Our 82 Best Easter Recipes for Brunch and Beyond
Updated: Apr. 06, 2024
Here are all the Easter recipes you need for a beautiful and delicious holiday spread. You'll find classics like deviled eggs and carrot cake and new ideas like chipotle sweet potato salad and rhubarb bruschetta.
Whether you’re a traditionalist or looking for something new, we have a full spectrum of Easter menu ideas to freshen up your holiday gatherings.
Throwing a family-friendly Easter egg hunt party in the backyard? Serve light and springy Easter appetizers like sweet pea crostini or garlic-dill deviled eggs. For sit-down gatherings, think ham, roast lamb or any of these other delicious Easter dinner ideas. Hit the sweet spot with traditional Easter desserts, like old-fashioned carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, or light as air fruit-topped meringue cups. Everyone will be hoppy to be there!
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Best Deviled Eggs
This recipe puts all those brightly colored Easter eggs to good use. Made with herbs, spices and a hint of milk with the mayo, you can amp them up a bit with variations like adding bacon or chipotle peppers.
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Lemon Lover’s Pound Cake
Pretty and full of zingy lemon flavor, this pound cake is perfect on its own or served with fresh berries. It freezes beautifully, too, so it might be a good idea to make two and save one for a rainy day.
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Best-Ever Lamb Chops
Start with quality lamb chops, then just take a little marjoram, salt and pepper, and you have a perfect main course for Easter dinner. Serve with roasted asparagus and scalloped potatoes, like the ones below.
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Never-Fail Scalloped Potatoes
These scalloped potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to broiled or grilled lamb chops, or ham, roast beef or chicken. With anything, really! It’s a simple Easter recipe for a delicious holiday meal.
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Baked Ham with Honey-Chipotle Glaze
This honey-chipotle glaze really makes this a standout ham. Your celebration will be so simple to orchestrate with this Easter recipe at your fingertips.
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Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Make this delicious cinnamon-scented cake the night before Easter Sunday to save time in the morning. Make sure to have plenty of coffee ready for guests.
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Asparagus, Bacon & Shallot Tart
Thinner than quiche but just as good, this elegant looking tart will be the hit of your Easter brunch. Serve with lightly dressed fresh greens and roasted potatoes for a full meal.
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Carrot Raisin Salad
Colorful, crunchy and slightly sweet, you’ll keep this side salad recipe handy for every holiday and celebration. The best part: It’s so easy to prepare and store for later.
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Cheddar Ham Soup
Add some of that Easter ham to this creamy and comforting soup for a post-holiday lunch. Chock full of vegetables and lots of cheesy flavor, all it needs is good crusty bread on the side. Easter soups are a unique and delicious way to start the holiday meal.
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Overnight Fruit Salad
When fruit, marshmallows and cream meet, it’s heaven. Make this old-fashioned salad ahead of time to allow the flavors to really come together.
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Carrot Layer Cake
Tender and not too sweet, this cake has everything: Lots of carrot goodness, sweet raisins and an unexpected pecan filling. Plus, it’s easily one of the most beautiful Easter cakes ever.
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Traditional Hot Cross Buns
Every Easter morning should come with dyed hard-boiled eggs and hot cross buns. It’s a cherished Easter recipe worth handing down through the family.
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Italian Brunch Torte
Stuffed with Italian meats, olives and cheeses, this impressive layered breakfast bake is perfect with a side of mixed greens and fresh tomato wedges. Because it’s good both warm and cold, it’s a shoo-in for Easter brunch.
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Easter Bunny Treats
Dying Easter eggs is fun and all, but making these adorable little marshmallow bunnies should become the new standard. For more sweet and cute holiday treats, try these homemade Easter cake pops.
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Thyme & Basil Roast Pork
The sneaker spice here is cinnamon, which adds a hint of sweetness and pairs nicely with the apples that bake with the roast. Add a simple salad to finish off the meal.
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Pea Risotto with Lemon
Zesty lemon and green peas make this risotto perfect for spring celebrations. It’s a great plate-mate for Easter ham or grilled salmon.
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Italian Ricotta Easter Bread
No need to fuss with yeasted dough for the holiday. This Easter bread comes together with a few pantry staples, plus ricotta cheese and almond extract. The glaze elevates it to holiday table centerpiece status.
