As soon as we hear the first robin chirping or see flower buds start to bloom, we know that spring is here. And that means it's time to start indulging in a variety of different seasonal produce, such as rhubarb and lemon, as well as our favorite spring treats, including carrot cake, fruit crumbles and crisps, and frosted sugar cookies.
As far as spring dessert recipes go, we love to prepare sweets that include in-season fruits. One perfect combination? Strawberries and rhubarb, as in the Rhubarb-Strawberry Tart that's pictured here. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous (if we do say so ourselves), but it's also easy to make. You can prepare the tart dough in advance and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Then all you need to do is stir together fresh rhubarb and strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in a large bowl and fill the tart shell. Once it's baked, you will fall head over heels for the jammy, bright pink filling and fresh flavor. If you're baking it for a family gathering or to give to a friend, know that they won't be able to resist the vibrant dessert either.
Another classic spring dessert that everyone loves is carrot cake. We have several varieties of this seasonal star including carrot cake cookies. Not only do carrots add a vibrant orange color to these desserts, but they also build fantastic moistness, thanks to their natural juices. Go for a classic layer cake or mix it up with our carrot cake cookie and parfait recipes.
Whether you're hosting a brunch for Easter, a Mother's Day dinner, or just want to embrace the arrival of spring with something sweet for dessert, these recipes surely fit the bill.
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Daffodil Cake
Much like its namesake flower, the daffodil cake is a cheerful herald of spring. Baked in a tube pan, the dramatic two-tone cake has an orange-and-lemon yellow layer and a fluffy white angel food layer. A tart citrus glaze and edible pansies are oh-so-pretty on top.
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Carrot-Cake Parfaits
In this individual dessert recipe, carrot cake is layered with a cream cheese frosting (of course!) and apricot jam for a bright spring bite.
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Lemon-Rhubarb Olive-Oil Bundt Cake
Olive oil delivers moistness in this spring dessert recipe, but it also gets flavor and color from two of the season's best flavors: fresh lemon zest and juice and rhubarb. It's a totally fresh combination that we can't get enough of.
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Lemon Tassies
Whether you serve this spring dessert at an Easter gathering, bridal or baby shower, or outdoor tea party, it's sure to be a hit. There's lemon flavor in all three layers of these mini tarts including the crust, cream cheese filling, and candied garnish.
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Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
Strawberry and rhubarb are a match made in heaven. In this spring dessert recipe, they're tossed with just a little bit of cornstarch and sugar, then topped with a brown sugar and oat crumble before baking.
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Vanilla-Rhubarb Tart
How stunning is this herringbone-designed tart? The vanilla bean seeds are a fantastic addition to this extra-special rhubarb dessert for spring. The design may look fancy, but we promise any home baker can perfect it!
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Lemon-Meringue Sheet Cake
Inspired by our founder's favorite pie recipe, this low-key sheet cake is rich and lemony, thanks to the use of sour cream and four teaspoons of lemon zest that are mixed into the batter. A pillowy torched meringue on top completes the picture.
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Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Instead of serving berries and cream between biscuits, why not turn them into crowd-friendly cupcakes? Vanilla cupcakes are filled with a mixture of strawberry jam and fresh diced strawberries, then topped sweetened whipped cream.
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Hummingbird Carrot Cake
Two of our favorite types of cake—a carrot cake and Hummingbird cake—meet to create one incredible spring dessert. It gets even more sweetness from canned pineapple, moistness from the shredded carrots, and just the right amount of texture from shredded coconut.
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Rhubarb Crumb Cake
Thin slices of fresh rhubarb top this crumbly, buttery, and super moist cake that's the ultimate spring dessert.
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Martha's Easter Sugar Cookies
Celebrate the arrival of spring and the Easter holiday with our founder's sugar cookies cut into the shape of eggs, chicks, birds, and bunnies and intricately decorated with pastel royal icing.
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Lemon-Olive Oil Cake
Lemon and olive oil often appear side by side in cooking, but not so much in desserts. This spring dessert recipe changes that by marrying the two for a super moist cake. Serve each slice with fresh berries and cream.
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Carrot Cake with White-Chocolate Frosting
We can't make it through the spring season without baking at least one carrot cake. This ultra-sweet and stunning recipe is a twist on the classic recipe. Here, we dressed up the usual cream cheese frosting with melted white chocolate.
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Lemon-Glazed Sheet Cake
This simple sheet cake is a special spring dessert that tastes like pure sunshine. The recipe calls for cake flour, which gives the cake an incredibly light and airy texture, plus lots of lemon juice and zest in both the cake batter and glaze.
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Carrot-Cake Thumbprint Cookies
Have a spring fling with this fabulous treat that combines two beloved desserts—carrot cake and thumbprint cookies—into one.
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Pistachio-Rhubarb Yogurt Cake
What's pretty-in-pink and delicious to eat? This one-layer spring cake that's made with an entire pound of rhubarb and a half cup of unsalted pistachios. Yogurt is used in both the batter and a light rhubarb-infused glaze that finishes the cake.
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Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake
Coconut and lemon is always a winning combination—and this cake is extra special because we used Meyer lemons, which are more fragrant and less acidic than regular Euerka lemons. We've also maximized the sweet pairing by filling the moist coconut cake with coconut lemon curd and topping it with coconut buttercream.
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Lemon Custard Tarts
Mini desserts are such a fun way to serve a favorite recipe, such as Lemon Meringue Pie. Try our inspired spring dessert, which serves six guests—all of whom will surely be delighted to dig into this cheerful treat.
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Chiffon Cake with Strawberries and Cream
Similar in texture to an angel food cake but richer, thanks to the addition of egg yolks, this cake is airy and delicate. The filling is simply whipped cream and macerated strawberries.
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Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes
Using frozen puff pastry makes these individual fruit tarts both easy and delicious. They're a real taste of spring.
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Rhubarb Custard Pie
Made with tart rhubarb and a smooth, delicate, creamy custard, this pie is a perfect spring dessert.
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Potted Chocolate-Mint Puddings
Mini pudding cups sprout to life, thanks to a mint "seedling" and some ground-cookie "dirt."
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Rhubarb Buckle
This dessert belongs in everyone's "outdoor entertaining" file. The cake squares, embellished with moist fruit and a crunchy topping, are meant to be eaten out of hand.
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Lemon-Ginger Cookies with Mint
Crystallized ginger, lemon zest, and fresh mint put a spring in the step of classic sugar cookies.
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Pavlova with Rhubarb and Pistachios
This dessert is a lovely study in contrast—the delicate, crisp exterior, the ephemeral interior, and the soft, sweet-tart rhubarb and crunchy pistachios.
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Rose-and-Ginger Cupcakes
One or two sugared rose petals make an elegant finish for cupcakes. Rose water flavors the tinted pink glaze, which sets to a very smooth sheen atop these gingery cakes.
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Strawberry-Pistachio Tart
A border of rich, toasty pistachios rings a puff pastry crust supporting a bright display of fresh strawberries in this surprisingly easy spring dessert.
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Almond-Cornmeal Strawberry Shortcakes
Cornmeal and ground almonds add richness and a gentle crunch to buttery shortcakes. Bake the shortcakes in muffin tins and serve with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
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Mini Eclairs with Strawberries and Cream
These ethereal spring eclairs are simple to make, thanks to choux pastry, which can be mixed, piped, frozen ahead, and baked the day of your party.
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