonade Bundt Cake
This easy lemonade bundt cake recipe is the best lemon bundt cake with cream cheese frosting. An incredibly moist buttermilk batter with a tangy lemon cream cheese frosting. Luscious, lemony, and light, this is one moist cake using fresh lemon juice; the perfect summer cake!
Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Recipe
This strawberry season, you are going to fall in love with this Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Really it's a strawberry shortcake cookie recipe, buttery, rich, nutty; this will become your new favorite homemade shortcake recipe.
Easter Dirt Cake
Easter Dirt Cake recipe s a fun twist on an old-fashioned recipe! Make this into a delicious Easter dessert with some Oreo cookies chocolate eggs, bunnies, chicks, peeps and a little colored coconut.
Weekly Inspiration
As we approach Easter Sunday, let’s take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this special day. It’s not about bunnies, eggs, and chocolate. It’s about Jesus’s incredible sacrifice for us all out of His infinite love and grace. His death on the cross paid the price for our sins, and His resurrection offers us the gift of eternal life.
Let’s use this Easter as an opportunity to celebrate with our loved ones and deepen our understanding and appreciation of the incredible love that Jesus has for us. Let’s live with the same love, grace, and forgiveness He demonstrated on the cross. May this Easter inspire us to live each day with purpose, joy, and gratitude for the abundant life He offers us all.
Enjoy this Easter Medley by Anthem Lights — so very good!
He is Risen,
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays; recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