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Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
This crisp salad gets a pop of color and flavor from fresh strawberries and a creamy poppyseed dressing. Top it with grilled chicken breast slices for a fuller meal.
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White Chocolate Easter Egg Candies
Easter candy recipes can be easy! The kids can help roll the candies in sprinkles, colored sugar or jimmies, then give away as gifts (or sneak a few extra for you).
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Blueberry Dump Cake
Need an Easter dessert in a pinch? Make a dump cake! This recipe uses both fresh or frozen blueberries and canned pie filling, plus cake mix.
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Creamy Grape Salad
This unique Easter side dish adds a fresh twist to any holiday brunch spread. Make it lighter by using mascarpone cheese or yogurt instead of sour cream, and for a special finishing touch, sprinkle it with brown sugar and toasted pecans.
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Ham & Veggie Casserole
Toss leftover Easter ham, broccoli and cauliflower in a creamy cheese sauce, top it all with bread crumbs, and bump it into the oven. Instant dinner!
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Easter Egg Bread
Make some extra colored hard-boiled eggs to tuck into the braid of this festive cardamom-scented Easter bread. They’re purely decorative, but they look great!
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Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli Casserole
Let Thanksgiving have its green bean casserole. This broccoli version, complete with fried onions on top, is its Easter cousin.
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Banana Bread Pudding
This custardy bread pudding with fresh bananas is like two easy Easter desserts in one. Make sure to drizzle with vanilla sauce before serving.
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Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus
Roasting asparagus is one of the best ways to showcase the vegetable when it’s in season. This easy Easter recipe combines it with fresh tomatoes and Parmesan crumbs for a flavorful dish that can be served hot or cold.
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Lemon Supreme Pie
A layer of sweetened, zest-scented whipped cream cheese topped with tart lemon curd is a dreamy combination. Keep things easy by using frozen pie dough.
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Best Ever Crescent Rolls
You could crack open a package of store-bought crescent dough, or you could take the time and make them yourself. They’re easier than you think, and the reward of fresh-baked rolls is hard to beat. Start a new Easter morning tradition with these resurrection rolls.
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Peeps Sunflower Cake
Turn bright yellow Peeps into sunflower petals for this easy (we swear!) spring-fling Easter cake. Those “seeds” in the middle? Chocolate chips.
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Pickled Eggs with Beets
Drop some reserve hard-boiled eggs in pickled beet brine and serve them with already made beets. The bright pink hues feel like spring and make a great dish for any Easter buffet table.
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Cheddar-Veggie Appetizer Torte
A cracker crust makes the base of this delicious veggie-packed egg dish. Plus, you have to love a torte that can easily be finger food or a plated entree.
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Overnight Cherry Danish
These rolls with their cherry-filled centers are the sweetest Easter brunch idea. They’re easy to store in the freezer (unfrosted), so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the cold when needed.
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Corn Pudding
All you need is cornbread mix and canned corn for this simple side dish. Serve alongside Easter ham with crescent rolls and a fresh salad.
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Cupcake Easter Baskets
These sweet little Easter cupcakes have a mild orange flavor and lots of charm. Use shredded coconut for the grass and chocolate licorice for the Easter basket handle.
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Potluck Macaroni and Cheese
Make everyone at the potluck really happy with this extra-rich, creamy mac and cheese. Dump everything in the slow cooker a few hours before the party, and it will be ready when the first guests arrive.
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Hummingbird Cupcakes
The flavors of a hummingbird cake—pineapple, bananas and walnuts—packed in a bite-size Easter treat. They’re hard to resist, so make extra.
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Cheesy Hash Brown Bake
This is one of those pantry-staple Easter recipes that you need in your holiday rotation. Great for potlucks, family gatherings and church parties, all it takes is a bag of frozen hashbrowns, condensed soup and lots of cheese.
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Rhubarb Strawberry Cobbler
Strawberry and rhubarb is one of spring’s best pairings. If you don’t have fresh rhubarb, frozen will do; just measure it frozen, then thaw and drain before mixing with strawberries.
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Roasted Carrots with Thyme
Roasting carrots brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetable. Cut them lengthwise, and leave on some of the green tops if you want a prettier presentation.
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Bacon and Eggs Casserole
Kick off Easter brunch with a bacon and egg casserole that everyone will love. Serve with a green salad, hot biscuits and fresh fruit on the side.
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Heavenly Filled Strawberries
Fresh strawberries filled with a heavenly cream filing are the perfect bite-size dessert. And they make a refreshing (and pretty!) Easter treat.
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Brunch Cinnamon Rolls
The most surprising thing about these cinnamon rolls is that you don’t need yeast or hours of raising time. They come together like a biscuit in a food processor, so you can make them any morning.
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Ham & Cheddar Breakfast Casserole
You can use bacon, sausage or even vegetarian meat crumbles in this easy egg casserole. Don’t feel like chopping onion? Use frozen. It’s just as good in a pinch and no tears! Here are a few ideas for a vegetarian Easter dinner menu.
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Roasted Asparagus
Roasted asparagus with a light sprinkling of sesame seeds is simple and elegant. Plus, you can serve it hot or cold, so it’s great with lamb chops at dinner or with Easter ham at brunch.
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Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad
A delicious twist on potato salad, this smoky sweet potato version might be one of your new favorite Easter recipes. It’s a great potluck side dish or buffet staple.
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Cheese and Fresh Herb Quiche
Use all the fresh herbs in this quiche, along with a bunch of different cheeses (feta, Swiss, Gruyere and mozzarella). A crisp salad and chilled glass of white round out the meal.
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Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad
This is one of those Easter recipes that gets handed down through the family and is expected at every holiday. A salty pretzel crust, orange gelatin packed with fruit, and a cream cheese whipped topping creates a slam-dunk dessert.
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Sugar-Glazed Ham
This is what you picture when you’re thinking of old-fashioned glazed ham. The traditional Easter recipe takes three simple ingredients: vinegar, brown sugar and mustard.
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Kale Slaw Spring Salad
There is so much crunchy vegetable goodness in this salad. Toss chopped kale, romaine lettuce and coleslaw mix with red onion, strawberries and a tangy dressing.
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Lemon Layer Cake
For lemon lovers everywhere! The citrusy and zesty cake with luscious cream cheese frosting is pretty as a picture and a delightful springtime dessert.
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Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This salad will turn your Brussels sprouts haters into fans in no time. The salad gets even tastier if it sits in the fridge for a bit, and the mustard vinaigrette helps tenderize the shaved sprouts.
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Rhubarb Cheesecake Squares
A cheesecake bar topped with sweet rhubarb is bound to be a hit at any Easter celebration. The oat and brown sugar crumble is used for both the bottom crust and sweet topping.
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Sweet Pea Pesto Crostini
Make extra sweet pea pesto that tops these zippy crostini appetizers and use it on hot pasta for a family meal later in the week. Replacing some of the olive oil with vegetable broth is a great healthy hack.
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Lemon Blueberry Biscuits
Spring’s lemon and blueberry dream team takes biscuits to a whole other level. Wonderful for breakfast or brunch, make this Easter recipe one to cherish for years.
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Fresh Asparagus Soup
Highlight one of the season’s best vegetables in this velvety soup. If you bought too much asparagus at the farmers market or grocer, you can always freeze it to use in this recipe later.
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Mozzarella & Spinach Breakfast Casserole
In addition to the mozzarella and spinach, this gooey breakfast casserole is studded with sun-dried tomatoes and sausage. It’s an easy bake for Easter brunch.
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Air-Fryer Garlic and Wine Lamb Chops
If you don’t have time to cook an entire lamb roast all day, this air-fryer recipe is a good alternative. Marinate the chops overnight to let the flavors meld.
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Hippity Hop Bunny Cake
This cute, festive white cake with orange curd filling will have everyone ‘hopping’ with happiness! Make the cake ahead of time, then add decorations like coarse sugar, pink sprinkles and jelly beans right before it hits the holiday table.
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Strawberry Riesling Wine Spritzer
A springtime strawberry syrup is the key to these delicious wine spritzers. Since it can also spruce up non-alcoholic beverages like lemonade, iced tea and bubbly club soda, it’s perfect for family-friendly parties.
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Rhubarb Bruschetta
Fresh rhubarb jam spooned over goat cheese bruschetta makes a delightful spring appetizer. Make sure to top the toasted bread slices as soon as they come out of the oven.
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Ham and Leek Pies
Give your leftover Easter ham a new life with these cute personal pies. They’re a treat for breakfast or lunch, and thanks to store-bought frozen puff pastry, you’ll spend less time prepping and more time eating.
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Copycat Honey Baked Ham
Make a glazed ham full of sugar and spice for the Easter holiday. Use your slow cooker to cook the ham with honey first, then pop in the broiler (or use a kitchen torch) to get that glaze crackling.
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Roasted Grape and Sweet Cheese Phyllo Galette
Cream cheese blended with a bit of orange marmalade creates a lovely contrast to roasted grapes in this dessert. Yet another great use for frozen phyllo dough!
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Potatoes Lyonnaise
A classic dish that’s comforting and simple to prepare, potatoes Lyonnaise go with everything from baked ham to roast pork loin. Use different herbs, like rosemary or thyme, to add different flavors.
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Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Don’t throw away those broccoli stalks! This effortless recipe calls for the whole piece of broccoli, not just the florets, which means less food waste in the kitchen. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetable, too.
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Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
Using strawberry preserves instead of fresh berries helps keep these cupcakes light and tender. Whipped cream frosting pairs perfectly with the concentrated strawberry flavor.
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Chilled Asparagus with Basil Cream
A quick blanch keeps the asparagus spears vibrant green and easy to chill. Serve on a platter with a creamy basil dipping sauce for a springtime snack or hors d’oeuvre.
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Creamy Strawberry Icebox Cake
Fresh strawberries layered with graham crackers and whipped cream is just about the easiest Easter dessert you can make. The no-bake treat will be a hit at your holiday celebration.
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Lemon-Ricotta Cookies
These light and lemony cookies won’t last too long at your brunch or dinner. The ricotta cheese doesn’t taste cheesy but adds a wonderful chewy texture.
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Garlic Knotted Rolls
Turn frozen yeast dough into something special with a bit of onion and poppyseed. The result is a cute and delicious knotted roll befitting any celebration.
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Skillet Spinach Pie
Like a giant spanakopita, this spinach and cheese-filled pie can be the star of your holiday dinner or a nice side dish for glazed ham or roast pork loin. When using frozen spinach and phyllo dough, make sure to thaw in the fridge the night before assembling and baking the pie.
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Raspberry Mousse
A light and fruity mousse is always welcome after a big meal. Made with only a few ingredients, including fresh raspberries, it’s super easy.
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Bread Pudding Pie
This custardy bread pudding baked in a flaky pie crust will become a new family favorite. Serve slightly warm with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
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Makeover Fruit Pizza
Layers of fresh fruit and a sweetened cream cheese spread turns an everyday dessert into something special. It’s low in cholesterol and fat but tastes so good, no one will know it’s healthy.
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Cheesy Bacon and Grits Casserole
If you’re looking for a new brunch staple, this cheesy bacon and grits casserole is it. Serve with fresh avocado slices and plenty of hot sauce.
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Citrus Rainbow Carrots
Pretty discs of multicolored carrots tossed with butter, a little orange zest and subtly spiced with cloves taste great alongside roast ham or lamb. With carrots the star of this dish, try using the freshest ones you can find.
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Carrot Cake Cheese Ball
We’re huge fans of cheese for dessert. Here, cream cheese is combined with grated carrots, pineapple, coconut, raisins, honey and spices for a unique snack your guests will rave about.
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Shaker Lemon Pie
Calling all lemon lovers: This seven-ingredient pie is ready in a snap with store-bought pie dough. You could also make your own double-crust pie dough, you overachiever, you.
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Sweet Pea and Radish Salad
Havarti, dill, radishes and peas team up in this crunchy, creamy salad that takes only 15 minutes to pull off. It tastes best when it’s been refrigerated for at least an hour, if your guests can wait that long.
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Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
There’s nothing quite like a classic deviled egg, but adding fresh dill and flaky smoked salmon turns this humble appetizer into a real treat. Top the deviled filling with a dill sprig for a simple garnish.
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Croissant Breakfast Casserole
If you have a few day-old croissants lying around, this recipe is a must-try. Quarter them and add a few secret ingredients—including orange marmalade and apricot preserves—for a quick and easy breakfast the whole family will devour.
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Easy Italian Easter Bread
‘Tis the season for Easter bread! This version only takes about an hour, plus rising time, and the colorful hard-boiled eggs cook while the bread bakes. It’s simple, fun and festive.Originally Published: March 15, 2022
